UK weather: Britain to face coldest night of the year tonight as forecasters issue snow warnings

Met Office warns icy conditions could cause road and rail travel disruption

Weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued for parts of the UK, with temperatures set to drop below freezing on Thursday.

The Met Office has issued two yellow severe weather alerts warning that snow and ice could arrive early on Thursday, with the possibility of 2cm and 5cm of snow over northern Scotland and northeast England.

There is also the risk of snow in the East Midlands and East Anglia.

Ice warnings have been issued for Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England.

Tonight is expected to be the coldest night of the year in the UK so far, with the mercury expected to plummet to -10C in the Scottish Highlands.

The lowest temperature this year was recorded at Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, where it dropped to -6.3C.

Grahame Madge, a spokesman for the Met Office, said: “The weather situation is that it’s likely to be getting colder as we go towards Thursday and into Friday.

“Pretty much everywhere in the UK will be within touching distance of freezing.

“In Scotland air temperatures could drop down to -10C, but that’s likely only if you are out overnight in the Scottish mountains.”

The Met Office has warned the freezing temperatures and showers will cause hazardous road conditions and could lead to rail disruptions.

Network Rail has said it will use a thermal-imaging helicopter and de-icing trains to keep tracks clear of ice and snow during peak commuting times.

Public Health England has also issued a health warning alert ahead of the cold snap.

Dr Thomas Waite, of PHE’s Extreme Events team, said: “As the weather is going to get colder everywhere in the coming days, this is a really good time to check on those who may be at risk. “People with diseases such as heart and lung conditions, older people, and young children can feel the ill-effects of cold weather more than the rest of us.

“To stay well this winter, we all need to play a part. Is there someone you know who could be at risk when the weather gets cold? Could you help them out by fetching shopping or prescriptions?

“When the colder weather arrives there are several things we can do to keep well: wear several thin layers instead of fewer thicker ones, keep parts of the home you’re using heated to at least 18°C and keep a careful eye on the weather forecasts.”