Britain to be blanketed in snow this weekendPA


There's no doubting winter is well and truly here! Snow is expected to cover much of Britain later today, bringing warnings over road and rail disruption.

Weather forecasters have predicted that up to four inches of snow will fall in central, eastern and south east England, with the heaviest falls coming after dusk, according to the BBC.

Highland areas of Scotland, most of England - apart from Devon and Cornwall - and most of Wales are expected to be affected.

BBC Weather forecaster Laura Gilchrist said there was "potential for transport disruption", adding: "Before hitting the roads you should be prepared. Take shovels, warm clothes and fully charged phones. If you're travelling by rail, check the websites first."

According to the Telegraph, most of England will not get warmer than freezing point all day, with a maximum temperature of 3C in some areas.

The paper says the Department of Transport is better prepared than ever for the cold snap, with 2.4 million tons of salt stockpiled for use.

The 'big freeze' has seen temperatures plummeting to five degrees lower than the average for February, according to The Sun, which said the mercury hit -11C in Chesham, Bucks, this morning.

Popular holiday hotspots in Europe are also experiencing a bitterly cold spell, with Berlin shivering at -14C, Prague wrapping up against -17C, and Italy experiencing its coldest week for 27 years.

In China, meanwhile, over 200 boats became trapped this week as the sea actually froze over.

In pictures: Winter 2012