Flights have been suspended at Bristol Airport as snow warnings are in place across large parts of England and Wales.

The polar vortex — ultra-cold air spinning like a top — usually stays above the North Pole, but sometimes stretches down to the U.S., Europe or Asia, causing intense doses of cold.

A major winter storm began Saturday in the central U.S. and was forecast to move east over the next several days, producing heavy snow, significant ice and frigid temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.

New snow warnings issued on top of amber alerts as 40cm forecast and temperatures fall to -9C - Major health warning issued as disruption including travel chaos and power cuts likely

Heavy snow causes travel chaos as flights grounded in Bristol and crashes on M5 - Major health warning issued and disruption including travel chaos and power cuts likely as Met Office issues alerts ac

Heavy snow and freezing rain are set to bring considerable disruption across the UK, with an amber weather warning now in force. Parts of northern England, the Midlands and Wales are forecast to be among the worst hit as adverse weather pushes northwards throughout the night,