PANIC-buying shoppers were clearing supermarket shelves today as the Siberian blast threatened to grip the UK.
Shoppers reportedly emptied some supermarkets shelves of bread and milk, while others suffered queues of over an hour as desperate Brits bulk-bought the basics.
Customers at a Tesco Extra branch in Gillingham, Kent, reported seeing chaotic scenes as people barged past each other to stock up.
Similar scenes have been reported in Asda in Sittingbourne and Waitrose in Guernsey, where supplies of milk and bread have been snapped up by the public.
Charlotte Day snapped these pictures at a Tesco Extra branch in Gillingham, Kent.
She told the Mirror: "The snow started to come down a bit heavier and then all these people piled in.
"Shoppers were walking around with a panicked look on their faces. Some people had six or seven loaves in their basket.
"People were pushing around, they weren't being polite about it. I went to grab the last loaf and someone who already had six in their trolley took it, the shelves were empty."
The freezing temperatures could spark the coldest spell of weather in 27 years as Britain faces a potential life-threatening snow storm.
"The Beast from the East" is causing major travel disruption with delays and cancellations across railways and airports.
Forecasters have warned that another weather system, Storm Emma, will bring blizzards, gales and sleet.
The storm will move north through Europe and is due to hit the UK on Wednesday, making it feel like -12C, with up to eight inches of snow expected.
Met Office forecaster Frank Saunders said: "Parts of England and Wales are likely to see their coldest spell of weather since at least 2013, and possibly since 1991."
Doctors warned that the NHS could struggle to cope with the extra strain caused by the weather and are asking people to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours during the cold spell.
Hundreds of rail services are affected as the coldest spell in five years grips the UK – with conditions only set to worsen this week when Storm Emma hits.
Brits are warned of major travel delays and cancellations, as well as disruption to phone signal due to the sub-zero temperatures.Power outages are also "highly likely".
Public Health England said the elderly and vulnerable are at "risk of death" as it urged people to take extra care in the unprecedented conditions.
Southeastern trains has advised commuters to get home by 6pm tonight, saying heavier snow expected later this evening is likely to cause severe travel disruption.
From tomorrow, Greater Anglia services serving Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Colchester and Stratford will all be affected.
Shuttle service will operate from Braintree, Clacton and Sudbury.
All other services will run with a less frequent or slower service until Thursday.
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