Heavy snowfall has caused disruptions for commuters across the UK on Friday&nbsp;as drivers abandoned cars and airports have been forced to close runways.

The southwest of England has been worst affected and the Met Office has issued a ''treacherous driving conditions'' warning in some southern areas.

Bristol and Bournemouth airports were forced to close runways while Newquay Airport had been closed completely on Friday morning while British Airways has warned some short-haul flights to and from Heathrow may be cancelled.

Dozens of motorists had abandoned their vehicles overnight on the A30 dual carriageway which has disrupted efforts to clear the road and South West Railway has warned of cancellations while tracks are cleared of snow. 
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Heavy snowfall has caused disruptions for commuters across the UK on Friday as drivers abandoned cars and airports have been forced to close runways. The southwest of England has been worst affected and the Met Office has issued a ''treacherous driving conditions'' warning in some southern areas.

Heavy snowfall has caused disruptions for commuters across the UK on Friday as drivers abandoned cars and airports have been forced to close runways. The southwest of England has been worst affected and the Met Office has issued a ''treacherous driving conditions'' warning in some southern areas. Bristol and Bournemouth airports were forced to close runways while Newquay Airport had been closed completely on Friday morning while British Airways has warned some short-haul flights to and from Heathrow may be cancelled. Dozens of motorists had abandoned their vehicles overnight on the A30 dual carriageway which has disrupted efforts to clear the road and South West Railway has warned of cancellations while tracks are cleared of snow.

Traffic chaos in UK due to heavy snowfall; Bristol, Bournemouth airports close runways

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Fresh snowfall in Kashmir, rains lash plains

Big Pacific storms are set to dump up to seven feet (2.1 meters) of snow in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/california-police-use-genealogy-websites-to-arrest-suspect-in-1990s-rapes-189698&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjb5bjWvPHfAhXLgI8KHaO_DNAQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LDPW6_X1njSfGUVNduApC">California</a>'s Sierra Nevada mountains and several inches of rain elsewhere in the state, forcing evacuations in areas at risk to mudslides.

The first storm moved over Southern California on Tuesday, with rainfall of up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) expected in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and up to 4.5 inches (11.4) in the Santa Monica Mountains, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

Police in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties ordered evacuations from areas damaged by last year's wildfires because of the risk heavy rain would trigger mud and debris flows on charred hillsides.

Significant road closures and travel delays were possible in the Los Angeles area given risks of flash flooding and rockslides, the NWS reported.

An even bigger storm was brewing out at sea and set to hit the coast on Wednesday, Accuweather reported.

Areas north of Santa Barbara were likely to see up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) of rain. As much as seven feet of snow was possible over 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

"The big one is still out in the middle of the Pacific," said AccuWeather meteorologist John Gresiak. "It`s a very powerful storm."

The weather is a boon for California`s farmers and ski areas, given most of the state is recovering from years of drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor.&nbsp;

The wild weather is the result of moisture-laden winds from the Pacific known as "atmospheric rivers."&nbsp;

The first storm will reach the U.S. Midwest and Northeast on Thursday and Friday, gathering more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The second storm will hit the central and eastern United States through the weekend, Gresiak said.

Big Pacific storms are set to dump up to seven feet (2.1 meters) of snow in California's Sierra Nevada mountains and several inches of rain elsewhere in the state, forcing evacuations in areas at risk to mudslides.

Big Pacific storms are set to dump up to seven feet (2.1 meters) of snow in California's Sierra Nevada mountains and several inches of rain elsewhere in the state, forcing evacuations in areas at risk to mudslides. The first storm moved over Southern California on Tuesday, with rainfall of up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) expected in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and up to 4.5 inches (11.4) in the Santa Monica Mountains, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported. Police in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties ordered evacuations from areas damaged by last year's wildfires because of the risk heavy rain would trigger mud and debris flows on charred hillsides. Significant road closures and travel delays were possible in the Los Angeles area given risks of flash flooding and rockslides, the NWS reported. An even bigger storm was brewing out at sea and set to hit the coast on Wednesday, Accuweather reported. Areas north of Santa Barbara were likely to see up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) of rain. As much as seven feet of snow was possible over 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) in the Sierra Nevada mountains. "The big one is still out in the middle of the Pacific," said AccuWeather meteorologist John Gresiak. "It`s a very powerful storm." The weather is a boon for California`s farmers and ski areas, given most of the state is recovering from years of drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. The wild weather is the result of moisture-laden winds from the Pacific known as "atmospheric rivers." The first storm will reach the U.S. Midwest and Northeast on Thursday and Friday, gathering more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The second storm will hit the central and eastern United States through the weekend, Gresiak said.

California storms to dump up to 7 feet snow

&nbsp;A powerful storm lashing the northeastern United States on Friday killed at least five people as winds topping 80 miles per hour (129 km per hour) helped flood streets in Boston, ground flights and halt train service across the region.

Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. Government offices in Washington closed as winds gusted to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in the U.S. capital.

A flood surge at extreme high tide sent seawater into Boston&#39;s coastal streets, the second time this year that the area had flooded. Wind gusts approaching 70 mph (113 kph) helped force in the water while downing trees and power lines.

The high water receded in the afternoon, but the National Weather Service said Boston could face renewed flooding with a near-record high tide forecast around midnight on Friday.

&quot;That one still looks like it&#39;s going to be on target for at least moderate coastal flooding, which means we&#39;re going to see some problems in Boston,&quot; said Jim Hayes, a meteorologist with the agency&#39;s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

Snow and rain are forecast to taper off through Friday night and into Saturday as skies clear, Hayes said, adding that winds are also expected to drop somewhat overnight and into Saturday as the offshore storm system recedes.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, streamlining state aid to communities harmed by high winds.

The storm packed a deadly punch, with a falling tree killing a man in his 70s in Newport, Rhode Island, a police spokesman said.

In Putnam Valley, New York, an 11-year-old boy was killed when a tree crashed into his home, WPIX television reported, citing Putnam County sheriff&#39;s deputies. A spokesman for the sheriff&#39;s department could not be reached for comment.

A 44-year-old male passenger in a truck was killed in James City County, Virginia, when an oak tree toppled onto the vehicle, police said in a statement.

In Chesterfield County, Virginia, a tree fell onto a home and struck a sleeping 6-year-old boy, the county said in a statement. The child died of his injuries at a hospital.

Outside Baltimore, a 77-year-old woman was struck by a falling tree branch at her home near Kingsville, Maryland, a Baltimore County Fire Department spokesman said.

&quot;People need to take this very seriously,&quot; Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told a Thursday press conference, telling people to prepare for a repeat of the flooding that affected much of state&#39;s east coast during the January 4 &quot;bombogenesis&quot; winter storm.&quot;If you live in an area that is told to evacuate, we strongly encourage you do so first thing Friday morning.&quot;

The National Weather Service had coastal flood watches and warnings in place from southern Maine through coastal North Carolina, including New York&#39;s eastern suburbs, and also warned that a snowstorm heading east from the Ohio Valley could drop significant amounts of snow in northern New York State. It forecast storm surges of up to four feet (1.2 m) for eastern Massachusetts.

Federal offices closed on Friday in Washington D.C. while dozens of schools throughout the region canceled classes.

Ocean-facing homes could be destroyed by the storm surge and waves, while people who live in neighborhoods reached by low-lying roads could be cut off from services for hours or days, officials and government forecasters warned.

&quot;This could be another storm with prolonged onshore flooding,&quot; said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with Accuweather, a private forecasting service. Flooding could begin to pick up around high tide, forecast to occur shortly after 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) around Boston, he said.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine

A powerful storm lashing the northeastern United States on Friday killed at least five people as winds topping 80 miles per hour (129 km per hour) helped flood streets in Boston, ground flights and halt train service across the region. Almost 1.7 million homes and businesses were without power in the Northeast and Midwest as the storm pummelled the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. Government offices in Washington closed as winds gusted to more than 60 mph (96 kph) in the U.S. capital. A flood surge at extreme high tide sent seawater into Boston's coastal streets, the second time this year that the area had flooded. Wind gusts approaching 70 mph (113 kph) helped force in the water while downing trees and power lines. The high water receded in the afternoon, but the National Weather Service said Boston could face renewed flooding with a near-record high tide forecast around midnight on Friday. "That one still looks like it's going to be on target for at least moderate coastal flooding, which means we're going to see some problems in Boston," said Jim Hayes, a meteorologist with the agency's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. Snow and rain are forecast to taper off through Friday night and into Saturday as skies clear, Hayes said, adding that winds are also expected to drop somewhat overnight and into Saturday as the offshore storm system recedes. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency, streamlining state aid to communities harmed by high winds. The storm packed a deadly punch, with a falling tree killing a man in his 70s in Newport, Rhode Island, a police spokesman said. In Putnam Valley, New York, an 11-year-old boy was killed when a tree crashed into his home, WPIX television reported, citing Putnam County sheriff's deputies. A spokesman for the sheriff's department could not be reached for comment. A 44-year-old male passenger in a truck was killed in James City County, Virginia, when an oak tree toppled onto the vehicle, police said in a statement. In Chesterfield County, Virginia, a tree fell onto a home and struck a sleeping 6-year-old boy, the county said in a statement. The child died of his injuries at a hospital. Outside Baltimore, a 77-year-old woman was struck by a falling tree branch at her home near Kingsville, Maryland, a Baltimore County Fire Department spokesman said. "People need to take this very seriously," Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker told a Thursday press conference, telling people to prepare for a repeat of the flooding that affected much of state's east coast during the January 4 "bombogenesis" winter storm."If you live in an area that is told to evacuate, we strongly encourage you do so first thing Friday morning." The National Weather Service had coastal flood watches and warnings in place from southern Maine through coastal North Carolina, including New York's eastern suburbs, and also warned that a snowstorm heading east from the Ohio Valley could drop significant amounts of snow in northern New York State. It forecast storm surges of up to four feet (1.2 m) for eastern Massachusetts. Federal offices closed on Friday in Washington D.C. while dozens of schools throughout the region canceled classes. Ocean-facing homes could be destroyed by the storm surge and waves, while people who live in neighborhoods reached by low-lying roads could be cut off from services for hours or days, officials and government forecasters warned. "This could be another storm with prolonged onshore flooding," said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with Accuweather, a private forecasting service. Flooding could begin to pick up around high tide, forecast to occur shortly after 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT) around Boston, he said. (With inputs from Reuters)

Storm hits US Northeast, kills at least five people

Europe is bracing for a fresh bout of snowfall and blizzards as the brutal &quot;beast from the East&quot; continues to pound countries far north to the Mediterranean south.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/beast-from-the-east-heavy-snowfall-disrupts-uk-europe-703">Also See: &nbsp;Beast from the East: Heavy snowfall disrupts UK, Europe</a>

Snowstorm from Siberia has thrown life in Britain and Ireland in complete disarray with flights grounded and people forced to stay indoors.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xGkdaiYFHho" width="560"></iframe>

Reports said hundreds of people were trapped in their cars on the M80 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Flights and trains were cancelled across both Britain and Ireland.

London&#39;s busiest railway station, Waterloo, showed more than half of trains cancelled or delay at the height of rush hour.&nbsp;

Elsewhere, schools were shut in Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania, Italy and Portugal.

Temperatures again plunged below -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) overnight in numerous parts of Europe -- even hitting -36C in Glattalp, 1,850 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level in the Swiss mountains.

Heavy snow enveloped northern Italy with train service disrupted across the region and in Paris, up to 5cm of snow was expected overnight on Wednesday.

Schools in Florence were ordered to shut, while heavy goods vehicles were banned from the roads in the north.

In the Netherlands, much of the problems were caused by strong wind. At Amsterdam&#39;s Schiphol airport, only two of the six landing strips could be used.

 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ko_t0aeEKs4" width="560"></iframe> 
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Reports said hundreds of people were trapped in their cars on the M80 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Europe is bracing for a fresh bout of snowfall and blizzards as the brutal "beast from the East" continues to pound countries far north to the Mediterranean south. Also See: Beast from the East: Heavy snowfall disrupts UK, Europe Snowstorm from Siberia has thrown life in Britain and Ireland in complete disarray with flights grounded and people forced to stay indoors. Reports said hundreds of people were trapped in their cars on the M80 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Flights and trains were cancelled across both Britain and Ireland. London's busiest railway station, Waterloo, showed more than half of trains cancelled or delay at the height of rush hour. Elsewhere, schools were shut in Kosovo, Bosnia, Albania, Italy and Portugal. Temperatures again plunged below -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) overnight in numerous parts of Europe -- even hitting -36C in Glattalp, 1,850 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level in the Swiss mountains. Heavy snow enveloped northern Italy with train service disrupted across the region and in Paris, up to 5cm of snow was expected overnight on Wednesday. Schools in Florence were ordered to shut, while heavy goods vehicles were banned from the roads in the north. In the Netherlands, much of the problems were caused by strong wind. At Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, only two of the six landing strips could be used.

Europe braces for fresh blizzards as ice blast disrupts train & flight service

Three army personnel were killed today when an avalanche struck their post in Machhil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said.

The identified army personnel were - Havaldar Kamlesh Singh, 39, Naik Balveer, 33&nbsp;and Rajinder, 25.&nbsp;

The avalanche hit an army post of 21 Rajput around 4:30 pm at Sona Pandi Gali in Machil, according to reports.&nbsp;

&quot;In an unfortunate incident of avalanche in Machhil sector, the Army lost three valiant soldiers,&quot; an army official said.

The avalanche struck two days after a 24-hour avalanche warning was issued in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kupwara, on Wednesday, shortly after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region jolted parts of north India, reports said.&nbsp;

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The army personnel were identified as - Havaldar Kamlesh Singh, 39, Naik Balveer, 33 and Rajinder, 25,

Three army personnel were killed today when an avalanche struck their post in Machhil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said. The identified army personnel were - Havaldar Kamlesh Singh, 39, Naik Balveer, 33 and Rajinder, 25. The avalanche hit an army post of 21 Rajput around 4:30 pm at Sona Pandi Gali in Machil, according to reports. "In an unfortunate incident of avalanche in Machhil sector, the Army lost three valiant soldiers," an army official said. The avalanche struck two days after a 24-hour avalanche warning was issued in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kupwara, on Wednesday, shortly after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region jolted parts of north India, reports said.

J&K: 3 soldiers killed after avalanche in army post

Shortly after reports of &#39;partially frozen&#39; Niagra Falls made headlines, people turned to the Sahara Desert which recently witnessed a snowfall -- a phenomenon that happened for the third time in around four decades.&nbsp;

Ain Sefra, a small North African desert town, now nestles in around 16-inch deep blanket of snow. &nbsp;

The village is surrounded by the Atlas mountains and located around thousand metres above sea level.

It is also known as the gateway to the world hottest desert -- the Sahara. &nbsp;

The last time when snow hit Ain Sefra was close to 37 years ago.

Clad in pure-white snow, Ain Sefra is a spectacle to behold; photographers throng the site to capture the rare sight and immortalise its scenic beauty.&nbsp;

The average temperature around the village area is recorded at 37-degree Celsius.

Experts note the Sahara Desert to have undergone climatic changes in the past few hundred thousand years.&nbsp; 
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Ain Sefra, a small North African desert town, nestles in around 16-inch deep blanket of snow

Shortly after reports of 'partially frozen' Niagra Falls made headlines, people turned to the Sahara Desert which recently witnessed a snowfall -- a phenomenon that happened for the third time in around four decades. Ain Sefra, a small North African desert town, now nestles in around 16-inch deep blanket of snow. The village is surrounded by the Atlas mountains and located around thousand metres above sea level. It is also known as the gateway to the world hottest desert -- the Sahara. The last time when snow hit Ain Sefra was close to 37 years ago. Clad in pure-white snow, Ain Sefra is a spectacle to behold; photographers throng the site to capture the rare sight and immortalise its scenic beauty. The average temperature around the village area is recorded at 37-degree Celsius. Experts note the Sahara Desert to have undergone climatic changes in the past few hundred thousand years.

Watch: Snow covers Sahara Desert for the third time in four decades

Three Army soliders <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-heavy-snowfall-in-jk-jammu-srinagar-national-highway-closed-26507">have gone missing after a snow</a> avalanche at the Mani post in Bagtor Gurez sector along the Line of Control(LoC) in Bandipora.

Kashmir valley has been&nbsp;cut off from the rest of the country today with flights suspended at Srinagar airport due to low visiblity.

Jammu -Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic as J&amp;K&nbsp;received its first snowfall of the season.

Director, Srinagar airport, Sharad Kumar told PTI,&quot;Air traffic to and fro from Srinagar airport has been suspended due to low visibility.&quot;

&quot;The situation will be reviewed around noon and if visibility improves flight operations will be restored,&quot; he added.

Heavy snowfall was also reported in Himachal Pradesh including Shimla and Solang valley in Manali.

Jammu -Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic today as J&K?received its first snowfall of the season.

Three Army soliders have gone missing after a snow avalanche at the Mani post in Bagtor Gurez sector along the Line of Control(LoC) in Bandipora. Kashmir valley has been cut off from the rest of the country today with flights suspended at Srinagar airport due to low visiblity. Jammu -Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic as J&K received its first snowfall of the season. Director, Srinagar airport, Sharad Kumar told PTI,"Air traffic to and fro from Srinagar airport has been suspended due to low visibility." "The situation will be reviewed around noon and if visibility improves flight operations will be restored," he added. Heavy snowfall was also reported in Himachal Pradesh including Shimla and Solang valley in Manali.

3 Army soldiers missing in J&K avalanche, Kashmir valley cut off

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