Siberian snowstorm 'Beast from the East' blankets Europe

A blast of Siberian weather dubbed the "Beast from the East" has plunged Europe into freezing temperatures that are colder than the Arctic Circle.

The plume of cold air from Russia has swept the continent leading temperatures to drop to -20 degrees in some places with schools closed, flights cancelled and left seven people dead with fears for those sleeping outside.

People walk over Millennium Bridge across the Thames as snow falls, in London yesterday. Photo / AP

The unseasonably cold weather comes as the Arctic experiences an "unusually warm" period despite being in the middle of winter.

"The Arctic is having an off-the-charts heatwave this week," the European Geosciences Union wrote in a tweet.

Icy blast from #Siberia sweeps across #Europe, reports @AFP https://t.co/62SgRasjOC pic.twitter.com/DsU3EpMBH7

— EGU (@EuroGeosciences) February 26, 2018

The #Arctic is having an off-the-charts #heatwave this week, from @EARTH3R https://t.co/fjziOtAEZF pic.twitter.com/CXgaDHuRNT

— EGU (@EuroGeosciences) February 26, 2018

The snowstorm led to Rome's first snowfall in six years with the temperature reaching -4 and covering famous tourist sites like the Colisseum and the Vatican, while also reaching as far south as Greece.

Two people died of exposure in Poland, while in Lithuania, temperatures dropped to -20 degrees and France saw lows of -10.

In Belgium, one local mayor has warned homeless people they will be detained by police if they refuse to go to shelters. Berlin is also expected to see temperatures of -20, while Britain is suffering its coldest spell since 1991, according to the Met Office.

The ancient ruins of Pompeii are dusted in snow after a snowfall, near Naples, southern Italy yesterday. Photo / AP

A woman walks the main road in the village of Klemensker on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, as snow and heavy wind hit Denmark yesterday. Photo / AP

The storm has led to travel chaos, with schools, flight and train services cancelled. In the UK, it prompted pre-emptive school closures and cancellation of rail services, with hundreds of trains going down amid fears of snow and ice on the tracks.

Commuters were warned to be "home by 6pm" on Monday and to stock up on food and essential supplies. The Met Office issued an "Amber weather warning" for parts of the country which includes the "potential risk to life and property".

While some encountered difficult driving conditions, road closures and travel delays, the extreme warnings also prompted ridicule from commuters frustrated that train services were cancelled with less than "1mm" of snow.

Others called it "officially bollocks" and blamed the "snowoverreaction" to the bad weather.

Current weather update: its a bit nippy out you might need a cardie #beastfromtheeast

— BwD Police (@BlackburnPolice) February 27, 2018

Ireland at the mo🤤😲☘ #BeastFromTheEast pic.twitter.com/jqel3JUW7d

— Deric (@deric_tv) February 26, 2018

THERE ISN’T A BIT OF BREAD TO BE HAD IN ADLI. START PANICKING #Snowmageddon pic.twitter.com/kpzCegeFfy

— Dr Jennifer Kavanagh (@quiatimet) February 26, 2018

Chelmsford station closed even though there's no snow. #Snowmageddon (not) pic.twitter.com/rEQ3o70dRY

— Darren Oakley (@Darren_Oakley) February 27, 2018

The "Beast from the East" is expected to remain in place for much of this week.