The "Beast from the East" strikes Britain and Europe

200 Million people in Danger - Stationary Nor'Easter & River Flooding & Atmospheric River

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Europe freezes, Mediterranean snowed under

RNZ

Much of Europe has been blanketed in snow as cold weather spreads as far south as the Mediterranean coast.

A snowman is seen in front of the ancient Colosseum during a heavy snowfall on 26 February, 2018 in Rome. Photo: AFP

The cold spell, nicknamed "the Beast from the East" in the UK, is carrying freezing winds across the continent, and temperatures as low as -30°C.

At least seven people have been reported dead since Monday - five in Poland and two in Romania.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has appealed to the public to check on at-risk neighbours.

"Just knocking on someone's door to check they have everything they need can make a huge difference," the ICRC's Europe director, Simon Missiri, said.

"It could even be the difference between life and death."

Several trucks and cars, covered with snow, stand deserted after a pileup on February 27, 2018 near Sjobo, southern Sweden. Photo: AFP

Red Cross emergency teams have opened shelters and are providing hot food and blankets for thousands of people across the continent, it said.

Polish police said five people had died on Monday as the temperature dropped. Police have appealed to the public to assist the infirm - or the intoxicated - who have fallen in the snow.

Two more were reported to have died in Romania on Tuesday. One of the dead was an 83-year-old woman who was found collapsed in the snow, while another was a 65-year-old man, Reuters news agency reports.

Romanian police said they had closed dozens of roads, and that almost 100 trains had been cancelled.

On Tuesday, snow was seen on the excavation site of the ancient city of Pompeii, near Naples in southern Italy - where the average February temperature is 6°C to 14°C.

Naples saw its heaviest snowfall in decades, and the cold weather also hit Rome on Monday - its first snowfall in six years.

Germany's meteorological office, meanwhile, recorded a temperature of -30° at Zugspitze, the country's highest peak, and lows well below -10°C in most of the country.

AFP news agency reports a total death toll of at least 24 people in the past four days, adding that many of the deaths involved those sleeping rough in cities.

That includes three rough sleepers in France, three in the Czech Republic, and one in Italy, it said.

Emergency shelters have been opened by many authorities to cope with the needs of homeless citizens.

The cold weather is expected to continue until late in the week.

BBC weather said an approaching area of low pressure in the Atlantic would result in heavy snow - followed by rain - hitting France and northern Spain.

In northern Europe, biting cold winds are expected to continue, with more snow expected to reach the UK and Ireland by Thursday.

- BBC

 This picture was taken in Norwich last night, how is it that the shop manaquins are warmer than the people sleeping in this tent?

Red Alert:Highest level of danger as snow and ice cause UK travel chaos

Severe weather caused major travel disruption across the UK and Ireland on Wednesday as the “Beast from the East” tightened its grip.

Road closures, stranded vehicles and cancellations were widespread due to snow and ice.

Services on trains and planes were disrupted, with travellers urged to check with their transport provider before setting off on journeys.

Rail passengers were warned to avoid travelling to or from Scotland for all of Wednesday and into Thursday.

Meanwhile, hundreds of schools across Britain were closed for a second day.

Forecasters predicted the snow and freezing temperatures would not let up any time soon, prompting the Met Office to extend some of its weather warnings.

Rail companies warned delays may continue into Friday.

British Airways said the weather was likely to continue disrupting flights throughout the week.

From Thursday, forecasters predict that another weather system, Storm Emma, will bring blizzards, gales and sleet.

To follow the Independent's Live Updates GO HERE

From the BBC which hides as much as it reveals

Europe freezes as 'Beast from the East' arrives

Much of Europe has been blanketed in snow as cold weather spreads as far south as the Mediterranean coast.

The cold spell, nicknamed "the Beast from the East" in the UK, is carrying freezing winds across the continent, and temperatures as low as -30C (-22F).

At least 10 people have died since Monday, including many who were sleeping rough in cities.

Aid groups have opened shelters and are providing hot food and blankets for thousands of people.

The cold weather - called the "Siberian bear" by the Dutch and "snow cannon" by Swedes - brought rare snowfalls to parts of Spain and Italy and to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Capri.

Dozens of roads were closed and trains and flights cancelled across the continent. Hundreds of schools suspended classes and some businesses advised workers to stay at home.

Many regions were put on alert as the frigid temperatures were expected to continue until the end of the week.

Emergency shelters have been opened by many authorities to cope with the needs of homeless citizens. In Belgium, police were allowed to detain people overnight if they refused to go to shelters.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appealed to the public to check on at-risk neighbours.

"Just knocking on someone's door to check they have everything they need can make a huge difference," its Europe director, Simon Missiri, said. "It could even be the difference between life and death."

At least five people died in Poland while four deaths were reported in France, including a nonagenarian who was found outside the gate to her retirement home, AFP news agency reports.

Three deaths were confirmed in Lithuania and two in Romania, including an 83-year-old woman found collapsed in the snow.

A 47-year-old homeless man died in the Italian city of Milan.

The toll across Europe could be as high as 24, AFP adds.

Rome saw its first snowfall in six years while Naples had its heaviest snowfall in decades. On Tuesday, snow was seen on the excavation site of the ancient city of Pompeii, near Naples in southern Italy - where the average February temperature is 6-14C.

Germany's meteorological office, meanwhile, recorded a temperature of -30C at Zugspitze, the country's highest peak, and lows well below -10C in most of the country.

In the French capital Paris, where temperatures dipped to -6C, commuters shared pictures of stalactites on the walls of at least two metro stations.

Authorities have also warned of treacherous conditions on roads and in the Spanish region of Catalonia the public were advised to avoid driving if possible.

BBC Weather says biting cold winds are expected to continue in northern Europe while more snow should reach the UK and Ireland by Thursday.

The UK is experiencing what is predicted to be the coldest week of the winter season in five years with temperatures reaching almost -12C in some areas

This is the "Beast from the East" - actually from the North Pole - which is causing an emergency, especially in Scotland where whole towns are isolated.