Britain woke up to a widespread frost today amid the prospect of blizzard conditions, strong winds and up to half a foot of snow after temperatures fell to -8C overnight.
A band of heavy rain moved east across the UK this morning, before it is set to turn wintry over the Pennines, Lake District and North York Moors – with snow forecast from Derbyshire and Staffordshire northwards.
‘Thundersnow’ – a thunderstorm that produces snow instead of rain – is also possible, caused by the temperature difference between the cold front reaching the ground that has been warmed by unseasonable conditions.
It comes after England’s coldest night of the winter so far which saw Topcliffe in North Yorkshire fall to -8C (17.6F), while Benson in Oxfordshire fell to -6.6C (20.1F) and London Gatwick Airport was down to -5.4C (22.3F).
The Met Office has issued two weather warnings for snow with one running between 10am and 4pm today and another from 8pm overnight until 11am tomorrow, covering most of Scotland and northern England.
Forecasters said many places will see one to two hours of snow – longer over higher ground – and warned of ‘difficult travel conditions’ with slushy accumulations then freezing and causing icy patches on roads.
A frost covered landscape shortly after sunrise at Richmond Park in South West London today on a very cold winter morning
Sam (right), Maisie (left) and Polly (centre) Williams scrape ice off the car before heading to school in Westerham, Kent, today
Snow on the ground at daybreak near Leyburn in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, this morning
Mist covers the Thames near the Hampton ferry in South West London today after a night of low temperatures in the capital
A morning jogger runs around the Diana Fountain at Bushy Park in South West London this morning
A frosty morning in Marden, Kent, today after temperatures plunged across the country overnight
A person walks along the banks of the River Thames near the Hampton in South West London this morning
Mist covers the water as a boater makes their way along Thames near the Hampton Ferry in South West London this morning
Between 1in (2.5cm) and 2in (5cm) of snow is likely above 650ft and 4in (10cm) to 6in (15cm) above 1300ft. Forecasters also said there could be travel disruption to trains and buses as well as ‘brief’ power cuts.
For lower levels, the Met Office said: ‘Falling snow may cause some temporary slushy accumulations which then may freeze and cause dangerous, icy patches where skies remain clear for long enough.
‘Winds will be gusty around heavier showers and there is also a risk of lightning strikes from isolated thunderstorms in some coastal districts.’
There could also be lightning strikes from isolated thunderstorms in coastal areas.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said places that could experience disruption are those in warning areas at 650ft and above.
Mr Madge said the wintry weather could include ‘thundersnow’ – a thunderstorm that produces snow instead of rain.
This is caused by the temperature difference between the cold front arriving from the west reaching the ground that has been warmed by unseasonable temperatures.
The weather is set to ease tomorrow morning, leaving a mostly dry and bright day with some sunny spells.
Mr Madge added: ‘We had sub-tropical air in charge last weekend, which gave us a record-breaking New Year. But you have to remember this is winter.
‘We are not expecting huge snowfall but there is the potential for significant accumulations in some places.’
Forecasters expect this morning to begin with a bone-chilling low of -12C (10F) around Aviemore in Inverness-shire.
Mr Madge continued: ‘Into Thursday morning, temperatures will drop to freezing almost everywhere and we may see places like Aviemore and sheltered glens falling to -10C (14F) or -12C (10F).
‘The snow is being caused by a weather front coming in from the west, bringing moisture-laden air and very strong winds.
‘As this moisture bumps into cold air over Scotland, it will trigger snowfall.’
The Met Office forecasts milder conditions going into the weekend.
The Met Office has issued a series of weather warnings for snow and ice across Scotland and northern England
The Met Office said strong winds and high tides around Northern Ireland will bring rough seas and large waves today
Frost on the ground in the Surrey village of Woldingham this morning as temperatures fell well below freezing overnight
Frost on a garden in South East London this morning after temperatures fell below zero overnight
A frosty start to the morning in London today after overnight temperatures fell to as low as -8C in parts of England
Mr Madge said: ‘Friday into Saturday we have got another frontal system moving across the UK. That’s more likely to deliver rain more widely.
‘By Saturday and into the weekend any wintry showers are likely to be just over the higher tops and fells.’
It follows the UK’s warmest ever New Year’s Day on Saturday when St James’s Park in London registered 16.3C (61.3F), beating the previous record of 15.6C (60.1F) set in Bude, Cornwall, set more than a century ago in 1916.
And that came after the country’s mildest New Year’s Eve on record last Friday when Merryfield in Somerset reached 15.8C (60.4F), beating the previous high of 14.8C (58.6F) set in 2011 at Colwyn Bay in North Wales.
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