A FREAK BLIZZARD caused a temporary whiteout in Hampshire last night as the snow blanketed the south a day later than predicted.

The weather brought chaos to the roads and forced schools across the county to close as temperatures plummeted to -3C.

The worst of the weather came from thunder and lightning snow storms just as many people were leaving work for home last night.

Passengers travelling in and out of Southampton Airport faced major disruption as the conditions made flying impossible.

The airport was shut until 9am this morning with 19 early morning flights in and out of the airport cancelled.

A number of schools were also closed today including Holy Family Catholic Primary School, in Mansel Road West, Millbrook, Southampton, and Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary in Ramley Road, Pennington.

Also shut were Cedar School and Ridgeway House schools, in Southampton, and Netley Court School, in Netley Abbey.

The M3 northbound was brought to a rush hour standstill between junctions 10 and 14 after a shunt just before 8am this morning.

Last night motorists making their way home faced delays as about 20 minor accidents caused traffic to build up across the county.

In Winchester the storm struck at about 5.30pm and turned it into a wintry wonderland in just 20 minutes.

By 6pm Southampton, the New Forest and Fareham were covered in a layer of the white stuff causing hazardous conditions for drivers.

Hampshire County Council's Winter Maintenance Team was working overtime as it sent its gritters out twice last night to ensure roads were clear of snow and ice.

One driver escaped injury when their car was in collision with the central reservation on the westbound carriageway of the M27 outside Rownhams services.

On the A272 to the east of Winchester, cars and especially lorries struggled up the incline to Cheesefoot Head and cars were forced to avoid a fallen tree that was blocking the A326 Marchwood by-pass.

For electricity supplier Southern Electric the main problem was not the snow but the lightning that accompanied it. About 2,000 homes covering Lymington in the New Forest, Colden Common and Otterbourne near Winchester, Hythe and Dibden went without power for short periods as engineers worked to restore their supply.

The Met Office reported dangerous driving conditions but they did not expect to see the snow return to Hampshire this week.

Temperatures are expected to rise tomorrow.