Britain woke up to sub-zero conditions today after the coldest night of the winter so far saw temperatures plummet beyond -14C (7F) – ahead of further heavy snowfall on the way tonight.
Up to 4in (10cm) of snow could fall in six to nine hours over parts of Wales and South West England tonight into tomorrow, while snowfalls of up to 1in (3cm) are possible across the rest of England.
Braemar in Aberdeenshire was the UK’s coldest spot overnight where temperatures fell to -14.3C (6.3F) – well below the previous record for this winter of -10.8C (12.6F) set in the same village on January 18.
Dozens of schools were closed across Britain today due to the severe weather, with at least 20 reported as being shut in the Scottish Highlands, five in Merseyside, three in Northern Ireland and three in North Wales.
A jogger running by the River Avon in Bristol this morning after the UK had its coldest night of the winter so far
Freezing fog over the River Thames in Windsor, Berkshire, this morning as the cold snap continues to cause icy conditions
Goats and sheep in the frosty Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs in South East London this morning
A woman walks her dog through a frosty Clapham Common in South West London this morning
Snow over the rooftops of New Mills in Derbyshire this morning, close to the Cheshire border and the Peak District
A dog walker passes a horse in the morning sun today as a frost covers the ground of Basingstoke Common in Hampshire
A woman scrapes the windscreen to remove frost from her car in Peterborough today after the coldest night of winter
The frozen River Nene in Northampton today as parts of the country wake up to sub-zero temperatures
All four UK countries set new records for this winter overnight with Sennybridge in Wales down to -9.3C (15.3F), Magilligan in Northern Ireland falling to -8.5C (16.7F) and Redesdale Camp in Northumberland at -10.5C (13.1F).
The freezing temperatures have led to weather warnings being issued by the Met Office for snow, ice and fog today and into Friday. Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said the cold temperatures were due to stick around.
He said: ‘It’s been a very, very cold night. Tonight we could see similar temperatures in Scotland, but Northern Ireland, England and Wales probably won’t be quite as cold. Saturday night into Sunday could also be very cold.’
Southeastern Trains said 21 services were being cancelled or altered this morning to minimise the impact of ice forming on the rails and ensure lines were clear and that it would run its ‘winter weather timetable’ tomorrow.
Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands was down to -13.6C (7.5F) this morning, Sennybridge, Powys, dropped to -9.3C (15.3F), Katesbridge in Northern Ireland fell to -8.2C (17.2F) and Redesdale Camp in Northumberland was at -10.5C (13.1F)
Daytime temperatures are remaining low across Britain today (left) and tomorrow (right) with a maximum of 8C expected
Snow will fall again in many parts of England today (left) and tomorrow (right), although Scotland is expecting some sunshine
Meanwhile trains through South East London’s busiest interchange were delayed or cancelled during rush hour today. Signalling problems at Lewisham meant Southeastern customers suffered severe disruption.
Richard Leonard, Highways England Head of Road Safety said: ‘Gritters will be out treating our roads around the clock, but it is still important to drive to the conditions when snow is forecast.
‘Keep your distance and reduce your speed, because even in conditions that seem normal, and where the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh grit has not been worked into the carriageway.
‘Drivers should plan their journeys, monitor weather reports and pack a snow kit of blankets, food, water and a shovel.’
Manchester and Liverpool airports were brought to a standstill yesterday morning, and hundreds of schools closed across the UK – including more than 200 in Greater Manchester – due to the harsh conditions.
Mr Wilson said central England and Wales could bear the brunt of the snow this afternoon and into the evening as wet weather coming through the South West turns wintry, with some places seeing up to 4in (10cm) of snow.
The Arctic grip on the weather has already caused chaos for thousands. Airport runways at Liverpool and Manchester were blocked yesterday, and roads and railways brought to a standstill. The snow also shut 400 schools across northern England and North Wales.
An abandoned car near Gearstones in Ribblehead at sunrise in the Yorkshire Dales this morning
A frozen notice board at the allotments in Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs in South East London this morning
A person walks through an icy Allerton Cemetery near Liverpool in the snow this morning after the coldest night of winter
Snowy fields near Oakham in the East Midlands this morning after the UK had its coldest night of the winter so far
Frosty ground in Berkshire this morning as the Met Office issued weather warnings for further snow and ice across Britain
A man walks by the River Thames in Windsor this morning after the UK had its coldest night of the winter so far
Icy roads and pavements in the Hyndland area of Glasgow this morning, with witnesses saying several people have slipped
A frozen pond pictured today at a golf course in Enville, a village in Staffordshire between Stourbridge and Bridgnorth
This morning, ice and a blanket of freezing fog was forecast to extend across England, from the Pennines to the Thames Valley. The fog could affect flights and is expected to make rush-hour driving hazardous, forecasters say.
Wintry showers were due to have brought an inch more snow overnight, particularly in north eastern England as far south as the Humber estuary.
But worse is to come, with a further band of rain, sleet and snow due to arrive from lunchtime today. It could bring up to four inches of snow to Wales and the South West.
Most of the South, along with central and eastern England, Manchester, Liverpool, and South and West Yorkshire will see smaller snowfalls.
The wintry conditions are likely to last overnight and through tomorrow, even lingering into the evening. Only the far North of England, where it is due to be fine but cold, is likely to escape.
The weekend is set to be mostly fine, dry and cold, though areas near the east coast could face further wintry showers. Hard frosts are expected until at least Sunday. More very cold weather is expected through next week.
Yesterday morning, some made light of their grim commute. Footage of a man making his way down a road in Didsbury, Manchester, on skis was shared on social media.
There were two-hour traffic jams in some parts of North-West England, and railways around Liverpool were closed while ice was cleared.
Snow meant Manchester airport was closed until late morning, when one of its two runways reopened. More than 100 flights were disrupted. At Liverpool airport, 12 flights were disrupted.
Snow and ice also caused disruption in South-West England, with the A38 blocked between Whiddon Down and Okehampton, Devon, and schools closed.
There was a spate of road accidents across the country caused by treacherous roads yesterday. Motorists were warned to take extra care today and to take warm clothing, food, water and a shovel in case they become stranded.
Meanwhile Scotland is said to be facing more than a month of bone-chilling temperatures as Siberian winds batter the country. A long-range forecast by the Met Office predicts weeks of sub-zero conditions and snow flurries.
Western and northern parts of Scotland remain under a yellow ‘be aware’ warning for ice, which began last night and continues until 11am today.
A beautiful sunrise in the Mid Devon village of Culmstock today as forecasters warned of further severe weather this week
Sunrise this morning from Wandsworth in South London as the capital wakes up on another chilly day
Frosty ground in Park Royal, North West London, this morning as the capital wakes up to sub-zero temperatures
Frost sits on a car in Reading, Berkshire, this morning as the Met Office warned drivers to take extra care today
Frosty and foggy conditions this morning in Carterton, Oxfordshire, as commuters make their way to work
Overnight showers were expected to freeze on untreated surfaces, coupled with the threat from melted snow refreezing. Tonight, another yellow warning for snow and ice kicks in, this time for North and East Scotland, including Edinburgh.
But winter’s icy grip will tighten as freezing February gives way to an even colder March. The Met Office long-range forecast says it will stay ‘mostly cold, with frost and ice likely overnight’ between February 4 and 13.
And from Valentine’s Day until February 28 it warns ‘cold conditions are often likely to dominate the weather’.
It adds: ‘Towards late February there is the possibility of a colder, more easterly flow developing, though the signal for this has decreased in recent days.’
The icy conditions will raise the risk of people falling on icy pavements and streets. There is also likely to be an impact on the transport network, meaning longer journey times by road and rail.
The avalanche risk in three of Scotland’s five mountain areas has been raised to ‘considerable’ following recent heavy snowfall.
Scottish travellers endured more disruption yesterday. On the roads, a gritter overturned on the A828 near Appin, Argyll. The driver was taken to hospital, though not badly hurt. The A85 in Argyll was shut in both directions when an HGV overturned east of Dalmally.
Emma Smith of the Met Office said: ‘Looking ahead through February, generally cold conditions are likely through the month. Things could turn even colder at the beginning of March.’
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