Photos : St Patrick's Day revellers are told to STAY HOME as forecasters warn 'dangerously cold' temperatures

St Patrick's Day revellers have been told to stay indoors tonight as a 'mini Beast from the East' is set to hit swathes of the country during an 18-hour barrage of sub-zero temperatures and snow storms.

The Met Office has issued amber warnings for snow and ice in London, Yorkshire, the south of England and the Midlands, with weather expected to cause major transport disruptions and power cuts in these areas.

The temperature tonight will be around -4C but forecasters say the winds will be 'dangerously cold' and will pose a 'serious threat' to anyone not wrapped up appropriately, lasting from 4pm today until 9am tomorrow morning.


More than 100 flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled this morning while flyers at Luton, London City and Leeds Bradford Airport were delayed on the tarmac due to blizzards.

Forecaster Keates says travellers should expect similar delays until tomorrow night. He said: 'The combination of snow, fast winds and freezing temperatures will likely cause a lot of public transport disruptions well into tomorrow.

'Airports were affected today and we expect that to continue into tomorrow too, as well as maybe buses and trains in some areas.'


Eleven people were rescued after two rowing boats and an accompanying safety boat capsized in the River Stour in Bournemouth.   

Most of the group were teenage girls along with one adult in the safety vessel.

The RNLI, police, fire services, ambulances and coastguard crews attended the incident, which took place shortly after 11am, the Bournemouth Echo reported. 

The Met Office warns of slips and falls on icy surfaces as 'strong easterly winds will lead to some temporary blizzard conditions and drifting of snow'.

Keates said: 'Snowfall will likely to get heavier and along with the ice it will cause power outages and travel disruptions.

'There has already been some disruptions, with reports of snow at Heathrow, Luton and London City Airport this morning.

'By the end of the day, most places will have seen some snow, with the potential for up to 15cm to fall on higher ground in the South West on Sunday. 

'And even when it clears tomorrow it will be bitterly cold. You'll be lucky to get anything above zero degrees all day.'


'Sunday is also likely to see further snow, especially for parts of the South West, where as much as 25cm could fall on higher ground.

'Even at lower levels we could see 5-10cm or even 10-15cm. It's not common for these areas to see this type of snow - it won't be the same amount we saw a few weeks ago, but it is still likely to be enough to cause some problems.'

Drivers have also been urged to be prepared before setting out on journeys this weekend, with Highways England advising motorists to avoid trans-Pennine roads 'if possible', including the busy M62 and M1.