The coldest January night in 15 years hit the UK as more freezing temperatures are expected over the weekend.
Overnight temperatures dropped to minus 14.5C in Altnaharra, a hamlet in Sutherland, the most northern region of the Highlands, making it the coldest night of the winter so far in the UK and the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010 – which was a month that saw temperatures drop below minus 15C several times at locations across the UK.
Ice weather warnings were in place across most of Wales and Northern Ireland, and large parts of the east of England, until this morning.
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However, the Met Office today announced will see “the start of a change to our weather” with milder temperatures “attempting to move in from the south west through the morning”.
Ugo Sassi from Cambridge skates on a frozen flooded field in Upware, Cambridgeshire (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
But experts warn this is expected to make only “limited progress” and patchy rain, sleet and snow is expected across parts of south-west Britain.
The forecaster added: “Amounts of snow are uncertain – probably small and confined to high ground, but there is a risk of icy surfaces in places. Much of the rest of the UK will have another dry and bright day but remaining very cold, with few freezing fog patches lasting all day.”
Friday night is predicted to bring the lowest temperatures of the cold snap in parts of Scotland and northern England, with temperatures between minus 15C and minus 20C possible.
Oli Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told the PA news agency: “It will be another cold night tonight with temperatures as low as minus 15C again in the Scottish highlands. There’s a chance we could even see the coldest night of winter again. We’re expecting to see frost in parts of the south west and Wales. Northern Ireland will be cold again but not as cold as Thursday night.
“But that will be the last of the really low temperatures, with milder weather coming in during the weekend. This will spread from the north down to the south and it could be Monday or Tuesday before the south west starts to feel the milder temperatures.”
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick previously said: “Saturday is still going to be another cold one, unfortunately.”
But clouds will come in from the west which should prevent temperatures dropping as quickly, he said.
The meteorologist added: “Sunday will still be a chilly one, but not as cold as what we’ve seen for today and for tomorrow.
“By Monday, we are expecting the temperatures to come back up to what we would expect for this time of year, which is around sort of 7C (or) 8C.”
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has urged people to remain vigilant following recent flooding, with combined rainfall and snowmelt potentially contributing to continued river flooding in some parts of the country.
Minor flooding along the River Trent was expected to continue on Friday, while new impacts were possible but not expected along rivers in parts of the Yorkshire and the Humber regions on Monday and Tuesday.
As of 12.30pm on Friday, there were 20 flood warnings, meaning flooding was expected, and 67 flood alerts, meaning flooding was possible, in place.
The Environment Agency said people in affected areas should follow advice from emergency services, particularly while travelling.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
Spokesperson for the RAC Alice Simpson said this week had been “one of our busiest for breakdowns in the five years since the Covid-19 pandemic”.
She added: “We’re prioritising members who are away from home or in dangerous locations, and waiting times are inevitably longer. Drivers setting out must ensure they are ready for the conditions. Until the weather warms up on Sunday, there is an ongoing risk of ice and snow which will make the roads treacherous.
“Sticking to major routes that have been gritted is advised. We also urge anyone setting out to have an emergency kit in the boot, that includes warm clothes, waterproofs, food, a flask of hot drink and a mobile phone power bank.”
The AA has predicted that Friday could see a major increase in workload, with some roads, particularly in the north, likely to be affected.
The insurance provider advised against all but essential travel in hard-hit areas and urged drivers to check forecasts before venturing out and to take “extreme caution” on hazardous roads.
Snow and winds have also brought rail disruption this week, with some lines forced to close.
National Rail said on Friday morning that some Southeastern services to and from London and Charing Cross had been affected by ice. Manchester Airport closed both its runways on Thursday morning “due to significant levels of snow” but they were later reopened.
Transport for Wales closed some rail lines in the country due to track damage following a period of “heavy wind, rain and snow”. Hundreds of schools in Scotland and around 90 in Wales were shut on Thursday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Tuesday. Amber alerts have been extended and will now run until January 14, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.