Big freeze bites as Met Office alerts Scots to risk of icy conditions
FORECASTERS warned the “coldest night of the season” was set to hit parts of the UK, with temperatures dropping to as low as minus 10C (14F).
The Met Office said it expected to see the mercury fall below zero in many parts of the country last night, including in cities such as London.
It has also issued two yellow ice warnings – one across eastern parts of Scotland and another stretching from the north-east of England down to the south coast – from yesterday afternoon.
The warnings, set to last until this morning, say people should expect to see “icy patches” on roads and pavements, meaning accidents and slips and falls are “more likely”.
Many parts of the country fell below freezing to around minus 4C/minus 5C (24.8F/23F) overnight, with Shap in Cumbria hitting minus 6.4C (20.5F).
Met Office forecaster Tom Morgan said: “As Storm Arwen is clearing out to Europe, a cold northerly flow of wind has been left behind in the
UK, causing some of the bitterly cold temperatures we have seen.
“There is set to be further wintry weather, with snow expected to fall across areas in Scotland and northern England, and even in parts of southern and central England.
“Parts of Scotland and northern England, where snow is on the ground, will be very cold again, with the temperature certainly falling below zero and even as low as minus 10C (14F), which would make it the coldest night of the season so far.
“Though this is expected to be the exception rather than the rule, temperatures of below freezing will be widespread, including in London and the South East.
“Even if you do live in a city, you can expect to be scraping frost, ice or even snow off your cars on Monday morning.”
Mr Morgan added that, although frost will also be seen in Wales and Northern Ireland, temperatures there will not fall as low as England and Scotland.