Big chill bites as snow leaves hundreds of motorists stranded across south (From Daily Echo)

Big chill bites as snow leaves hundreds of motorists stranded across south

6:11am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

SUB-ZERO conditions are set to continue in Hampshire over the next few days as temperatures remain below freezing.

Weather forecasters are not predicting any more heavy snow but the Arctic blast is set to continue as the mercury is set to drop to - 1C (30F) overnight and only up to 2C (36F) during the day.

It comes after hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles in freezing conditions after snow bought traffic to a standstill across other parts of the south.

Motorists were stuck for hours in the bitter cold in long tailbacks as ice and snow made roads across much of the South East impassable.

There were reports of drivers stuck for more than 10 hours in queues of up to 30 miles long as police, snow ploughs and gritting lorries battled to treat the roads.

Temperatures plunged to as low as -3C (27F), and many motorists abandoned their vehicles for service stations.

A party of 120 German students also stuck in Hastings town hall when families due to look after them could not reach them.

Volunteers made tea and coffee for the youngsters as they were forced to bed down for the night.

The worst areas affected were Sussex and Kent, where the A23 between Crawley and Kent was at a standstill, along with the M23, A26, A27 and A29 after 4in (10cm) of snow fell.

Meanwhile, Icy conditions will remain while the region will see snow flurries.

Today is expected to be cloudy with the occasional outbreaks of light snow. Dry and largely sunny conditions will follow.

Snow brought chaos to rail and air travel in Hampshire yesterday.