Snow began to fall in Wales in the early hours of Friday morning and moved east and north across the country, hitting transport networks and disrupting travel plans along the way.
Over 3,000 schools were closed across the UK, meaning some sixth-form and college students saw their A-level exams postponed.
And as rush hour begins motorists are advised to take extra care and to avoid the roads if possible, amid strong winds, plunging temperatures and the looming threat of blizzards. Delays and road closures littered Hampshire and Wales earlier in the day and parts of the M4 and M50 were closed.
The Met Office issued a rare "red warning" for parts of south Wales and around 10,000 people experienced power cuts earlier on Friday, most of them in Pembrokeshire, with around 5,000 houses remaining without power into the afternoon. Merthyr Tydfil was among the worst hit areas, with reports of panic buying causing some local shops running out of stock.
Weather forecasters predict around 30cm of snow will fall in some areas during Friday afternoon while gusts could reach galeforce of 40-45mph around Scottish isles.