'Extreme freeze' as temperatures plummet to -22.9C - the coldest UK night in 26 years
11 February 2021, 07:47 | Updated: 11 February 2021, 10:52
More snow is on the way this weekend after the Met Office said an "extreme freeze" saw temperatures plummet to -22.9C last night - making it the UK's coldest night in more than quarter of a century.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across large swathes of the country this morning, while commuters have also been warned of possible disruption to transport.
The warnings cover the eastern half of England and Scotland, Devon, and south-west Wales - to stay in place through Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Nine flood warnings and 88 flood alerts are also in place across parts of England, according to the Environment Agency.
READ MORE: Train cancellations, power cuts and Covid vaccine delays as UK hit by snow
In Aberdeenshire, temperatures dipped to -22.9C on Wednesday night, which is the coldest recording since 1995.
Manchester and Carlisle are also expected to drop to 4C on Thursday, with York even lower at 6C.
READ MORE: Ten Covid vaccination centres shut with up to a foot of snow forecast
Storm Darcy continues to cause disruption across parts of UK
The rest of the day is expected to be a cold but dry day, with a sharp frost expected in northern and eastern areas. Outbreaks of snow will hit south-western areas tomorrow morning.
On Saturday, heavy snow is forecast in Scotland and western parts of the UK, which will push further east as the day goes on.
"By Monday, we are expecting that warm air to make its presence felt across the UK but up until then I think it's fair to say to describe it as erratic as successive front try and barge the cold out of the way," said Met Office spokesman Graham Madge.
READ MORE: Several vaccination centres still closed as Storm Darcy brings -17C freeze
He added that Storm Darcy, which caused much disruption last week, had "definitely" moved on.
Meanwhile, the Crisis charity has encouraged people to contact their local councils should they see homeless people out during the cold snap.
The charity also advises people to offer the homeless a hot meal, drink, clothes or blankets to help out.
