Much of Britain and Ireland was blanketed in snow on Wednesday as freezing Siberian weather dubbed the Beast from the East, covered most of the city including stadiums in London.The iconic Lord’s cricket stadium was also not spared by the storm. The weather has also disrupted the travel plans of thousands.The Lord’s Cricket Ground Twitter handle has been posting some magnificent pictures of the ground fully covered in snow.More #londonsnow this morning but the sun is out at Lords! pic.twitter.com/s5xEbBi8dNLord’s Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) February 28, 2018Hundreds of schools were closed and there were delays on roads, railways and at airports on one of the coldest days Britain has experienced at this time of the year for almost three decades.But it’s not just transport that’s being affected by the cold weather. The nations sporting calendar has also been hit, especially England’s domestic cricket matches and the football schedule.Chance of a delayed start to play. #beastfromtheast #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/vUL91aJr4eTest Match Special (@bbctms) February 27, 2018The covers done its job! If everyone brings a shovel for the outfield well start on time at 11am pic.twitter.com/jOCNEZl1jQDurham CCC ?? (@DurhamCricket) February 27, 2018You know the #BeastFromTheEast means business when it manages to hit @TheAgeasBowl! pic.twitter.com/n6hFD20WpDHampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) February 27, 2018Only 16 days until our first pre-season friendly… pic.twitter.com/9pSrSKDxc2Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) February 27, 2018Anyone for some cricket?#BeastWithTheLeast pic.twitter.com/4QYATN7g5LadvertisementEssex Cricket (@EssexCricket) February 27, 2018Only one match from four was cancelled in the Football League on Tuesday evening Bristol Rovers home game against Wigan. However, two were called off in the National League, three in the National League South, two in the FA Trophy and seven north of the border in Scotland.The League One match between Peterborough and Walshall was the worse hit as Steven Taylor and Junior Morias (both players from Peterborough) helped remove the snow from the turf before resuming play. Peterborough eventually won the match 2-1.Even the Emirates stadium was covered in snow with the weather creating serious doubts over the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City. With the unrelenting weather conditions, the match may well be postponed from Thursday.#LondonSnow pic.twitter.com/j9OhlWOuezArsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 28, 2018Temperatures fell to minus 12 Celsius (10 degrees Farenheit) in some rural areas while Britain’s weather service warned of up to 40 cm of snow in higher areas of Scotland. Ireland could see its worst snow since 1982.”It is the coldest air we have seen over the UK at this time of the year since around 1991,” Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist at Britain’s Met Office, said by telephone. It is all tied in with the Beast from the East.The cold spell has been caused by a jump in temperatures high over the Arctic, known by meteorologists as sudden stratospheric warming, which has weakened the jet stream that brings warm air in from the Atlantic to Ireland and Britain.The unusual weather could continue as Storm Emma, packing more snow and ice, approaches western England from Portugal and France.Across London, there were severe delays on public transport. Dozens of flights were canceled at Heathrow airport.Britain’s weather service issued a severe weather warning for snow in parts of Scotland where schools were closed and council offices shut.Ireland’s weather service issued a status red warning – the highest level of alert – for five countries in the east, including the capital Dublin after heavy overnight snowfall led to accumulations of 5 to 10 cm.(With Reuters inputs)