The "Beast from the East" delivers an arctic blast across Greater Manchester
Forecasters predict up to 10cm of snow could fall on Tuesday.
The Beast from the East has delivered on its promise of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures as Greater Manchester ground to a halt over the morning rush hour.
Roads across the North West have already seen a blanketing of snow, with motorway police reporting treacherous driving conditions and blocked routes.
The Met Office is predicting heavy showers will continue throughout the morning and cripple much of the country's travel network.
Trains have also been affected by the snowfall, with cancellations and disruption to flights out of Manchester Airport.
Conditions are not likely to improve for several days, with forecasters warning that snow will continue well into the week.
Forecaster Frank Saunders said parts of the country could see their "coldest spell of weather since at least 2013, and possibly since 1991''.
It is expected that the mercury could plummet to minus 15C by midweek where there is snow on the ground, rivalling temperatures forecast for parts of northern Norway and Iceland.
From Thursday, forecasters predict that another weather system, Storm Emma, will bring blizzards, gales and sleet as it meets the chilly "Beast from the East'' later this week.
The storm, named by the Portuguese Met Service, will move north through Europe and is due to hit the UK on Thursday and Friday, and will be "significantly disruptive'', bringing the risk of power cuts and transport delaysSnow