Snow and ice could cause chaos today

SNOW AND ice will create treacherous rush hour conditions as freezing weather grips the UK.

Temperatures across the country were expected to plummet last night with northern parts most likely to face disruption this morning, the Met Office said.

The wintry conditions are expected to continue into the weekend and there are warnings that Britain could face unusually cold weather for the rest of the month.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “There are indications of quite a prolonged cold period.”

Snow is set to fall in almost every part of the country in the coming days, with this week predicted to be one of the coldest of the winter so far.

Sub-zero temperatures were widely expected last night and could drop to minus 6C in parts of northern England and the Midlands, the Met Office said.

A band of rain, sleet and snow will sweep in across Scotland and Northern Ireland overnight.

Between 1cm and 3cm of snow will fall widely and hilly areas could see up to 5cm, before the weather pushes into northern England and Wales.

Snow and ice warnings have been issued for swathes of the country over the next two days.

It comes after snow showers left between 1cm and 2cm in Kent and Essex on Monday and caused several crashes on the M20.

Mr Burkhill said: “As we go through the next 24 to 48 hours, it’s going to stay cold, and we are going to see some snow.”