Revellers in Britain hoping to see in 2001 at street parties face very cold conditions which are likely to sweep many parts of the UK on New Year's Eve, weather experts warned.
Forecasters issued an early warning of sleet, snow and freezing rain as the cold spell continues with no sign of warmer weather until later on New Year's Day.
Snow is expected on higher ground in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England with freezing rain in the Midlands and East Anglia. But south-east England is expected to escape the worst of the weather.
Where there is snowfall, it is expected to turn to rain later on New Year's night as temperatures rise.
"Over higher ground in Scotland there will be white-out conditions for a time during the night," a forecaster said.
New Year's Day will be noticeably milder, bringing dangers of a thaw and possible flooding.
The coldest temperature reading of the winter so far in Britain, minus 13C (9F), was recorded overnight at Creden Hill, Hereford.
Partygoers in Edinburgh were urged by police to protect themselves from the cold weather.
The big freeze continued to wreak havoc today.
More heavy snow showers blanketed north east and south west England and northern Scotland while the whole country had to contend with treacherous driving conditions. The AA warned motorists to travel only if it was absolutely necessary and to take blankets in case they got stuck in the snow. Throughout Britain many small roads were impassable due to snow and ice.
It was the AA's busiest day of the year with about 3,000 callouts an hour.
"Conditions have been hellish to drive in, especially in the north-east, Cumbria and parts of Scotland," a spokesman said.
He warned of difficulties on January 2nd when millions of people return to work.
"I would urge motorists to take the car out for a half hour spin before Tuesday morning. This will recharge the battery, and if there are any problems they can be sorted out in good time."
Around 70 postal workers at Liverpool's West Derby sorting office walked out yesterday, claiming weather conditions were too bad to deliver mail.
Fog and heavy traffic caused chaos on stretches of the southbound carriageway of the M6 motorway, Cheshire police said.
"We have standing traffic from Lymm through to Sandbach. As I understand it, it is because of the sheer volume of traffic and because of poor visibility," a spokeswoman said.
There was some good news for travellers when Luton airport returned to normal after 15,000 passengers were left stranded because of the bad weather.
An airport spokesman said 63 out of 68 flights due to leave were cancelled due to the weather conditions.
Temperatures in central England fell to as low as minus 13C overnight as heavy snow blanketed Scotland, north-east and south-west England.
In the Swiss canton of Ticino, several roads and the local airport were blocked by snow yesterday.
Police in the French town of Rouen found the body of a 62year-old homeless man yesterday who had died from the cold.
In Moscow, three people have died over the past 24 hours from hypothermia and another 30 required hospital treatment, RIA-Novosti cited the emergencies ministry as saying.
The latest fatalities brought the death toll this winter to 78.
Flooding was causing most problems in the Yugoslav republic of Montenegro. Almost 20 inches (50 cm) of rain has fallen over the last two days sparking the worst flooding in Montenegro since 1986. About 40 families were evacuated from the town of Cetinje, where a state of "natural disaster" had been declared.