Parts of the Yorkshire Dales are under a blanket of snow as the first significant fall of the winter has dropped on the nation as the record-breaking temperatures of December give way to a freezing January.
Forecasters say up to 10cm could fall today with parts of Northumberland and County Durham also hit by heavy snow.
One of the worst-hit routes was the A696 which heads north-west from Newcastle through Northumberland.
Otterburn Castle was a picturesque sight as its grounds were covered with snow but the weather poses tricky driving conditions for motorists.
The snow was triggered by a band of wet weather moved north and eastwards across the region which turned wintry after hitting cold air from the Arctic which has been dubbed the Beast from the East.
The Examiner forecaster Paul Stevens has said that there is every likelihood of snow on the hills around town .
Great drone footage of the heavy snowfall last winter courtesy of John Longson
A Met Office forecaster said: “An active, showery frontal zone will move across southern Scotland and northern England during Friday morning.
“While rain is more likely along southwestern coasts, as this frontal zone meets colder air inland the rain is likely to turn to sleet and snow, especially over higher ground, but occasionally to some lower levels too.”
Let's hope the gritting problems have been ironed out from last winter
Looking ahead on the long-range forecasts, weather bosses at Exacta Weather say the UK could experience extreme winter weather until March, rivalling one of the coldest winters on record in 1962/63.
James Madden said: “We could see a much colder period until March with a multitude of snow events after snow events in response to low pressure systems clashing with the almost stagnated and cooler air that will be in place across the British Isles.”
Snow on Bolster Moor
The Met Office said current weather models suggest a switch to much colder conditions through the start of the 2016.
Its three-month outlook states that after the milder start to the year temperatures will plunge in later this month.
Remember the heavy snow of winter 2010?
