Flight delays and trains cancelled due to snow

So far, 387 roads are affected, with 50 shut and another 132 where snow chains are needed.

The latter includes the A-23 motorway which runs from Valencia to Zaragoza, with snow on the highway from the province of Teruel northwards (pictured).

Lorries were banned from the M-40 Madrid extra-metropolitan motorway for an hour and a half this morning, and drivers were not allowed to use the overtaking lane as this was needed for snow ploughs and emergency vehicles.

Planes landing at Madrid's Adolfo Suárez-Barajas airport and Barcelona's El Prat terminal are having to be spaced out because of snow and ice on the runway, causing turnover and take-off delays and leading to a knock-on effect with flights in general.

Up to 42 flights have been cancelled today alone from Madrid.

Thousands of children in several regions have been unable to go to school and are also likely to be off tomorrow.

Trains have been cancelled in Asturias and Catalunya, which has created a domino effect with other connections – including the high-speed AVE line between Madrid and Barcelona, which has reported long delays.

Even in parts of the country where snow is extremely rare, such as on the Mediterranean coast, overhead information screens warn motorists to plan their journeys and check live traffic updates.

More snow is forecast in the northern half of the mainland today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday), although the south is not expected to be hit.