UK weather forecast LIVE – Temperatures to reach balmy 17C by next weekend as the UK’s record-breaking Big Freeze ends

HERTFORDSHIRE TO SEE HEAVIER SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT

Herts has so far managed to escape heavy snowfall today, reports .

It says light snow has dusted Broxbourne, with "spells of heavy snow throughout the day from 7pm to 10pm and 4am onwards into Monday morning" in Hemel Hempstead.

Stevenage, St Albans, Tring and Hatfield are seeing light snow too, but heavier snow is predicted for the likes of Harpenden, Hertford, Hitchin and Letchworth Garden City later tonight, into Monday morning.

COVID JAB CENTRE CLOSES BECAUSE OF SNOW

Clacton Hospital's vaccination centre has been forced to shut because of heavy snow from Storm Darcy, reports .

However, jab centres in Southend-on-Sea, Wickford, Chelmsford, Colchester and Thurrock remain open, the website adds.

A spokesperson from the Essex Partnership University NHS Trust announed: "Our vaccination centre at Clacton Hospital is closed today because of the snow."

"We are very sorry for any disappointment or inconvenience caused."

AFFECTED AREAS - AMBER WARNING

The following places have been put under an amber warning for snow until midday on Monday:

East of England

• Essex
• Norfolk
• Southend-on-Sea
• Suffolk
• Thurrock

London & South East England

• Kent
• Medway

AMBER WARNING EXTENDED

An amber weather warning for snow issued by the Met Office has been extended to include more areas.

An area of widespread, persistent and occasionally heavy snow will affect parts of the south-east and east of England throughout today and into Monday.

Accumulations of snow will be widely 5-10cm, with 15-2 cm in places, and a small chance of 25-30cm for a few sites.

Very strong easterly winds with gusts of 40-45mph inland and 50-55mph along north-east facing coasts will also lead to drifting of lying snow.

WHERE IS THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL?

UP TO 55MPH GALE-FORCE WINDS ON SUNDAY

Storm Darcy is the low pressure system bringing heavy snow and strong winds to East Anglia and south-east England, the Met Office said.

Weather warnings currently in place say to expect "very strong easterly winds with gusts of 40-45mph inland and 50-55mph along north-east facing coasts.

"[This will] lead to drifting of lying snow."

HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS CHILL UK

As many of us are well aware, it is bitterly cold Sunday in the UK.

This is due to strong easterly winds hitting the country from Ukraine and the Black Sea area, the Met Office said.

Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent and Medway are all regions which are set to be hit by an "area of widespread, persistent and occasionally heavy snow" through to Monday, according to its amber warning.

There is also the potential for some significant accumulations across eastern parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

RISK OF HEART ATTACKS & STROKES RISES IN SEVERE COLD

"Cold weather isn’t just uncomfortable, it can have a serious impact on health.

"For older people and those with heart and lung problems, it can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections," warns PHE's Dr Owen Landeg.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a cold weather alert for the whole of England from 9am Saturday February 6 to 9pm Wednesday February 10.

Temperatures beyond the weekend are likely to drop even lower with a very cold snap anticipated next week, it says.

NOT AS COLD AS ORIGINAL BEAST FROM THE EAST

Various warnings for snow and ice across the eastern length of Britain are in place until Wednesday.

Forecasters have warned of "significant disruptive snowfall"; and gale force winds in the South-East of England, with up to 30cm of snow possible in the Downs of Kent and the North Downs.

Such heavy snow is expected to bring widespread travel issues, especially in the south-east and East Anglia, as well as power cuts in parts of London and the east.

But the chill will not be as bitingly sharp as it was with the Beast from the East in 2018, according to the Met Office.

SNOW PLOUGH PLEA FOR MOTORISTS

In Kent, the county council highways service has pleaded with motorists to allow enough room for workers to clear thoroughfares.

The authority tweeted: "If you live on one of our primary salting routes, please ensure that you leave enough room for our vehicles with ploughs on to get through when you park.

"Snow is becoming more persistent.

"Crews will continue to treat and plough primary routes and [Kent's] Covid testing and vaccination site throughout the day.

"An amber snow warning is in place for parts of Kent."

HEAVY SNOW MAY BLOCK AMBULANCES AS STORM DARCY HITS

Ambulances may struggle to reach patients as heavy snowfall hits the UK, with icy conditions wreaking havoc on roads and temperatures plummeting below freezing.

Snow has already blanketed parts of the South-East, as up to a foot of the white stuff is set to bring travel chaos today thanks to Storm Darcy.

Gritters are battling to keep the country's roads as clear as possible, while runners and dog walkers have been spotted grappling with icy conditions.

Blizzards have already hit Kent and parts of London, including Hampstead Heath, as well as more northern areas such as Durham.

WEATHER WARNINGS CONTINUE FOR MONDAY

The Met Office says ";heavy snow is likely to bring widespread travel disruption" on Monday.

We should expect:

• Long delays and cancellations on bus, rail and air travel
• Roads may become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers likely
• Long interruptions to power supplies and other services, such as gas, water, telephone and mobile phone coverage

ONE METRE OF SNOW IN GERMANY

While Brits are braced for Beast from the East II, Germany has been pummelled by a snowstorm and strong winds.

In the western city of Muenster, more than 30cm (almost 12 inches) of snow has fallen, piling up to one metre (over 3ft) in some parts.

Police said 28 people were injured on icy roads due to hundreds of road accidents in northern and western Germany.

Trains have been cancelled, and authorities have brought homeless people into warm shelters amid the sub-zero temperatures.

German Weather Service, DWD, urged people to stay at home.

PARTS OF KENT 'BLANKETED IN SNOW'

Some parts of Kent have awoken to "a blanket of snow this morning", reports .

Areas in the North Downs and in and around central Kent have already seen "significant snowfall with more snow forecast for the rest of the day", the website adds.

"Towns across Kent can expect to see as much as 20cm of snow over the coming 24 hours," it warns.

Here's a kid having fun in the village of Lydden, Kent this morning:

FROST, ICE & SNOW - YEP, IT'S WINTER IN THE UK

Sunday is "starting on a wintry note in some areas, with rain turning increasingly to snow across the southeast of the UK," says the Met Office.

Snow showers are currently feeding into the northeast.

"Elsewhere there's some frost and icy patches to contend with."

WHERE DOES 'STORM DARCY' COME FROM?

The Dutch named a low-pressure system bringing strong winds and widespread snow to south east England on Sunday 'Storm Darcy'.

Cold air sweeping into the UK from Russia and Eastern Europe is today bringing 'significant snow' to parts of England and Scotland, says the Met Office.

There will be strong easterly winds which may lead to blizzard conditions which will cause the drifting of snow.

BRITS SEE FUNNY SIDE OF BEAST FROM EAST

When BBC News tweeted that warnings have been issued as 'Beast from the East Two' hits the South East, it prompted a gale of funny responses from locked-in Brits:

KENT SEEING SNOW!

Snow is already starting to fall around northern parts of Kent.

This could shortly spread eastwards towards Berkshire and Cambridgeshire, says Sky Weather.

Meanwhile, Andrew Openshaw, minister of Homelands Free Church, Frinton/Walton-on-the-Naze, has tweeted this update:

STORM DARCY BRINGS SNOW

Thanks to Storm Darcy, we'll see significant and persistent snow today across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and London, says Sky Weather.

Up to 30cm of snow could fall on high ground, particularly around the north Kent Downs.

Between five-15cm of the white stuff is predicted to hit elsewhere.

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE FOR WALES V IRELAND?

Sky Weather reports that for today's match in Cardiff the weather will be "cold - in fact it will be bitterly cold everywhere".

However, Wales won't see as much snow as those living further east.

BEAST FROM THE EAST II - POWER CUTS WARNING

Brits have been urged to check on those who are elderly and vulnerable as cold and snowy weather sweeps in, thanks to the 'Beast from the East Two'.

As an amber snow alert is in place, travel woes and power cuts are likely across parts of east and south-east England until Monday morning.

Yellow snow and ice warnings are also in force for most of England, along with Scotland and eastern Wales.

MILLIONS TO SEE SNOW TODAY

Here's what those weather warnings look like:

BRRRRRRACE YOURSELVES!

Good morning.

Plenty of us will see a very cold day indeed - and there'll be lots of snow.

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place across huge swathes of the country today.

Meanwhile, an amber warning is in place between Norwich and Dover in the east.

COLD POSES DANGER TO HEALTH

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a cold weather alert for the whole of England from today through to Wednesday.

Dr Owen Landeg, of PHE, said: "Cold weather isn't just uncomfortable, it can have a serious impact on health.

"For older people and those with heart and lung problems, it can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

"So it's really crucial at this time, especially ahead of a potentially very cold snap, to remember to check on frail or older neighbours or relatives, especially those living alone or who have serious illnesses."

BIG CHILL WILL LAST UNTIL MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK

Various warnings for snow and ice across the eastern length of Britain are in place until Wednesday.

Glasgow City Council said it had sent its gritters last night to outlying priority routes and areas around vaccine centres in light of the "chilly" time ahead.

It comes as many parts of Scotland and north-east England could see 2cm to 5cm of snow, with 10cm to 15cm possible in regions above 200m.

Heavy disruptive snow is expected in south-east England along with 40-50mph wind gusts that could cause snow drifts today through to Monday morning, according to the Met Office.