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| Commuters in Cardiff were able to walk on a deserted dual carriageway |
The military are helping police in Greater Manchester free motorists stranded in snow from the M62.
Major incidents have been declared in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Avon and Somerset, as blizzards brought roads to a standstill. Elsewhere passengers were trapped on freezing trains.
Flights and trains have been cancelled and thousands of schools are shut.
There are yellow weather warnings for snow, ice and wind in place across the UK throughout Friday, with a Scottish warning in force until 23:55 GMT on Monday.
National Grid's first "gas deficit warning" for eight years has been withdrawn. The power operator issued the warning on Thursday, saying it might not have enough gas to meet demand due to the cold.
Police forces across the UK have told people to travel only if necessary.
There is a warning of black ice on the M6. Highways England has said some of the worst problems are near Rochdale on the M62 - which is closed as stranded vehicles are cleared - and on the A303 near Ilminster and the A31 in the New Forest - where the Army have been helping to rescue drivers.
On the M62, volunteers from Milnrow, Rochdale, took hot drinks, food and blankets to some of those stuck - including a bottle of warm milk for a five-week-old baby.
Much of Wales has been brought to a standstill, where routine operations have been cancelled as health boards make a plea for staff to attend work. Travel conditions in Scotland remain treacherous.
The Environment Agency has issued seven flood warnings and 20 flood alerts for coastal areas in the south-west and north-east of England. Severe flooding has already been reported in Penzance, due to high river levels and large seas.
Passengers who boarded a South Western Railway train to Weymouth at 17:05 GMT on Thursday were still in their carriages on Friday morning after their train broke down in the middle of the night.
Robert Luther, 48, from Poole, was returning from work in London.
"We've been stuck here for 11 hours - it must have been close to zero degrees in here last night," he told the BBC.
"We had 3 foil blankets between 30 of us. A few of us have put plastic bags over our socks and inside our boots - a tip we heard on BBC News yesterday."
Another passenger, Dave Taylor, said people had been trying to sleep, but it was "so, so cold".
"A fire brigade medic had arrived to check no casualties," he said. "No power. No lights. Nothing. Refreshments have run out."
Meanwhile on another train, Shane White finally arrived in Bournemouth having left Cardiff some 16 hours earlier.
High in the Wiltshire hills, a long line of darkened vehicles snakes down the snow-covered carriageway near the village of Mere.
We, like hundreds of drivers have spent 12 hours in stationary traffic. The A303 is littered with vehicles that could go no further, blocking the plough and gritters trying to reopen the road in blizzard conditions.
One man we spoke to was trying to reach a care home whose heating had failed, others settled down to sleep in their cars.
There's absolutely no news. We don't know what's happening, people just want some information.
Electricity North West said 5,000 customers were off-supply in Buxton, while Western Power Distribution figures showed about 4,000 properties in Wales and south-west England without power on Friday morning.
More than 4,000 flights have been cancelled across Europe since Tuesday and the disruption is set to continue into Friday.
Glasgow Airport: Open after "the worst snowfall in its history" but there are delays and cancellations
Edinburgh Airport: Open with numerous delays and cancellations. All Easyjet flights cancelled
Dublin Airport: All flights have been suspended until Saturday
Cardiff Airport: Closed until 11:00 GMT with all Flybe flights cancelled for Friday
Bristol Airport: Closed until midday Friday
East Midlands Airport: It has warned passengers of cancellations and delays
Leeds Bradford: The airport was closed overnight but is hoping to open Friday morning
Heathrow Airport: The airport advises passengers to check before travelling
Gatwick Airport: There are delays and cancellations
City Airport: Multiple cancellations and delays are expected
The Met Office says the cold weather could last into next week and possibly the following week.
Up to 50cm (19 inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and uplands parts of south-east Wales accompanied by gales or severe gales in exposed areas.
Gusts of 60-70mph are possible in parts of northern England and Wales.
Up to 10cm (four inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Scotland and northern England, with up to 25cm over the area's hills.
Major incidents have been declared in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Avon and Somerset, as blizzards brought roads to a standstill. Elsewhere passengers were trapped on freezing trains.
Flights and trains have been cancelled and thousands of schools are shut.
There are yellow weather warnings for snow, ice and wind in place across the UK throughout Friday, with a Scottish warning in force until 23:55 GMT on Monday.
National Grid's first "gas deficit warning" for eight years has been withdrawn. The power operator issued the warning on Thursday, saying it might not have enough gas to meet demand due to the cold.
Police forces across the UK have told people to travel only if necessary.
There is a warning of black ice on the M6. Highways England has said some of the worst problems are near Rochdale on the M62 - which is closed as stranded vehicles are cleared - and on the A303 near Ilminster and the A31 in the New Forest - where the Army have been helping to rescue drivers.
On the M62, volunteers from Milnrow, Rochdale, took hot drinks, food and blankets to some of those stuck - including a bottle of warm milk for a five-week-old baby.
Much of Wales has been brought to a standstill, where routine operations have been cancelled as health boards make a plea for staff to attend work. Travel conditions in Scotland remain treacherous.
The Environment Agency has issued seven flood warnings and 20 flood alerts for coastal areas in the south-west and north-east of England. Severe flooding has already been reported in Penzance, due to high river levels and large seas.
Passengers who boarded a South Western Railway train to Weymouth at 17:05 GMT on Thursday were still in their carriages on Friday morning after their train broke down in the middle of the night.
Robert Luther, 48, from Poole, was returning from work in London.
"We've been stuck here for 11 hours - it must have been close to zero degrees in here last night," he told the BBC.
"We had 3 foil blankets between 30 of us. A few of us have put plastic bags over our socks and inside our boots - a tip we heard on BBC News yesterday."
Another passenger, Dave Taylor, said people had been trying to sleep, but it was "so, so cold".
"A fire brigade medic had arrived to check no casualties," he said. "No power. No lights. Nothing. Refreshments have run out."
Meanwhile on another train, Shane White finally arrived in Bournemouth having left Cardiff some 16 hours earlier.
High in the Wiltshire hills, a long line of darkened vehicles snakes down the snow-covered carriageway near the village of Mere.
We, like hundreds of drivers have spent 12 hours in stationary traffic. The A303 is littered with vehicles that could go no further, blocking the plough and gritters trying to reopen the road in blizzard conditions.
One man we spoke to was trying to reach a care home whose heating had failed, others settled down to sleep in their cars.
There's absolutely no news. We don't know what's happening, people just want some information.
Electricity North West said 5,000 customers were off-supply in Buxton, while Western Power Distribution figures showed about 4,000 properties in Wales and south-west England without power on Friday morning.
More than 4,000 flights have been cancelled across Europe since Tuesday and the disruption is set to continue into Friday.
Glasgow Airport: Open after "the worst snowfall in its history" but there are delays and cancellations
Edinburgh Airport: Open with numerous delays and cancellations. All Easyjet flights cancelled
Dublin Airport: All flights have been suspended until Saturday
Cardiff Airport: Closed until 11:00 GMT with all Flybe flights cancelled for Friday
Bristol Airport: Closed until midday Friday
East Midlands Airport: It has warned passengers of cancellations and delays
Leeds Bradford: The airport was closed overnight but is hoping to open Friday morning
Heathrow Airport: The airport advises passengers to check before travelling
Gatwick Airport: There are delays and cancellations
City Airport: Multiple cancellations and delays are expected
The Met Office says the cold weather could last into next week and possibly the following week.
Up to 50cm (19 inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and uplands parts of south-east Wales accompanied by gales or severe gales in exposed areas.
Gusts of 60-70mph are possible in parts of northern England and Wales.
Up to 10cm (four inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Scotland and northern England, with up to 25cm over the area's hills.
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