Forecasters also warned how roads across the UK could be too dangerous to drive on, with more than 20cm of snow expected to fall across the country up until midday.
Amber warnings have been issued for snow showers this morning, covering the South East and North East of England and the East Midlands.
The Met Office revealed how the snow storm could lead to people becoming stranded in their cars along with further rail and air cancellations.
This morning, pictures emerged of traffic struggling through a blanket of snow on the A19 in Teeside.
Forecaster Marco Petagna said there would be some "quite treacherous driving conditions" due to the snow, as many make their way into work.
He added: "Most people will have to travel, but if you don't have to travel - it is best to try to avoid if you can within those amber warnings."
The Met Office also warned how communities across the UK could become cut off by the freezing weather - completely shutting down power lines and cutting off mobile phones.
On the roads Highways England has warned of hazardous driving conditions across much of the UK as snow began to settle overnight.
The A249 in Kent has been shut due to a crash, between junction 7 for the M20 and junction 5 for the M2, while the A1231 in the North East was blocked by an overturned lorry near the A182.
North Yorkshire Police said snow and ice was affecting most of the roads in the area, with roads around Harrogate and Craven particularly treacherous with the also A19 closed after a crash.
North West Motorway Police reported that some lanes on motorways in the area were blocked due to the snow.
Merseyside Police urged people to take care while driving, and said the force had received reports of a crash on the M62 just before junction 5.
And the North West Motorway Police tweeted that it was on the scene of a crash on the M6 eastbound at junction 5 after a car span across all three lanes and hit a tree.
National Rail is strongly advising travellers to check online before making their journey and allow extra time to get to the station.
The train companies they are currently listing as affected include: c2c, Greater Anglia, London Overground, South Western Railway, Southeastern, Stansted Express, TfL Rail.
In the capital Transport for London has reported that TfL Rail services will be suspended until 7am this morning.
Only a limited service of six trains per hour will be in operation between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield, while c2c is also operating a limited timetable.
The Overground has been suspended in parts and their are minor delays affecting the DLR and the Piccadilly line.
Currently all other Underground lines are running a good service.
Southeastern, which operates in Kent, has cancelled dozens of trains, including several to London St Pancras, London Victoria and Cannon Street.
Great Northern said fewer trains will be running between Kings Lynn and Cambridge during the morning peak, with services running hourly instead of half-hourly. Services between Kings Cross and Ely have been cancelled.
Southern will be running an hourly train service on the London Bridge to Uckfield line, with additional coaches, and a shuttle service between Redhill and Tonbridge.
The embattled train operator's website crashed this morning as thousands of workers checked to see if their trains were running.
Greater Anglia said a limited timetable would be in operation today with some 200 trains cancelled.
The company said commuters should visit its website to find out if their trains are running and to work out alternative routes to and from work.
All Greater Anglia trains will operate a reduced service today, tomorrow and Thursday.
Lines serving Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Colchester and Stratford will all be affected.
Shuttle service will operate from Braintree, Clacton and Sudbury.
All other services will run with a less frequent or slower service until Thursday.
Greater Anglia service delivery director Richard Dean said: "The last time such heavy snow fell in this region was over 25 years ago.
"In extreme conditions such as these, we work hard with Network Rail to keep key routes open, using snow ploughs, points heaters and mobilising all staff to clear snow off platforms and heat up and de-ice trains."
He added: "If the forecasts prove wrong, we will of course, do everything possible to get services up and running as soon as possible."
Trains across Essex, including in Laindon, Rainham and Ockendon, will have a heavily reduced service and passengers are advised to check their final departures online.
Rail chiefs have placed emergency 4x4 vehicles on standby to rescue stranded trains on frozen tracks.
Bosses at Arriva Trains Wales - the biggest rail operator in Wales - said stations would be gritted but passengers need to take extra time for their journeys.
Great Northern said fewer trains will be running between Kings Lynn and Cambridge during the morning peak, with services running hourly instead of half-hourly. Services between Kings Cross and Ely have been cancelled.
Southern will be running an hourly train service on the London Bridge to Uckfield line, with additional coaches, and a shuttle service between Redhill and Tonbridge.
British Airways has cancelled dozens of flights from Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, while easyJet said it is expecting disruption to some of its flights and has advised customers to check before they travel.
Passengers are also being advised to check before they travel from Gatwick and Stansted.
East Midlands Airport said it was currently fully operational, but warned passengers to monitor updates throughout the day.
It's set to be the coldest weather in 27 years as the wintry blast sends temperatures tumbling - and more than 20cm of snow could settle by Wednesday.
Amber warnings for snow showers this morning - covering the South East, the East Midlands and the North East - have been issued.
Forecaster Frank Saunders said parts of the country could see their "coldest spell of weather since at least 2013, and possibly since 1991".
The NHS could also struggle to cope with the extra strain caused by the wintry weather, doctors have warned, and people have been encouraged to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
Comment: This brutal winter's record breaking weather documented in epic list - and it's not over yet
The public have also been asked to look out for the homeless and report anyone sleeping rough in the freezing conditions to their local council.
From Thursday forecasters predict that another weather system, Storm Emma, will bring blizzards, gales and sleet as it meets the chilly Beast from the East later this week.
Storm Emma
The storm, named by the Portuguese Met Service, will move north through Europe and is due to hit the UK on Thursday and Friday, and will be "significantly disruptive", bringing the risk of power cuts and transport delays.
Commuters were told to get home by 6pm last night and panic-buying shoppers were clearing supermarket shelves as the Siberian blast gripped the UK.
Shoppers reportedly cleared some supermarkets shelves of bread and milk, while others have reported queues of over an hour, as desperate Brits panic-buy the basics.
Customers at a Tesco Extra branch in Gillingham, Kent, reported seeing chaotic scenes as people barged past each other to stock up.
Similar scenes have been reported in Asda in Sittingbourne and Waitrose in Guernsey, where supplies of milk and bread have been snapped up by the public.
Hundreds of rail services are affected as the coldest spell in five years grips the UK - with conditions only set to worsen this week when Storm Emma hits.
The Siberian chill has sent temperatures plunging to -10C in some parts with seven inches of snow forecast over the next two days.
Conditions will worsen even further tomorrow as Storm Emma - named by the Portuguese Met Office - brings strong winds and a second blast of heavy snow.
Public Health England said the elderly and vulnerable are at "risk of death" as it urged people to take extra care in the unprecedented conditions.
Comment: RT reports:
'Man up!': Britons react to 'Beast from the East' weather storm hitting the UKThundersnow was reported:
As the 'Beast from the East' storm hits the UK, Tweeters have expressed their concerns over the frosty weather conditions. But, while some Brits are stocking up on essentials, others are calling on the public to just "man up."
The Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings as the Siberian air sweeps across the country. This month is tipped to be the coldest February in the UK in the past five years.
The storm has caused quite some reaction on Twitter, alarmist at its worst and hilarious at its best. Some people have announced they are heading to Tesco to stock up on essentials, as they expect to stay indoors until the storm blows over. Others, however, say the panic caused by 'The Beast' has made the UK a laughing stock.
There were also those who managed to politicize the Eastern beast as they tweeted: "Russian snow is settling in the UK. If that happened in the US, Trump would be blaming Obama."
And other areas of Europe are also effected:
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