How is the cold snap affecting you?

Snow and ice have caused severe travel disruption.

Eleven train companies have reported delays and airports have all been affected. But the worst are the roads that haven't been gritted.

The northerly winds blowing from the Arctic have brought sub-zero temperatures, freezing fog and snow.

Night-time frosts are widespread. Daytime temperatures struggle to rise above freezing and the bitterly biting wind chill means it feels even colder.

How is the weather affecting you? Send us your comments and experiences.

If you take a good picture please email them to [e-mail]

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Your comments:

There were deserted cars, people walking in the cold, and no emergency vehicles on scene to give at least some reassurance that the situation was being monitored Neil, Bucks

Forget terrorism. Half an inch of snow is enough to bring this country to its knees! I was stuck in traffic on an un-gritted A road for 4 1/2 hours last night. There were deserted cars, people walking in the cold, and no emergency vehicles on scene to give at least some reassurance that the situation was being monitored. Why is Britain time and again incapable of coping with adverse weather, even when there is advance notice?!
Neil, Bucks, UK

Last night it snowed again as it has for the past couple of weeks. We had this morning at 06:15 another 30 cm of new snow to add to the meter or so that existed. I walked the half kilometre to the station along roads that were cleared by 06:00 the temperature was -11 C. My train left on time and arrived early. This evening it will be the same I will arrive home on time.
Mike Ellis, Einsiedeln, Switzerland

Tonight I had to wait 45 minutes for a bus in Birmingham city centre, along with a huge crowd of other people, all rapidly feeling the cold. When a bus eventually came, it moved a hundred yards every 10/15 minutes, hence my usual 30 minute journey home took me five hours today! Why can't the council act upon warnings and grit roads before snow in future?
Tom, Birmingham

At last my 7-year-old grandson has experienced what he calls "a brilliant snow blizzard". Could not wait to be released from school during the blizzards this afternoon and at 8pm tonight in the dark he was still in the garden building his longed for snowman. Who cares that it is absolutely freezing - it is winter!
Chris, Corby, England

In the 70s and early 80s, I remember snowfall far, far worse than this resulting in nothing like the same level of disruption Patrick, Peterborough

Predictably, the empty boasting about being "prepared" was shown up as nonsense when the first snowflake fell. There was an inch of snow at the very most in the Huntingdon area. Result: total gridlock for miles around the town and trains running 25 minutes late. In the 70s and early 80s, I remember snowfall far, far worse than this resulting in nothing like the same level of disruption. What is the matter with this country?
Patrick, Peterborough

Took me 3 1/2 hours this morning to do a journey into central London which should take less than an hour - all Tube lines in north-west London had service suspended because of "extreme weather conditions". Yet the sun was shining, there was no wind, and only a light dusting of snow AND everyone had been warned about the cold snap days in advance. So why didn't the Underground do anything to protect vulnerable points?
Kathryn Johnson, Northwood, England

Heavy snowfall was predicted, and the snow fell, all for about an hour and now it's nearly gone. I think this is a case of over exaggeration of the forecast to prevent a repeat performance of October 1987 "no there is no hurricane"... What is all the fuss about? It does snow in January!
Katherine, Wigan UK

What a load of fuss about nothing. This so-called "cold snap" is really what our winters should be like pretty much all the way through, but because of global warming our winters have become so warm that people get all carried away because of a so-called "freak" drop in temperature (over a very short spell of time), it's pathetic, whatever happened to our "real" winters of old?
Darren Hurley, Bristol, UK

Mass panic in Bedford as first few snowflakes fell at 4pm. Everyone left work at the same time and consequently my daughter is still at school having attempted to come home on the school minibus and only made 200 yards in over an hour. Crazy isn't it!
Susie Cottrell, Maulden, Beds

It started snowing here really hard at about 4 o'clock. I left work at 4.45pm and was unable to get out of the car park. The traffic is at a stand still and the time is now 6.45 and I'm still at work.
Michael, Aylesbury

The weather here topped out at -33 yesterday (-47 wind chill some of the time) and the schools are still open Andy, Edmonton, Canada

It's nice to see some snow back home! Someone mentioned that places like Canada seem to cope with winter weather all the time. While it's true, it's only up to a point. The infrastructure here is set up to expect this weather, the weather here topped out at -33 yesterday (-47 wind chill some of the time) and the schools are still open (indoor recess though). However, the local automobile association is still trying to answer breakdown/crash calls from Monday, get a snowflake in Vancouver and its a bigger calamity than in the UK, and Toronto had to call in the army to clear the streets a couple of years ago..
Andy, Edmonton, Canada

Well it had to be the most over-hyped cold weather ever. So when 2cms fell last night it shouldn't have been a problem. But then this is Britain, so the A-road to my tube station was covered in snow with the obligatory car wedged into a hedge. Then there was the Central line, official journey time 37 mins actual 95mins. Apparently trains were stalling in the west but when I met passengers from the west at my journey's end and they told that the problem had been in the east. Disgraceful and pathetic, when are the ALL of the employees of the London Underground going to be made accountable as the rest of us are in our respective jobs.
Russell, UK

Is this for real? We are actually on the same latitude as Poland! We should be thankful that we actually have mild winters compared with what we should have according to out geography.
The British seem to have serious issues with making a mountain out of a mole hill, or in this case a cold snap out of a winter. It's not really news if this is what the weather is expected to be like is it? Come on everybody, pull it together!
James, York, UK

I find it hard to be sympathetic. Here in Winnipeg, the temp is -51 with the wind chill and we have had over 80cm of snow in January!
John McLEod, Winnipeg, Canada

It was worth feeling a bit cold and wet this morning to see my elderly Labrador frolicking in the snow like a puppy and turning into a reverse Dalmatian!!
Linda, UK

Cold snap? What cold snap? It's that season called winter that comes in between autumn and spring every year. Let's get a grip people.
Katherine, London, UK

The ice in my street was frightening this morning Shelley, Northern Ireland

The ice in my street was frightening this morning; I get the bus to work and had to walk in the road to get to the stop because the footpaths were so slippery. No-one came round to grit them either, which made it even worse. I wish the local authorities would realise that streets in more rural areas need gritted just as much as major roads.
Shelley, Northern Ireland

Cold and SNOW! Here in the UK! In January? Blame Tony Blair and the Labour government. Let's have an official enquiry.
Steve, Portsmouth, UK

Well in Darwen it snowed a lot-early this morning there was loads of snow everywhere, my little 18 month baby boy has never seen snow and should have been at home playing in it, but instead we travelled the 15 miles to Preston where it was gloomy, wet and no snow! No doubt the snow in Darwen will be gone by the time we get home.
Samantha, Darwen, Lancs

Okay, so I was laughing at the MET office for getting it totally wrong - but sitting at work and it's now started throwing it down with snow. Great - can't wait for the drive home!
Ross, UK

The snow hasn't even started here, yet my train to work was 30 minutes late this morning and there were horrific delays on the tube. I've just had an email from First Great Western informing me that there are massive delays home this evening. I dread to think what it'll be like tomorrow when the snow's predicted to arrive!
Rachael, Oxfordshire, UK

I've lost my scarf. I'm cold and I'm miserable.
Paul Gitsham, UK

Here's to more snow tomorrow! James Howe, Manchester, UK

I have been looking forward to the snow for a week and was delighted to be able to drive to work in my 5-series this morning; making the most of it's excellent traction control and fantastic heating system whilst pedestrians and owners of lesser cars froze to the bone. Here's to more snow tomorrow!
James Howe, Manchester, UK

No rain no sleet no snow just clear sky and lovely sunshine and with only a 30% chance of snow - I doubt it will change, that is until summer when it is bound to rain.
Dan, Tavistock, Devon

Not if it is regulation British Rail Snow!
Philip Le Roux, Hampshire England

It took me ages to dig myself out of my house in Brighton this morning. The queues on the pavements walking in to work were dreadfully long and I was lucky to have at least five weeks worth of food in my bag to sustain me. I eventually got into work in 20 minutes, that's a massive 2.5 minutes longer than usual...I'll be expecting a worse journey this evening on my way home.
Chilly in winter? Heavens to Betsy no...I'm astounded!
Kieron, Brighton, UK

It wasn't easy getting to work today because only major roads were gritted, not the local roads and cycle routes I rely on. When will the local authorities realise that non-motorised transport needs their support all year round?
Nicola, Cambridge

The council gritters have been out and about, snowploughs are at the ready, planes are fully equipped to cope with icy runways, and every car owner has made sure that their car is topped up with anti-freeze and has a rug and thermos in the back. Yet London Transport, before a single flake of snow has fallen, has managed to ensure that the outer reaches of the Central, Metropolitan, Piccadilly, and Jubilee lines aren't working! Well done, chaps!
Sue Hudson, London, UK

The media have been hyping this "big freeze" for nearly a week, but it's nothing of the sort. We have a light dusting of snow in London gardens and there's a cold wind. Nothing compared to the winter weather of the not-too-distant past when inches of snow froze on the ground for weeks.
Stephen, London

I think it's the responsibility of individuals to take steps for cold weather; look after our elderly is a must. Nobody must be sitting at home, freezing at this time of year. However, life can't grind to a halt because of a bit of snow. We still need to work so dig out those brooms and shovels, drive carefully, wrap up warm, take a thermos flask of coffee to work in case you get stuck in traffic - it's not brain science. We Brits do like to make mountains out of molehills, I mean honestly.
Donna, London, UK

We are increasingly shocked by the even the briefest reminder of how winters once used to be Roger Watson, Manchester, U

If I did not know better from years of experience of weather forecasters leading us to believe we are about to be hit by an 'arctic blast' then I might have expected a min ice-age this week. The reality is that each winter appears to be milder than the last and we are increasingly shocked by the even the briefest reminder of how winters once used to be.
Roger Watson, Manchester, UK

Drove from Oban to Edinburgh yesterday in glorious sunshine, only snow on the mountain peaks. 2 degrees today and -3 tonight, big deal - that's what UK winters are supposed to be like. It's about time we had headline news about it being late January and we've had no snow yet.
Steve, Edinburgh

Ok, I was scoffing about the (lack of) snow yesterday, but last night it arrived - providing vast quantities of ammunition and building materials: I made the largest snowman I can remember! And it looks beautiful, too!
Harry, Keele, Stafforfshire

Why is England the only country in the world that seems to be surprised when winter sets in? I mean, every year like clock-work it gets cold, the nights get longer, and the temperatures drop below freezing. And every year, Britain is surprised by "cold snaps" and "arctic weather". I'm glad it's only going to get down to about 50 (10C) or so here in my bit of California though.
Ian, Brit in USA

I can't remember the last time I was so disappointed. Woke up this morning expecting to see a silent white world cloaked in deep snow and what do we get? A few miserable snow flakes clinging to a couple of walls and nothing else. Why can't have a proper winter with real deep snow and no killjoys complaining about it?
Darren, Solihull, England

Hailing from warmer climes, I'm most disappointed that the cold isn't - yet - accompanied by snow. If it's going to be cold it at least has to make up for it somehow. And what is it with you Brits and your T-shirts in this weather anyway? You don't look 'hard', you look daft. Put a jumper on.
Jason Miles, UK, previously South Africa

Lovely and sunny where I am in Berkshire. A bit chilly, but then again it is January. I would be more concerned if it were warm. As for snow, the last significant fall we had here was in 1981. I love the way the media goes ballistic when the temperature drops to freezing. It's hilarious!
Andy R, UK

It is time the Met Office stopped pandering to the authorities by exaggerating every potential extreme weather event that may come along, and instead give us a more realistic picture of what the future may hold.
Chris Hartley, London, UK

I can't see what all the fuss is about WB, Wales, UK

I can't see what all the fuss is about. When I was a kid, we always had snow nearly every winter, and it was always freezing cold. You just had to wrap up warm, put on your winter coat, thick socks and boots, and get on with it.
WB, Wales, UK

Brr, it's a bit cold, but I'm not complaining. Having returned from low temperatures in the teens Fahrenheit in New York, this is positively balmy!
Alex M. Cameron, Oxford, UK

Its fine producing weather warnings, but seriously. Think about it, the met office make such a palaver, people in colder places (e.g. Canada) get this weather all the time, do you see them worrying about "making it through." Its cold here, but we don't close down the whole town, get used to it, go out in it and have fun.
Kez, Aberdeen

After nearly a week of over hyped press and weather reports, the real artic weather is supposed to be here, so where is it? from early reports of minus 14, and more snow than jack frost could shake a stick at, we now get, just a normal winter day, a light covering of snow and maybe we will get minus 2, sometimes I wonder why so much money is spent on the weather, they never get it right...
Jonathan Blacker, Wolverhampton, UK

I have lived in Halifax all my life and all it takes if for a few snow flakes and the entire town grinds to a halt. The buses stop running, all the shoppers bag the taxis and the rest of us face a nightmare walk home.
Dameon Brown, Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK

Well we've cancelled our wet T-Shirt competition.
Gerry, Scotland

I hope it snows, Everyone loves to see snow in London, it's now a rarity to see settled snow nice and white, shame about the slushy mess and black ice when it melts, I hope it snows in LONDON.....
Peter Conaghan, London, UK

I think Billy Connolly sums it up perfectly - "there's no such thing as bad weather - just the wrong clothes".
Andy, England

It must be global cooling!
Paul B, Oxford, UK

In case anyone had missed it, it's January, it gets cold at this time of year John R Smith, UK

Has the entire weather reporting team been given legal advice to go overboard with their warnings so that they can't be sued if anyone has a problem? We've had three days of dire predictions of snow, ice, hail, drifts, freezing fog, bad roads, wind chill, burst pipes, no road grit, major pile ups etc. For what? A dusting of snow in the south and couple of inches on the hills in the north. In case anyone had missed it, it's January, it gets cold at this time of year. Drive carefully, wear a coat.
John R Smith, UK

Public transport seems to look for any excuse to run a poor service. Whether it snows or not, I'm sure the trains will be late and slow, and ridiculously the Tubes will be too. As yet I've seen no signs of a "winter snap" but for an edge to the wind.
Damian Leach, UK

Well it's been raining in Elgin - so much for the north and east being hit by heavy snow!
Joe, Elgin, Scotland

Hailing from warmer climes, I'm most disappointed that the cold isn't - yet - accompanied by snow. If it's going to be cold it at least has to make up for it somehow... And what is it with you Brits and your T-shirts in this weather anyway? You don't look 'hard', you look daft. Put a jumper on.
Jason Miles, UK, previously South Africa

I really hope that I see some snow this week. My son is three and I can't wait to take him sledging!!
Catherine Williams, Hyde, Cheshire

Think the cold snap has been and gone for us. Had about 10 mins of snow flurries and that's been it. Quite disappointing!
Wendy, East of Scotland

Blue sky and the sun is out! Dale, Swansea

I don't see any snow! Blue sky and the sun is out! UK residents shouldn't be worried snow isn't going to bring about an apocalypse and if you drive sensibly you'll be fine. If it's too unsafe to drive then grab a sled and be a kid again!
Dale, Swansea

I'll believe it when I see it! What's all the fuss anyhow? I remember the winter of 80/81/82 or thereabouts when it was 2ft deep of snow and temperatures were down around -20C during the day! Seems us Brits are no more than a bunch of softies now!
Chevaunne

Winter? Arctic blast? We've had daffodils in bloom for the past week. The Met Office forecast winds from the Arctic arriving Monday. Last night the minimum was +2 degrees C. The only time Sussex gets any real winter is if winds come in from the east. From the north they've travelled hundreds of miles over a relatively warm sea before they reach the UK.
Tony Mayes, Worthing

What absolute nokwash - our ancestors had to deal with those temperatures without central heating and still maintained stiff upper lips. What a nation of wusses we've become
Charlie, London, UK

WHAT snow???
Peter, England

I am praying hard that it will snow in London Christina Spybey, London, UK

Other than sniffing from time to time, I actually love the cold. In fact, I am looking forward towards it. I am praying hard that it will snow in London. Now, I am keeping my fingers cross...hoping to be able to see snow in the morning!
Christina Spybey, London, UK

Well, the met office clearly over-egged this forecast. Nothing to do with the M11 debacle last year is it?
Julie warm-and-cosy, Stratford upon Avon

What snow? It is lovely and sunny in Bangor. We even needed to turn the radiators down at work because it was getting too warm.
Liz, Co. Down, N Ireland

Snow is great until the end of February. Then I'm sick of it. Time for tulips and Spring weather. I know it's rushing the seasons a bit but I don't like much cold weather.
Kate, UK

Sleeping bag, a stove, some tea bags, soup, hot-chocolate and plenty of petrol. These are what one guy has said he is carrying around with him. What is the world coming to when people are scared of a few drops of snow and slight fall in temperature.
Rizwan Saleem, Leeds, UK

I now live in the South East, and I'm still waiting for it to get cold enough to put a jumper on over my shirt sleeves Robbie, UK

We should emphasise that it is the South of England that falls apart when it gets cold or snows. The North of England, Scotland, and Wales etc all "suffer" practically every year. As a child brought up in the foothills of the Pennines there wasn't a winter went by without at least one relatively severe snow fall. And no, transport didn't grind to a halt, schools didn't close down, and the world didn't come to an end. My parents have pictures of the 1947 winter showing cuttings made through snow drifts etc to keep the roads clear. By the way, I now live in the South East, and I'm still waiting for it to get cold enough to put a jumper on over my shirt sleeves.
Robbie, UK

I have just got back from four weeks in New England where there has been record cold, down to below -30C with wind-chill. The weather in the UK is positively tropical compared with that, and it's sunny and cool in Surrey today.
Brian, UK

Ah the snow! Looks beautiful but then looks can be deceiving....
Brendan, Belfast

We are quite high up in Battram and so we often get fairly bad weather O Lane, Battram

We are quite high up in Battram and so we often get fairly bad weather. I have a great deal of emergency supplies anyway as we are quite isolated.
O Lane, Battram, Leicestershire

I took it slowly coming out of my road as there was a thin covering of snow but after that the main road through the village was clear until Durham. I was then stuck on the A691 at 8am doing 20mph. Snow...rain...ice???? No, a tractor!!!
Tracey, Durham, UK

I'm sitting here in an air-conditioned office, and it's 30 degrees C outside. It's quite surreal to think that other people are actually COLD.....
Debbie du Plessis, Johannesburg, South Africa

Comments like 'mini ice-age' are ridiculous and scare-mongering James D, UK

The media have hyped this short cold snap up far too much! Comments like 'mini ice-age' are ridiculous and scare-mongering. It's only expected to last a few days. When a proper cold spell like '47 or '63 hits the UK again (and it's bound to happen again sooner or later) there will be out and out chaos in this country!
James D, UK

I live in Glasgow and to be honest I think there is a big fuss being made about nothing. We've had colder weather than this over the last few weeks. As for snow there isn't any sign of it!
Michelle, Glasgow

What cold snap? I work in one of the highest areas of the Chilterns and there wasn't even a frost let alone any of the white stuff. In the sunny spells it feels more like a spring day!
Gavin Bottomley, High Wycombe, Bucks

We've had an exceptionally mild winter so far this year Richard, UK

We've had an exceptionally mild winter so far this year. Down here in south east England we've had no more than 5 days of frost. The cold snap is welcomed by me, if only to remind us that we are in winter.
Richard, UK

Leaves on the line - just you wait for the first flakes of snow!
CB, London, UK

Pathetic! Every time the snow falls people in this country fall apart. It's not about being prepared, it's about attitude. It seems to me that people will make any excuse to avoid going to work or school. The people in this country are going soft!
Dan, London, UK

The very prospect of snow makes me feel physically ill Dave, Doncaster, UK

The very prospect of snow makes me feel physically ill. I'm not very sure-footed on it for a start and I often have an unexpected lie down in it. If anybody is going to be doing any outdoor acrobatics, its me.
Dave, Doncaster, UK

Snow is a way of life where I live -and we cope. If it makes Britain grind to a halt - more fool the people who get caught in it. Unnecessary journeys, not leaving enough time and overtaking snow ploughs and gritters. It will happen.
Tavish, Auchenshoogle, Perthshire

I'm going to Canada in a few weeks, where it's in the minus 20's. I need to acclimatize, so in a way I'm looking forward to it.
Dave Godfrey, Swindon

Lets hope we are all prepared this time! Lou, London

I remember last year when there was a couple on inches of snow in north London. A journey home from work which usually took 25 minutes took me 5 hours! Lets hope we are all prepared this time!
Lou, London

What cold snap, it never gets cold in England
Gerry Anstey, Bournemouth, England

It's WINTER for crying out loud. Cold weather is to be expected at this time of year, as has been the case since the beginning of time. The only reason that so many people are panicking is the fact that this country is seemingly incapable of dealing with it.
Steve Cahill, Sandy, England

What cold snap? What on earth has all the fuss been about? It was colder over Christmas. There has been no frost & no snow. Talk about an over reaction!
David, Yorkshire, England

Already booked time off work so I can have some fun Martin, Age 29, England

Woo hoo!! Snow Angels, Snowmen and Snowball Fights... I can't wait! Already booked time off work so I can have some fun.
Martin, Age 29, England

Get on with it! Other countries have to cope with much lesser temperatures and they don't complain as much as we do!
Franziska, UK

Since the weather warnings were issued I've been carrying a sleeping bag, a stove, some tea bags, soup, hot-chocolate and plenty of petrol to keep me going a few days should the roads grind to a halt!
Steve, Sheffield

Reminds me of home. I love it! Marnie, Canadian in the UK

Reminds me of home. I love it!
Marnie, Canadian in the UK

Which cold snap is this then? It was colder here Christmas week!!!
Amanda, Yorkshire

I'm hoping the country "does" grind to a halt. We hardly ever have snow and never get the chance to enjoy it as we are expected to struggle to work. I'm hoping for enough snow this time that there is no doubt that we have to stay indoors.
Catherine O, Maidenhead, UK

What snow? Andrew, Oxford

What snow?
Andrew, Oxford

Nice and warm down here in London, the pollution kills the snow before it can settle!
Steph, England

I'm anticipating severe delays to the trains when the first few snowflakes fall. No doubt because it's cold the heating in the trains won't be working and the waiting rooms at the stations will be locked. Who'd have thought it - snow in the winter time?
John B, UK