UK weather: Tonight will be 2017’s coldest night at -13C

Sub-zero temperatures are likely bring the coldest night of the year to Britain as up to six inches of snow is expected to fall and cause fresh chaos on the roads.  

Arctic air hovering across the UK will cause the mercury to plummet on Thursday night, with temperatures below -13C (8.6F) expected in parts of Scotland.

Heavy snow is also predicted to fall on Friday, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning in anticipation of it covering the east Midlands, North West and Yorkshire.

The Met Office warning predicts accumulations of up to 10cm (4ins) are likely and up to 15cm (6ins) could fall over higher ground.  

A dog walker was spotted taking his two pets out for a walk this morning in the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire as snow continued to cover parts of the UK 

A deer was spotted sitting among the bracken on Richmond Park in south west London as the sun was rising on Thursday

A deer was spotted sitting among the bracken on Richmond Park in south west London as the sun was rising on Thursday

Deer lock antlers in a frosty Richmond Park on the morning of what could end up being the coldest day of the year as temperatures could drop below -13C

Deer lock antlers in a frosty Richmond Park on the morning of what could end up being the coldest day of the year as temperatures could drop below -13C

People were seen taking a dog out for a walk through the snowy fields in Hatfield Forest in Essex on Thursday afternoon 

People were seen taking a dog out for a walk through the snowy fields in Hatfield Forest in Essex on Thursday afternoon 

A woman walked her dog through a blizzard at Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday morning after snow caused travel disruption

A woman walked her dog through a blizzard at Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon, on Thursday morning after snow caused travel disruption

Josef Jackson, 7, (front) and Corieme Preston were pictured enjoying themselves when they went sledging on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

Josef Jackson, 7, (front) and Corieme Preston were pictured enjoying themselves when they went sledging on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

Motorists in Cirencester had to be careful when driving on the icy roads as the temperature is likely to drop to -13C in some parts of the UK 

Motorists in Cirencester had to be careful when driving on the icy roads as the temperature is likely to drop to -13C in some parts of the UK 

Snow covered fields in Cirencester, Gloucester, on Thursday as the Met Office warned that this evening could be the coldest night of the year

Snow covered fields in Cirencester, Gloucester, on Thursday as the Met Office warned that this evening could be the coldest night of the year

The adverse weather conditions continued to affect other parts of the UK as rough seas could be seen off the beach at Tynemouth on Thursday morning

The adverse weather conditions continued to affect other parts of the UK as rough seas could be seen off the beach at Tynemouth on Thursday morning

Youngster Alexander Constable, 12, from Holland, took advantage of the snowy conditions and was pictured sledging on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire on Thursday 

Youngster Alexander Constable, 12, from Holland, took advantage of the snowy conditions and was pictured sledging on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire on Thursday 

Iona Jackson, 10, and Luke Jackson, 8, also enjoyed themselves when they went sledging on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

Iona Jackson, 10, and Luke Jackson, 8, also enjoyed themselves when they went sledging on the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire

A family was spotted enjoying a Thursday afternoon walk through the snow-covered fields in Hatfield Forest in Essex today

A family was spotted enjoying a Thursday afternoon walk through the snow-covered fields in Hatfield Forest in Essex today

Spokeswoman Nicola Maxey also warned the country could see the ‘coldest night of the year so far’ before snow blankets parts of the country.

She said: ‘The coldest temperature we have seen this year is minus 13C in Scotland, and we are likely to see temperatures slightly below that.

‘But we are not talking about those extremes in the town and city centres, it is out in rural areas, more exposed areas, particularly over lying snow where you see temperatures drop the most.’

The Met Office also warned that travel delays on Britain’s roads, railway links and airport runways are ‘likely’.

It added: ‘Travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers. Some delays and cancellations to rail and air travel are likely.

‘There is a possibility that some rural communities could become temporarily cut off. Power cuts may also occur.’

With the amber warning in place between 4am on Friday until 11am, a wider yellow warning for snow has also been issued for southern and eastern Scotland, Northern England, and the Midlands.

Northern Ireland also has a country-wide yellow warning for ice and snow which is in place from 12am until 9am on Friday. 

The Met Office said temperatures fell to as low as minus 4.5C (24F) in Katesbridge, County Down, in the early hours of Thursday while most parts of the UK hovered around 0C (32F).

Snow covered headstones in a graveyard in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on December 28 as a cold spell has hit Britain

Snow covered headstones in a graveyard in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on December 28 as a cold spell has hit Britain

Josef Jackson, 7, (front) and Corieme Preston weren't put off by the adverse weather conditions and were seen sledging in Worcestershire

Josef Jackson, 7, (front) and Corieme Preston weren’t put off by the adverse weather conditions and were seen sledging in Worcestershire

Sub zero temperatures overnight made for a frosty start to the day in Manchester as cars with icy windscreens were seen on Thursday 

Sub zero temperatures overnight made for a frosty start to the day in Manchester as cars with icy windscreens were seen on Thursday 

Londoners were seen watching the sun rise behind the Shard and the City of London skyline from Primrose Hill in the capital 

Londoners were seen watching the sun rise behind the Shard and the City of London skyline from Primrose Hill in the capital 

A man walks his dog along the banks of the River Mersey in Chorlton Cum Hardy in Manchester on Thursday morning 

A man walks his dog along the banks of the River Mersey in Chorlton Cum Hardy in Manchester on Thursday morning 

A Dartmoor pony braves the cold weather at Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon, as parts of the UK were covered in snow this morning 

A Dartmoor pony braves the cold weather at Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon, as parts of the UK were covered in snow this morning 

A photographer captured the stunning sunrise on Roker Beach in Sunderland on Thursday morning while other parts of the country were hit with heavy snow 

A photographer captured the stunning sunrise on Roker Beach in Sunderland on Thursday morning while other parts of the country were hit with heavy snow 

A car drives on a road that has visible patches of ice on Thursday near Bristol as the Met Office warns that tonight could be the coldest night of the year

A car drives on a road that has visible patches of ice on Thursday near Bristol as the Met Office warns that tonight could be the coldest night of the year

A family was seen enjoying a glorious sunny but cold afternoon walking their dog on Burlington Beach in Dorset on Thursday

A family was seen enjoying a glorious sunny but cold afternoon walking their dog on Burlington Beach in Dorset on Thursday

The RAC said ice caused an ‘incredibly busy’ morning, and as a result of the conditions dealt with a number of battery failures, minor bumps and shunts, and skidding.

Meanwhile the AA described the country’s roads on Thursday as ‘appalling’ due to the ‘dicey icy roads’.

On Wednesday there were stories of disruption, cancellations and delays at the country’s travel terminals due to the weather, with Stansted temporarily closing its runway twice due to ice.

As a result, 27 inbound and 27 outbound flights were cancelled at Stansted, while around 50 flights were cancelled at Luton.

Some 300 passengers were left in the terminal at Stansted waiting to rebook flights on Wednesday evening after dozens of Ryanair services were cancelled, along with a number of easyJet flights.

On Thursday, Stansted said all flights were anticipated to operate as scheduled, although passengers were reminded to check their flight’s status before travelling to the airport.

And at Luton Airport, a spokesman said the travel hub was busy because there were a few more passengers left over from the disruption caused by the weather on Wednesday.

He said: ‘It does look like there are a few delays to some flights, but we are open, operational – nothing out of the ordinary.’

On Wednesday snowfall caused widespread disruption, with a lorry crash on the M1 resulting in the closure of the southbound carriageway, a jackknifed HGV on the M5 in Gloucestershire, and severe conditions on the A14 near Kettering.

Homes were left without power, and in Scotland three climbers had to be rescued from the Cairngorms mountain range after getting lost in blizzard conditions.



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