Parts of Britain have had more snow - but falls were less heavy than expected, experts said.
Temperatures rose above freezing in some areas, giving a little respite from the lengthy cold spell.
The slight easing in conditions gave hope of progress in the battle to supply enough grit, power supplies and food, but meanwhile the death toll from weather-related incidents rose to at least 29.
Julian Mayes, a senior forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "We have had a slow thaw in much of the country. Temperatures have managed to climb above zero in quite a lot of places. Generally things have got a good deal less severe. The next problem is going to come on Tuesday night, when a band of snow is going to come into Wales and south west England, though hopefully it will not come too far inland, and may then turn to rain."
There were prospects of a breathing space for councils facing grit shortages. A fleet of lorries began delivering the first supplies of 12,000 extra tonnes of de-icing salt made available by chemicals firm Ineos.
The first 50 trucks left the firm's depot in Runcorn, Cheshire, with another 50 scheduled to deliver more supplies on Monday.
National Grid has also lifted its latest gas supply alert - its third such warning in a week - after more supplies came in from the market.
Food shortages are feared as it emerged that farmers are struggling to harvest vegetables in the big freeze, which will lead to higher food prices and damage small businesses.
The latest victim of the weather was a man who died after being rescued when he fell through thick ice on the River Tees.
The man was walking his two dogs when they strayed on to the ice and he followed in an attempt to save them.
