Update at 4.15pm: Wivenhoe residents have reported Colchester Road has reopened and snow ploughs have managed to tackle what was there.
SNOW drifts and winds reaching speeds of 22mph are proving a nightmare in rural and coastal areas of north Essex.
The 'Beast from the East' is adding to the treacherous weather conditions residents have faced for the past week with heavy snow still coming down in parts of the county.
READ MORE: WHICH SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY?
The yellow weather warning had been relaxed for Colchester today, as of yesterday afternoon, but is now back on until Saturday.
The Met Office has said to expect further snow showers today and very low temperatures reaching -2C at best.
Still pretty snowy in #Colchester. #UKSnowSE pic.twitter.com/cNXwBc5RC3
— Alan Critchley (@AlanJCritchley) March 1, 2018
READ MORE: What to expect from today's weather
Experts have also warned of travel delays, stranded vehicles, and possible power cuts.
Drifting snow is affecting the #A120 #Horsley Cross & #B1028 Wivenhoe, causing difficult driving conditions. We're working with @HighwaysEAST& Essex County Council to try and keep them clear & keep traffic moving. Please avoid these areas & only take journeys where necessary.
— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) March 1, 2018
Colchester road, (where the cycle path is), blocked in both directions out of Wivenhoe. Police in attendance. Waiting for snow plough. Use alternative route out.
— Andrea LV (@LV8andrea) March 1, 2018
Looking ahead to tonight, Essex Weather Centre has said it will be "very cold and windy with snow easing away through the evening" but that there will also be "widespread severe frost and ice".
On Mersea, residents are stuck and Colchester Road, in Wivenhoe, is totally blocked by snow drifts and a stranded lorry between Elmstead Road and Boundary Road.
Councillors urged Essex County Council's Highways department to send emergency teams to Wivenhoe which had been deteriorating since the morning.
Drivers were continuing up the road because there was no traffic sign telling them otherwise.
Picture: Wivenhoe Forum
Just before 3pm this afternoon, Shaun Boughton, former deputy mayor of Wivenhoe, said: "After spending all day on the road, the lorry is out.
"I managed to get a police line tape and have closed the road outside The Flag pub to save people driving into the unknown.
"But Elmstead Road is getting bad now so the fear is we'll get cut off."
A spokesman for Essex County Council's Highways Team said roads across the county were re-gritted from 1pm.
He said: "We're out in Tendring with gritters and snow ploughs and in those flat coastal areas where drifting snow is causing problems.
"The team is also responding to police requests."
For a live salting map, click here and follow the Essex Highways Twitter page @Essex_Travel.
The main road from Wivenhoe is entirely blocked. DO NOT TRAVEL pic.twitter.com/zdPvuG4NXJ
— UoE Sustainability 🌱 (@UoE_Sus) March 1, 2018
Great Bentley is also completely cut off because of issues at Frating.
We understand police have closed the road in from Frating as well as Heckfords Road and there are abandoned cars on some roads.
Twitter picture from Frating going towards Brightlingsea @irispuce
Car fire - A120, Frating https://t.co/UbScxK5nIB
— Essex Fire Service (@ECFRS) March 1, 2018
Great Bentley Surgery is telling patients not to call in and has "skeleton staff" in.
Practice manager Richard Miller wrote: "We are attempting to get permission to close early from the CCG for the safety of staff and patients."
@TheGazette great bentley completely cut off,all roads blocked/shut. do not travel in or out of the village!
— Ellen Gibson (@Ellen_Handy) March 1, 2018
Several First Essex services are not running including the 70, 71, 75 and 88 with limited services to Essex University.
Colchester Update*
— First Essex (@FirstEssex) March 1, 2018
61 - limited service serving Uni only
62 - unable to serve wivenhoe
64 - full service
65 - full service not serving Eastwood driver or Holly rd
66/66a full service
67s - not service West Mersea Terminating at lethe grove
Colchester Update*
— First Essex (@FirstEssex) March 1, 2018
70 - no service
71 - no service
75 - no service
88 - full service
103/104 - no service
174/175 - no service
Essex University was open for lessons despite the poor conditions surrounding it.
Our fabulous Grounds Teams have been in since 5am gritting car parks and routes around our campus. All three of our campuses are open today, but do take care if you’re travelling in. If you can't get in, please keep in contact with your department. pic.twitter.com/LCMrbf3ls0
— University of Essex (@Uni_of_Essex) March 1, 2018
Here is what Hedingham has to say about buses today...
SNOW UPDATE 01/03 - 9AM #snowday pic.twitter.com/keWTKdhKwT
— Arriva Herts & Essex (@arrivaessex) March 1, 2018
Picture: Tracy Broomfield
Stranded on a frozen Mersea Island, Essex for a second day thanks to #BeastFromTheEast. Thank goodness for #agile working at @_FlagshipGroup...that and my parent’s coffee machine meaning I can crack on regardless 👍 pic.twitter.com/DMGTfyOsom
— Jack Weaver (@jacktweaver) March 1, 2018
Service 63 operting -
— Hedingham (@hedinghambuses) March 1, 2018
09:03 William Harris way
09:34 Mason Road - Not going to Mersea at present due to snow drifts
11:03 from William Harris Way to Mason Rd
11:34 Mason Rd - will update
Thurstable Notice for East & West Mersea. We have been advised that the road over the Strood is to dangerous to cross, therefore we won’t be operating our East/West mersea school services to Thurstable school. We are sorry for this inconvenience but passenger safety is paramount. pic.twitter.com/NUP4qjQEYn
— Flagfinders (@Flagfinders) March 1, 2018
Greater Anglia is running a full service today from Colchester North station but has suspended services from Harwich to Manningtree Town and from Thorpe-le-Soken to Clacton.
Greater Anglia service information as of 09:30 - pic.twitter.com/U5hdK0qAbB
— Greater Anglia (@greateranglia) March 1, 2018
But the team is helping commuters as much as possible...
Extreme weather has affected our service again today, but at stations, such as Colchester here, we’ve got extra staff in to help keep stations free of snow and ice and to help customers onto the right train. pic.twitter.com/jhzt4ewIK7
— Greater Anglia News (@GreaterAngliaPR) March 1, 2018
Andrew, from Train Planning, has been greeting customers arriving at Colchester station, finding out where they need to go and directing them to the right platform. We’re trying to help customers as much as possible during the disruption caused by #BeastfromtheEast pic.twitter.com/x0jlB9Zc7x
— Greater Anglia News (@GreaterAngliaPR) March 1, 2018
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