Severe weather warnings have been issued after a cold snap brought snow, ice and hurricane-force winds to the UK yesterday, leaving the country facing a day of transport chaos and forcing people to leave their homes.
More than 3,000 people in Skegness, Lincolnshire, were evacuated last night, while 4,000 villagers in Jaywick, near Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, were relocated away from the coast. Army personnel are on standby to help in towns vulnerable to storm surges and flooding.
Essex Police Chief Inspector Russ Cole told the East Anglian Daily Times there was "a perfect storm brewing" with high spring tides and a storm surge.
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The Met Office warned of an incoming flurry of "thundersnow" - a thunderstorm with snow instead of rain - and the worst of the weather came during the evening rush-hour, causing delays and cancellations.
In the capital, Heathrow, the UK's largest airport, grounded 80 flights in anticipation of snow and Gatwick cancelled a further four.
The bad weather has also hit the trains. Southwest rail has experienced severe delays, while Canary Wharf Tube station was evacuated due to a flood.
Floods minister Therese Coffey said: "Our absolute priority is protecting lives, homes and businesses from the threat of coastal flooding currently facing the east coast.
"That is why we have soldiers on the ground helping to warn and evacuate people alongside the emergency services and Environment Agency teams, who are putting up temporary defences."
In particular, coastal towns and villages along the North Sea could be hit by large waves and potential flooding, the Environment Agency warned. More than four miles of temporary barriers have been set up at various points along the east coast to protect the most vulnerable areas.
People have also been advised to stay away from coastal paths and avoid driving through flood water.
The unusually cold weather is due to last into Saturday, with up to eight inches of snow forecast to fall in some parts of the country. Scotland could also see temperatures plummet as low as -10C.
