SNOW has started to fall in Surrey this morning - and in higher parts of the county it has settled, giving a quarter inch layer on roads.
Met Office radars show a small band of snow showers have moved down from the West Midlands and have crossed southern England giving a slight covering on roads left frosty after earlier, moonlit, clearer spells.
A snow shower arrived at about 5am and affected Reigate, Charlwood, Gatwick Airport and surrounding villages.
The temperature had fallen earlier to -1C (30F) at 4am in Reigate, so the snow settled on cars, pavements and gardens, making for difficult conditions for milkmen on their early rounds.
At Reigate Grammar School at 5.30am, the temperature was 0.3C (32F)and at Gatwick and Charlwood, 0C.
At Gatwick, the temperature fell to -0.7C (31F) at 4am.
The Met Office radars show another possible band of wintry showers moving down from the north west in a few hours' time but most places should not see any significant snow although it will remain cold and cloudy in many places.
In his long-range forecast issued four weeks ago, Surrey weatherman Ian Currie, said that after a mild first three weeks of January, it would turn much colder at the end of the month, with frost and some snow. Mr Currie predicted that the cold weather would last into the first two weeks of February.
The Met Office forecast is for a very cold week ahead with sharp frosts at night and occasional wintry showers. There is a small risk of a band of sleet and snow affecting Southern counties on Tuesday but most of any snow should be to the west of Surrey, the Met Office said.
Mr Currie said yesterday that the threat of snow is never very far away over the next few days.
8am UPATE: More sleet and snow showers affecting East Surrey and Mole Valley. 8am temperature at Reigate Grammar School: 0.8c with moderate sleet and snow shower falling.
This band of snow showers is expected to move away soon.
