- British Airways have cancelled 80 flights after London is forecast to be hit with cold temperatures and snow
- Round trip flights to Aberdeen and Milan have been cancelled, alongside routes to Edinburgh and Dublin
- Outbreaks of snow and freezing temperatures will make this week the coldest of the winter, forecasters warn
- Series of weather warnings have been put in place, with widespread ice and sleet due throughout next week
- The mercury could plummet as low as -14C in parts of UK, with sub-zero temperatures widely expected
- Commuters in south east of England are facing treacherous conditions during this morning's rush hour
By Alex Matthews and Amie Gordon For Mailonline
Published: 02:23 GMT, 5 February 2018 | Updated: 21:57 GMT, 5 February 2018
Heathrow's Terminal 5 has been left almost entirely empty after British Airways cancelled 80 short-haul flights as Britain suffers what forecasters have predicted will be the coldest week of the winter so far.
Snow is predicted to fall across the majority of the UK tonight as the country prepares for the freezing weather.
Temperatures have fallen as low as -13.7C in the Highlands and are forecast to be similarly icy tonight.
Meanwhile British Airways has left passengers stranded and out of pocket after cancelling the flights out of London Heathrow as the capital is set to be hit by a flurry of snow.
The Met Office has warned this week could be the coldest of the winter, with many waking today to a blanket of snow.
There was heavy snowfall and ice across much of the UK as temperatures overnight fell to -6C in Katesbridge, Northern Ireland, -4.7C in Loch Glascarnoch, Scotland and around -3 across southern England and London.
Drivers suffered the consequences of the poor conditions in Kent, with five multiple-vehicle collisions involving 15 cars between junction 8 and 9 of the M20 last night.
Excited Londoners shared pictures of snow flurries across the capital this morning, with snow fall across Greenwich, the Royal Victoria Docks and Clapham.
But Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill has now warned temperatures could plunge as low as -14C in Scotland and the north and -4C in London overnight on Tuesday, with freezing temperatures across the UK into Wednesday.
The biting cold is likely to remain throughout February, according to Mr Burkill, with below average temperatures dipping below zero.
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The 02 Arena in Greenwich, London was barely visible behind snow fall during the Monday morning rush hour
Heathrow's Terminal 5 (pictured) has been left almost entirely empty after British Airways cancelled 80 short-haul flights as Britain suffers what forecasters have predicted will be the coldest week of the winter so far
British Airways has left passengers stranded and out of pocket after cancelling 80 short-haul flights out of London Heathrow as the capital is set to be hit by a flurry of snow. Pictured: Terminal 5 at the airport today
Despite just a tiny layer of snow falling in London (pictured, Greenwich) BA has been forced to apologise to travellers after the airline cancelled short-haul flights due to 'ensure the safety' of passengers and staff
BA said that flights from London Heathrow would be operating back again from tomorrow and apologised for any inconvenience caused (pictured, sleet falls in Greenwich, south London)
Tonight it could dip to -3 across England and Wales and -8 in Scotland, according to the Met Office.
Mr Burkill said: 'There are indications of quite a prolonged cold period.'
Snow is set to fall in almost every part of the country in the coming days, with this week predicted to be one of the coldest of the winter so far.
Sub-zero temperatures are expected widely on Monday night and could drop to -6C in parts of northern England and the Midlands, the Met Office said.
A band of rain, sleet and snow will sweep in across Scotland and Northern Ireland overnight.
Between 1cm and 3cm of snow will fall widely and hilly areas could see up to 5cm, before the weather pushes into northern England and Wales.
Temperatures will dip further on Tuesday night – and could sink as low as -11C in parts of Scotland and northern England.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville was caught up in the chaos at Heathrow Airport, slamming British Airways as the 'worst airline I've ever seen'
Neville added that he deems British Airways a 'shambles'. The airline earlier decided to stop services over 'safety' concerns with routes to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Milan, Dublin and Manchester all effected
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the first full week of February will probably be 'one of our coldest weeks of this winter so far'.
British Airways earlier decided to stop services over 'safety' concerns with routes to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Milan, Dublin and Manchester all effected.
Flights are expected to be back running by tomorrow but BA has advised all customers to leave plenty of time for their journeys and check for updates before setting out.
Travellers have reacted furiously at the cancellations, with many left out of pocket or forced to rearrange their journeys.
On Twitter one fumed: 'Paid extra to fly @british_airways instead of the (more convenient) flights on the budget airlines.
'They then cancel my flight 24 hours before departure and don't answer my calls. Finally get on a flight and they subsequently lose my bag. Exceptional performance BA!'
Man Utd fans fume at 'shocking treatment' by BA
Manchester United fans heading to Munich have been left furious after British Airways cancelled 80 short-haul flights from London Heathrow over sleet and snow on the runway
Supporters travelling to Germany for the 60th anniversary of the Busby Babes tragedy were left forking out for rearranged travel and waiting for connections after the airline halted services over concerns about 'safety'.
BA took the measures despite London suffering barely an inch of snow, with routes to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Milan and Dublin also effected.
Travellers from Manchester hoping to arrive in the Bavarian city prior to tomorrow's commemoration, which marks the death of 23 people, including 11 United players and staff, have reacted angrily online.
One supporter fumed: 'Mufc fans heading Manchester-Munich via Heathrow not got on BA flight this morning due to over booking their flight cancelled. Shocking treatment by BA.'
Another fan said: 'Never fly BA ever again. Cancelled 2 flights less than 16 hours before take off cost £424 to rebook.'
One Man U fan wrote: 'Loads of reds have had their BA flights cancelled from London to Munich as well… #poorisnottheword'
Another supporter tweeted: 'Spot on @GNev2 @British_Airways you're a disgrace! Cancelled 26 of our flights for a connecting flight to Munich today! Shocking!'
Another wrote: 'Thanks @British_Airways and @kiwicom247 for ruining my weekend. BA cancelled flight from Lyon 24 hrs in advance for adverse weather. All other flights seemed fine. Enjoyed spending £400 to get Home.'
One passenger fumed: '@British_Airways joke that you're Glasgow and Edinburgh fights were cancelled due to predicted snowfall. Bulls***. First and last time flying with BA.'
One ranted: 'Flight cancelled tomorrow morning to Zagreb adverse weather conditions here or there?'
Another said: 'Thank you British Airways – first time I choose to fly with you and I only find out from a colleague that you've cancelled our flight No text, email or anything to let me know! And you rebooked me without consulting me. #disappointed #britishairways'
Manchester United supporters were also caught up in the disruption, with some forced to find alternative arrangements as they travelled to Germany to take part in the 60th anniversary commemoration of the Munich air disaster.
One supporter wrote: 'Mufc fans heading Manchester-Munich via Heathrow not got on BA flight this morning due to over booking their flight cancelled. Shocking treatment by BA.'
Another fan said: 'Never fly BA ever again. Cancelled 2 flights less than 16 hours before take off cost £424 to rebook.'
There was a wintry scene in Hastings, East Sussex this morning after plunging overnight temperatures led to a thick blanket of snow
Residents in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester had to clear snow from their cars ahead of the Monday morning commute
Hardy dog walkers had to wrap up warm and brave the cold in the village of Plaxtol, Kent this morning
Snow covered Cheviot Hill in Northumberland as seen here from Blyth beach on the North East coast
A series of severe weather warnings have been put in place, with widespread ice and sleet until the following weekend, the Met Office said (pictured right: ice warnings for this morning)
The Met Office said ice was likely to form until today along the east coast as temperatures plummet, bringing potentially difficult driving conditions.
Meteorologist Alex Burkill said conditions could plunge to minus double figures on Tuesday night in Scotland and the north.
The coldest night of the year so far was seen in Kinbrace, Scotland where it fell to -13.7C – and it could get chillier on Tuesday.
Mr Burkill said there could be a chance of snow on Tuesday night with lows of -4 in London.
The cold snap is expected to grip Britain until at least next weekend, with the chance that milder weather may not arrive until the middle of the following week
Five year old Scarlett Cox plays in the snow on her way to school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent after snow fell overnight
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across London – where flurries could be seen this morning
Drivers have already suffered the consequences of poor weather conditions in Kent, with five multiple-vehicle collisions taking place between junction 8 and 9 of the M20
There have been up to five multiple vehicle collisions on the M20 with drivers suffering minor injuries as a result
Kent Police urged motorists to take care and allow extra time for journeys as officers responded to crashes on the M20 near Maidstone
Left, heavy snowfall overnight in Whitstable in Kent and right, snow-topped trees in Royal Tunbridge Wells
Mr Snell said the working week would start on a 'bitterly cold' note, with the bulk of the population waking up to temperatures between 0C to -2C.
He said: 'It's going to be a cold week, plenty of dry weather around, but many places will probably see some snow at some point during the week, but for a lot of us not really amounting to much at all.
'Probably one of our coldest weeks of this winter so far, but snow-fall wise, doesn't really look too disruptive at this stage.'
The mercury could plummet as low as -7C in sheltered parts of Scotland and spots most prone to the cold in the Midlands and Wales on Monday.
A snow and ice weather warning has been issued for Wales, Northern Ireland, most of Scotland and northern England, beginning on Monday night from 8pm and continuing until 3pm on Tuesday.
Forecasters say snow is likely to be confined to hills above 100 metres over Northern Ireland and low levels elsewhere.
Between 1-3cm of snow is possible away from the coasts, with up to 5cm predicted above 200 metres.
Then, between 9pm today and 3pm on Tuesday, there is a further chance of snow and ice for the north of England, northern Ireland, north Wales and Scotland.
One Twitter user shared pictures as they awoke to the snowy scene in their garden in Suffolk this morning
Photographs across social media depict a snowy scene this morning, as seen here in Uckfield, East Sussex
One car is left with a smashed back end after sleet causes slush on the M20 between junctions 8 and 9 in Kent
A spell of rain, sleet and increasingly snow will move east across the UK, gradually weakening across England and Wales.
Mr Snell added: 'Quite a lot of the UK will see some snow as we head through Tuesday but as it ventures into the Midlands, south-west England and eventually later in the day across south-east England, it's just going to be a few flakes of snow.
'So many people will see some snow but don't expect to build a snowman.'
Tuesday morning is again expected to be widely below freezing, with highs of 5 to 6C in spots on the western coast of Wales and south-west England, he added.
Overnight into Wednesday will be another chilly night, while the day will generally be cold, crisp and sunny.
People took to social media to share images of the snowy scenes they woke up to across Suffolk, Scotland and Kent
A front of rain is expected to move through the country on Thursday, before the cold air swiftly returns.
The cold snap is expected to grip Britain until at least next weekend, with the chance that milder weather may not arrive until the middle of the following week.
Kent Police said two crashes took place in the space of one minute on Monday morning, at 8.29am and 8.30am between junctions eight and nine of the M20.
The first saw a car overturn, leaving one person with minor injuries, while across the carriageway a lorry and a van collided, flipping the van and injuring one passenger.
Police said conditions were poor on a wider part of the network.
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