Drivers have been told to stay alert on icy roads amid a yellow weather warning as temperatures plummet to -4C ahead of ‘thundersnow’ that could wreak havoc over a freezing weekend.
Thundersnow is similar to a thunderstorm but instead of heavy rain snow falls on the ground.
There was heavy frost across Scotland in the early hours of Saturday and the rest of the UK is forecast to see low temperatures for a wet and windy weekend.
Friday night saw a Yellow Weather Warning for ice put in place for Scotland and parts of Southern England and Wales – with some areas seeing as much as 11cm (4.3in) of snow.
The threat is set to continue in Scotland where there remains a high chance of ice patches throughout the country.
Blustery showers are expected to continue in England today, mainly in the north and west.
Showers will be heavy at times with some areas seeing hail. It will also be wintry over hills and windy, especially in the southwest.
The Met Office reports there are currently 10 flood alerts in place, including in areas of Barnstaple, Leicestershire, Bristol and Somerset.
BBC forecaster Christopher Blanchett said: ‘Through the course of this evening and overnight, our concern is with ice and there is a Met Office yellow warning in force through west central Scotland and the south.
‘There is a chance of icy patches almost anywhere and under clear skies temperatures are readily falling away to sub-zero and in rural parts of the north east perhaps minus 6C.’
Blustery showers are expected to continue in England today, mainly in the north and west (Pictured: People under umbrellas whilst out punting on the River Cam in Cambridge during wet and windy conditions on Saturday morning)
The Met Office reports there are currently 10 flood alerts in place, including in areas of Barnstaple, Leicestershire, Bristol and Somerset (Pictured: Rain falls on people punting in the River Cam in Cambridge on Saturday)
A person carries an umbrella as they walk across a bridge over the river Thames in Reading, Berkshire, amid a weekend washout for much of the country
People make their way along the tow path alongside the river Thames in Reading, Berkshire, with showers predicted for much of the country on Saturday
A person holds an umbrella as they stand on a bridge over the river Thames in Reading on Saturday
Rowers braved the miserable conditions on Saturday morning to get the training in along the river Thames in Reading
Yesterday night saw a Yellow Weather Warning for ice put in place for Scotland and parts of Southern England and Wales- with some areas seeing as much as 11cm (4.3in) of snow
Much of Britain will experience rain on Saturday, while some areas will see ‘thundersnow’ – similar to a thunderstorm but instead of heavy rain snow falls on the ground
Meteorologists predict ice and frost across west Central Scotland and the South with temperatures getting slighter milder this morning
Rowers make their way along the river Thames in Reading as seagulls take off in the foreground
There was heavy frost across Scotland in the early hours of Saturday and the rest of the UK is forecast to see low temperatures for a wet and windy weekend (Pictured: Cars struggle to travel uphill in Glasgow following heavy snowfall on Friday)
Wintry conditions by the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow on Friday morning
The main threat is set to continue in Scotland where there remains a high chance of ice patches throughout the country
And NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has issued advice to ‘walk like penguins’ in the icy conditions to avoid getting injured.
It is urging people to bend their knees loosely, point out their feet slightly, extend their arms at the sides, walk flat-footed- taking short steps, and to keep their centre of gravity over the feet in order to avoid falling.
Linda de Caestecker, Director for Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: ‘While it might seem silly to walk or waddle like a penguin, in the context of the wintery conditions we’re seeing today, penguins know best.
‘If you find yourself out and about in icy conditions, adopting the penguin stance is a really effective way to move without falling.’
Mr Blanchett said the early hours of Saturday morning would see a new weather system arrive.
He added it would be bringing cloud, rain and further snow across the hills, rain for most and will mean something a touch less cold as the weekend begins.
He said: ‘Initially very wet on Saturday but that rain clears through apace and for most of the day it is a case of bright sunny spells and rain showers.
‘Those showers most frequent in the west, wintery on the hill tops, driest and brightest in the east.’
Temperatures in Scotland are expected to be between 6C and 8C and feeling cold in the brisk west wind .
Maximum temperatures in the South of the UK are forecast to reach around 10C or 11C. In the North of England around about 7C or 8C.
The threat is set to continue in Scotland where there remains a high chance of ice patches throughout the country (Pictured: A diesel locomotive carrying a snowplough passes through Rannoch Station on the West Highland Line which runs from Glasgow to Oban or Fort William)
A street in Glasgow is left covered in snow in the early hours of Friday morning
A 4×4 drives up a steep country lane in West Yorkshire on Friday following heavy snow fall
A gritter makes its way along the A635 in the Peak District on Friday after heavy snow left roads in an icy condition
Country paths and walkways are turned in to a quagmire after rainfall on Friday
Glasgow under a blanket of white on Friday as the Met Office issued a warning of snow
Cars can be seen covered in snow in the city centre of Glasgow on Friday
Families were seen sledging in the snow in Victoria Park, in the West End of Glasgow on Friday
Atlantic waves up to 25ft in height engulf the cliffs and the Monkey Hut in Portreath, Cornwall on Friday, as windy conditions are set to continue Saturday
Huge waves smash Monkey Hut – a former harbour pilots shelter – in Cornwall on Friday
Into Sunday afternoon Scotland will likely be dry and bright for most, 4C to 7C.
The forecast from Sunday in England is mainly dry and bright but with occasional showers in the west.
Outbreaks of rain are likely to spread east Monday, with the far southeast staying dry.
Mr Blanchett said of Scotland: ‘Looking ahead on Monday, showers and longer spells of rain. The thing you will notice is it will be a mild Monday with temperatures of 10C, 11C and maybe 12C.’
It follows an already chilly week, with temperatures plunging as low as -8C on Wednesday – making it the coldest night of winter.
The weekend weather is expected to remain unsettled, with milder spells, as a spiralling area of low pressure brings changeable weather conditions to the UK.
Following the cold blast from the snowstorms, an Atlantic weather front is then set to bring massive downpours.
Liverpool and Manchester could be soaked by up to 5mm of rain an hour on Saturday, before the initial band of rain heads further across the country.
And meteorologists say intermittent rainfall is expected on Sunday, before patches of rain and snow hit parts of Britain.
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