Snow and rain swept in from the south-west during the early hours of Sunday with heavy snow falling over the Midlands and Wales this morning.

Even parts of London woke up to snow on Sunday morning, with the north of the capital enjoying a white start to the day. 

High Wycombe, north-west of London, got five and half inches (14cm) of snow, while Hereford saw more than six inches (16cm). 

Almost 12 inches of snow (30cm) have fallen in the exposed area of Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons in Wales so far today. 

The chilly temperatures are expected to continue throughout the week ahead but it appears as though the snow showers will be replaced by outbreaks of rain and sleet, particularly in the south east.

Flights were suspended at Birmingham airport and Luton airport due to snow this morning as travel chaos unfolded across the UK today.

Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze dubbed today “Snow Sunday” and warned that a snow bomb is leading to disruption across the UK. 

He said: “It will really pelt down, meeting the definition of a ‘snow bomb’, an expression used when at least four inches of snow fall in a few hours as significant disruption always results.”

Drivers have been warned to “think twice” before they get behind the wheel with temperatures set to plummet to -10 and -12C in snowy areas tonight.

The Met Office amber ‘be prepared’ warning of snow will remain in place across central England and parts of Wales until 6pm this evening. 

There is also a yellow warning of snow across Northern Ireland, huge swathes of England and parts of Wales and Scotland until midnight. 

Met Office meteorologist Luke Miall said it was “bone chillingly cold” across central parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. 

He said: “We then run into this area of rain, sleet and yes quite a lot of snow through this central swathe. 

“And that snow will continue through much of the day, 10-20cm falling in places. It really is going to be quite disruptive.” 

The UK Snow Map below shows where it is snowing in the UK right now based on the latest tweets with the hashtag #UKsnow from across the country.  

Met Office forecaster Steven Keate said: "The worst of the snow is currently across parts of Wales and the west and southern Midlands, while there is some snow falling over the home counties as well.

"Herefordshire, Shropshire and Powys have seen a few centimetres in a couple of hours.

"Steady snow is expected as this weather system moves over the next few hours into the afternoon roughly from mid-Wales to the north of London." 

He said there will be "mostly rain" south of the M4 corridor, adding: "North of the Humber should get away with it today, although there may be showers in the far north of Scotland.” 

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin warned that snowfall could become “pretty significant” on Sunday especially in the Midlands, north Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland. 

He said that there could be “disruptive snow" in these areas but is still uncertainty about how far south and north the snow showers will go.  

London Luton airport tweeted: “All flights temporarily suspended. Operations expected to resume at 11.30am.” 

There were just over four inches (11cm) of snow at Aviemore in Inverness in Scotland and just under four inches (10cm) at Lough Fea in Londonderry on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, there were two and three-quarter inches (7cm) in Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons and one and a half (4cm) in Leek in Staffordshire yesterday. 

A heavy snowstorm caused a huge pileup involving 11 cars on the A19 motorway southbound in County Durham.

The incident happened around 8pm on Sunday between the Wolviston and Billingham turn off.

One driver told the Mail Online that conditions on the A19 were “horrendous”.

They added: “Thick snow and slush on the road, heavy snow falling and no street lighting made visibility very poor.

“Everyone was going 30 to 40mph and staying in the slow lane but it was quite frightening.”

Police confirmed that no one was injured in the pileup, which caused the road to be closed until midnight.