my college is closed and outside looks like a big white blanket

also, teh serious stuff: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8419898.stm

Travellers are experiencing transport disruption as heavy snow falls across much of the UK, with south-east and north-east England worst affected.

The Met Office issued severe warnings for heavy snowfall in those two areas, London and the East Midlands.

Up to 20cm (8in) has already fallen in counties including Kent, Essex and Sussex and more is to come on Friday.

About 200 drivers on the M20 and M2 in Kent were stuck in tailbacks overnight and flights have also been diverted.

'Horrendous'

Essex Police dealt with more than 180 weather-related incidents during the night, including more than 20 road collisions.

ADVICE TO ROAD USERS Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essential Check local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade Drive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance - it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions Source: Highways Agency BBC Travel Your pictures: UK snowfall

Suffolk Police say it has been an "horrendous night" with lots of people spending the night trapped in their cars. The worst affected area was the A12 between Copdock and the Essex border.

Hertfordshire Police had more than 400 emergency calls through the night.

Conditions are expected to be at their worst in much of the UK during the Friday morning rush hour.

Scores of jacknifed lorries and abandoned cars litter the roads in the worst affected areas. Thousands of children are starting their Christmas holidays a day early as schools in many counties have been forced to close.

Specific incidents include:

• A lorry jackknifed on the A21, near Tunbridge Wells, leaving motorists stuck in the snow for three hours

• A 20mph speed limit was put in place on parts of the M1 overnight

• The A1081, which is the main road connecting Luton Airport to the M1, was gridlocked in the early hours of Friday due to the large number of jackknifed vehicles

• A jacknifed lorry and several other vehicles have also closed part of the M40 between junctions six and four

• Some flights in and out of Luton and Gatwick have already been diverted or cancelled. But it is "business as usual" at Heathrow

• National Rail Enquiries has warned there will be a risk of disruption to train services on Friday, particularly in east and south-east England.

UK WEATHER WARNINGS For more information, visit BBC Weather

TV presenter Davina McCall was among those stuck on the A21 in Kent for three hours after a lorry blocked the road.

She told BBC Radio 5Live: "We got wedged in a whole series of cars and it was pelting down with snow."

Driving winds and sub-zero temperatures brought blizzard conditions to much of the UK late on Thursday and in the early hours of Friday.

BBC Weather forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "We have already seen snow arriving across south-east and north-east England."

She said the worst affected areas in south-east England were Greater London, Medway and parts of Kent, which are seeing "extremely heavy snowfall".

White Christmas?

Met Office severe warnings for heavy snow have also been issued for Yorkshire and Humber.

Up to 20cm (8in) has fallen in some parts of North Yorkshire but there have been no reports of traffic problems.

Some 10cm of snow fell on Thursday night in parts of East Anglia, which made driving treacherous.

The Met Office said the heaviest snowfall overnight was in Norfolk, Bedford and Buckinghamshire.

And a second band is causing severe problems across the Thames Estuary, North Kent and Surrey.

Snow also fell in the Brecon area of mid Wales and in the Neath area of south Wales.

Meanwhile, high winds caused snow drifts to form in parts of Cambridgeshire.

Snow is also forecast in parts of central and northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Conditions in the south east of the country are expected to ease during Friday, with more cold and icy weather predicted for Saturday and Sunday.

Further snow is predicted over the weekend, particularly across the north of the UK.

However, the Met Office said it was too early to say whether there would be a white Christmas.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Current indications show an ongoing battle between the colder air currently over the UK and milder air pushing in from the west. As a result the forecast for Christmas Day is still too close to call."

Road salt

The Highways Agency said it had 94 winter maintenance compounds across England, with 25 in the south-east, and was able to treat all roads within three hours of severe forecasts.

A spokesman told the BBC road users had to "play their part" and "drive appropriately".

"We are asking drivers to carry out simple vehicle checks before they set out; to carry a severe weather emergency kit in their vehicles and to monitor the traffic and weather conditions," he said.

Earlier this week, the AA motoring organisation said half of the UK's local authorities only had enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing.

It said councils had 250,000 tonnes less salt than a decade ago - a claim dismissed as "scaremongering" by the Local Government Association.



so, anyone else have snow?

Had snow since wednesday! I love it!

Here in Notts, no snow, we had snow fall but not enough to settle or be noticeable in anyway, it could pass as a bit of ice.

But I hope it does stay off until I get home to Kent later today for Christmas, going via trains. :)

I'm in the "Be Aware" sector! yay for danger! (or not)

Yes, the snow is here at last, it's all good .

Mind you when I was on my way home last night the kids started throwing snowballs at the bus I was on and they were laughing and waving, having a fun time like kids do. I thought that it was nice they were having fun, but lot's of (old) people on the bus were saying to each other how their behaviour was "disgusting" and "It's the parents fault those kids are so rotten" and so on. I was thinking they're kids, you can't say that when you're a kid you never threw snowballs, it's what kids have done for century's. Kinda brought a downer on it.

its completely missed me near brum :(

You're in Kiddiminster right? (I'm not a stalker I promise lol, I remember it from another thread where you posted a picture of the queens head and I knew where it was)

Anyway, I live the other side of Birmingham and it's been snowing here, it's settled too.

I wish NJ got more snow, I love snow and the cold but sadly they don't get much of either here.

Ah, the snow. Just about to head to the office in London to interview someone. Hope the tube's running okay. If it lasts should be a fun weekend.

20cm? Doesn't look like it. But yes, it is a blanket.

Clear skies as well.