The recent spring weather well and truly vanished this week, with clement weather being replaced by sudden heavy snowfall.
This morning saw schools closed and roads blocked, with reports coming in of people suffering nightmare journeys home through ice and snow last night.
Some drivers were forced to abandon their cars in order to get home at all, while some who commute between Horsham and Worthing or Hove spent five or six hours stuck in traffic.
Others were even worse off - some longer distance commuters spent up to 11 hours trying to get home, while police say a number of drivers resorted to sleeping in their cars.
Sussex Police were called to more than 300 road crashes in just 24 hours, although there have been no reports of fatal or life-threatening injuries.
This morning, they said conditions had improved but they appealed to drivers not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary.
Roads are relatively clear today, and the empty car parks in Horsham town centre suggest that many drivers have chosen to play it safe today.
Although most train lines were clear, the snow caused signalling problems which have led to long delays and cancellations at short notice.
A total of 174 schools, nurseries and family centres, including 26 in Horsham district were closed across the county.
For a full list of Horsham district school closures visit:
{http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/local/school-closures-tuesday-march-12-2013-1-4886711|Tuesday March 12 school closures|Tuesday March 12 school closures}