Ice tonight as Britain braces for brutal -15C snap on the ‘coldest night of the year so far’

Snow has blanketed parts of England and northern Scotland this morning after what was described as the coldest night of the year after the Met Office issued weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK.

It began falling in Scotland at around 9pm on Monday night, with photographs showing it already beginning to settle in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

And snow has now also been pictured falling in Yorkshire covering a picturesque street in Whitby – and there were also reports of a dusting at Manchester Airport before midnight.

The Met Office said the mercury could drop to minus 15C in some sheltered Scottish glens, especially where there is fresh snow cover – where up to 16inches of snow are expected in some areas.

Throughout this morning, patches of snowy weather are forecast by the Met Office to move southwards through Manchester in the north of England, travelling through Birmingham, in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Small patches of snowy weather are forecast to dissipate around London by around 8am this morning – with snow still falling in the north of Scotland.

Snow blanketing the picturesque town of Whitby in Yorkshire late last night

The forecasting body said the mercury could drop to minus 15C in some sheltered Scottish glens, especially where there is fresh snow cover (pictured: snow in Scotland on Monday night)

Temperatures are set to drop almost six degrees below their coldest last March, when they reached minus 9.1C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire (pictured: snow in Shetland tonight)

A map shows the yellow weather warnings in place in different parts of the United Kingdom tomorrow

The lowest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year is minus 10.4C, which was recorded at Drumnadrochit near Inverness in the Highlands in the early hours of January 19 (pictured: snow in Braemar, Scotland on Monday night)

The lowest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year is minus 10.4C, which was recorded at Drumnadrochit near Inverness in the Highlands in the early hours of January 19.

Temperatures are set to drop almost six degrees below their coldest last March, when they reached minus 9.1C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across all four nations of the UK and more are expected to be issued as Arctic air sweeps across the country.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice will be in place for London, the Thames Valley, East Anglia, parts of the Midlands and South Wales was put in place from 9pm tonight until 10am on Tuesday.

An identical one is in place in Northern Ireland at the same time.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is already in place in much of Northern and Eastern Scotland and North East England.

The area covered by it is set to extend as far south as Hull from Tuesday before it lifts at 10am on Wednesday.

South West England and South Wales will be covered by a yellow warning for snow all day on Wednesday and a few centimetres of snow could fall in those areas.

Storm clouds roll in over St Mary’s Lighthouse, just north of Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear as the sun was setting on Monday

Snow falling in Coleraine in Northern Ireland last night

A large swathe of snow and ice will beset north and east Scotland, as well as the north east of England. Northern Ireland is also tipped for the same weather warning 

Another yellow weather warning has been earmarked for a large stretch covering parts of southern England, London, the midlands and south Wales

BRAEMAR: Snow fell on the A93 today as parts of Scotland are under a yellow weather warning for snow and ice

MORAY: Fresh snow covered parts of Scotland, including near the Lecht ski centre in Moray, today as the Met Office warned of more snow and ice for the next two days

BALLATER: Skiers and snowboarders take advantage of the snowfall at Glenshee ski centre today as parts of Scotland are under a yellow met warning for snow and ice

STRATHDON: An HGV struggles up the snow covered A939 at The Lecht today

Heavy snow showers are expected in parts of northern Scotland, northeast England and parts of Northern Ireland tonight, The Met Office says. With weather further south consisting of outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow.

It comes as a cold weather alert was issued as the Home Office warns that sub-zero temperatures could pose a severe risk to vulnerable individuals. 

The Met Office has extended its yellow weather warning for snow and ice to include much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland today as Britain shivers through the coldest day of the year.

Warnings are in place across the country for ice and snow until Friday. The south is more likely to see snowfall on Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Up to 4 inches of snow will fall across northern England and Scotland today. It will bring the threat of sleet and snow in the Midlands and southern England later in the week. 

The forecasting body said temperatures in parts of the UK will drop below freezing tonight and will not top mid-single figures during tomorrow or Wednesday.

A warning for snow and ice is already in place in much of Northern and Eastern Scotland and North East England. The area covered by it is set to extend as far south as Hull from tomorrow before it lifts at 10am on Wednesday.

Grahame Madge, of the Met Office, said: ‘We are about to enter a particularly eventful period of weather. Freezing conditions, coupled with heavy snow and drifting all mean that people’s travel plans will have to be urgently reviewed. These risks will only increase as we go through the week.

‘I advise people to stay in touch with the forecast and be prepared to cancel travel plans accordingly. The warning is suggesting as much as 16 inches of snow, but with winds whipping it into blizzards, accumulations greater than that are possible.’

From Thursday into Friday, as much as 30-40cm (12-16in) could be dumped on higher parts of the Central Belt, the Southern Uplands and southern Highlands. This could affect roads including the A1, the M74 and the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Rail journeys are also likely to be affected and airports may find it impossible to keep runways clear of snow.

Even colder overnight conditions are set to hit cities later in the week with the mercury plunging to -4C in London and -6C in Birmingham and Belfast.

Forecasters say temperatures are likely to stay far below average for early spring for much of the week. Below freezing temperatures are predicted to continue until March 11 at least amid a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event.

TUESDAY: Yellow weather warnings have been issued for much of southern England, including the capital, on Monday

WEDNESDAY: Snow and ice will continue to plague parts of the country on Wednesday as the Met Office issues weather warnings for much of the South West 

Yellow weather warnings have also been issued by the Met Office for Thursday and Friday and there is a potential for travel disruption 

CORGARFF: Cars got stuck in drifting snow along the A939 today near Corgarff, Scotland

NORTH YORKSHIRE: A light dusting of snow covered the Tan Hill Inn this morning. Britain will shiver through the coldest day of the year today with snow and ice set to freeze swathes of northern England and Scotland

SHETLAND: A view of the snowfall in Shetland this morning. Forecasters say high ground areas of northern Scotland can expect the most snowfall, possibly reaching depths of four inches

SHETLAND: Snow is seen in the northernmost region of the United Kingdom this morning

LONDON: People walking around London Bridge in the rain and freezing temperatures this morning

Mr Madge said conditions could be similar to those experienced during a cold snap in December 2022 and may not lift for almost a fortnight.

He said: ‘Temperatures will be much, much colder than we would expect at this time of year.

‘The pattern will set in for some time. We have got this feed of cold air coming in from a much higher latitude.

‘We expect these conditions to remain in place until at least next weekend and possibly longer because sometimes these conditions can be quite stubborn and not easily subject to change.’

The Met Office warned travel disruption is likely and journey times by car, train and bus may take longer than usual. 

The risk of snow further south into England will grow from tomorrow. It might only start feeling milder in southern England from Friday but areas further north could stay chilly into next week.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the air was ‘coming pretty much straight from the Arctic, which is especially cold at this time of year’. 

He added: ‘I would imagine you will see some sleet or snow in the South of England, even if it doesn’t cause any great disruption.

‘But we are keeping a close eye on it.’

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has placed North East England, North West England and Yorkshire under a level three cold weather alert, with the rest of England at level two, until midnight on Thursday.

TYNE AND WEAR: Daredevils thought nothing of the icy temperatures today as they dodged 20 foot high waves on Whitley Bay’s Lower South Promenade

TYNE AND WEAR: Huge waves crashed over the promenade at Whitley Bay this morning as walkers and fishermen could be seen running from the crashing waves

TYNE AND WEAR: Waves at  Whitley Bay crashed over and splashed onlookers

NORTH YORKSHIRE: The yellow weather warning, which started at 6pm yesterday, extends to Wednesday. Snow in Tan Hill is pictured this morning

NORTH YORKSHIRE: The risk of snow further south into England will grow from tomorrow. It might only start feeling milder in southern England from Friday but areas further north could stay chilly until next week. Snow in Tan Hill is pictured this morning

SHETLAND: A German Shepherd runs through a snow-covered garden in Scotland today

NORTH YORKSHIRE: A light dusting of snow covered a car in Tan Hill this morning. The UK is bracing for more bad weather in the coming days

A level three alert means there is a 90 per cent chance of severely cold weather, icy conditions or heavy snow, which could increase the health risk to vulnerable patients.

People are at risk of slipping and falling on icy patches of untreated roads, pavements and paths while some rural communities could become cut off from the power grid.

Mr Madge said: ‘This is a disruptive spell of weather which could have quite serious consequences for some.

‘Listen to the forecast, take account of weather warnings and expect to see some potentially disruptive conditions wherever you are.’

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has urged people to look out for those most at risk from cold weather such as those with medical conditions or aged over 65.

Britons are encouraged to ensure vulnerable residents have access to warm food and drinks and are managing to heat their homes adequately.

Dr Agostinho Sousa from the UKHSA advised: ‘During periods like this, it is important to check in on family, friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather, as it can have a serious impact on health.

‘If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18C if you can.’

Experts also advise avoiding exposure to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you are at a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls.

SHETLAND: Snow-covered homes and yards on Shetland this morning. Some residents reported school closures and cancellations to school bus routes

MORAY: Cars are seen driving along the snow-covered A939 this morning near the Lecht Ski Centre in Moray, Scotland

MORAY: Snow is seen along the A939 this morning. The Met Office has warned of more snow and ice over the next two days

LONDON: A commuter walks across Westminster Bridge in central London today as Arctic air moves over the country possibly leading to the coldest temperature of the year so far

LONDON: It will feel as cold as -4C in parts of the UK as a front of Arctic air works its way down the country. London Bridge is pictured this morning

LONDON: Commuters around London Bridge this morning as cold weather has hit the capital

LONDON: Parts of England could also be in for cold and snowy weather this week. Commuters are pictured in the rain and freezing temperatures this morning

SHETLAND: Snow fell on the beach on Shetland, Scotland, this morning

The plunging temperatures are the latest cold snap to hit the UK as it battles with soaring energy bills during the cost of living crisis.

The UKHSA said for those struggling with the rising costs, it provides free advice on energy efficiency and national grants to help warm homes.

It advised that wearing several layers of thinner clothing will keep people warmer than wearing one thick layer, and that consuming hot food and drinks is also effective.

Last night National Grid ESO put out a notification that they ‘will warm one of our five winter contingency coal units for potential use on Tuesday 7 March.’

While it was not confirmation that it would be used, it meant it would be available ‘if required’ as ESO is a ‘prudent system operator’.

It comes after provisional Met Office figures also showed that England had its driest February in 30 years.

The United Kingdom as a whole had less than half the monthly average rainfall, at 45 per cent, with 43.4mm falling.

The coldest temperature recorded last March was -9.1C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, while on March 14, 1958 the mercury dropped to a record low of -22.8C at Logie Coldstone in the same region.