Snow fell across large swathes of Britain today amid blizzard conditions, strong winds and up to half a foot of the white stuff after temperatures fell to -8C overnight, bringing a widespread frost.
A band of heavy rain moved east across the UK this morning, before turning wintry over the Pennines, Lake District and North York Moors – with snow forecast from Derbyshire and Staffordshire northwards.
‘Thundersnow’ – a thunderstorm that produces snow instead of rain – is also possible, caused by the temperature difference between the cold front reaching the ground that has been warmed by unseasonable conditions.
It comes after England’s coldest night of the winter so far which saw Topcliffe in North Yorkshire fall to -8C (17.6F), while Benson in Oxfordshire fell to -6.6C (20.1F) and London Gatwick Airport was down to -5.4C (22.3F).
The Met Office has issued two weather warnings for snow with one running between 10am and 4pm today and another from 8pm overnight until 11am tomorrow, covering most of Scotland and northern England.
Forecasters said many places will see one to two hours of snow – longer over higher ground – and warned of ‘difficult travel conditions’ with slushy accumulations then freezing and causing icy patches on roads.
A view of St Thomas Becket church in the frost this morning in Fairfield, Kent, following freezing overnight temperatures
A frost covered landscape shortly after sunrise at Richmond Park in South West London today on a very cold winter morning
Drivers negotiate blizzards, snow and high winds on the A66 between Scotch Corner and Penrith today
A rambler experiences blizzard conditions in Carrshield, Northumberland, this afternoon as snow falls across the North East
People walk their dogs on frost covered grass at St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick today after a night of low temperatures
A rambler experiences blizzard conditions in Carrshield, Northumberland, this afternoon as snow falls across the North East
People walk in heavy snow in Hawes, North Yorkshire, today as northern parts of the country are hit by wintry weather
Snowboarders at the Glenshee Snowsports Centre in Cairnwell, Aberdeenshire, this afternoon
A woman walks a dog amongst frost covered vegetation at Bushy Park in South West London on a very cold morning today
A motorist drives through heavy snowfall today in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Powys, South Wales
A light mist rises from the River Itchen in Ovington in Hampshire this morning after a very cold night
Blizzard conditions lead to a whiteout scene in Northumberland this afternoon
Pedestrians walk carefully along a path in Gateshead this morning as the Tyne and Wear area is hit by snowfall
Snowboarders at the Glenshee Snowsports Centre in Cairnwell, Aberdeenshire, this afternoon
An abandoned vehicle lies in a roadside ditch near Hexham, in Northumberland, this morning as snow falls across the North
Two women swim in the River Itchen at Compton Lock near Twyford in Hampshire today
A snow plough clears roads of snow in Carrshield, Northumberland, this afternoon as snow falls across the North East
Snow lies along the A93 in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, today as weather forecasters are predicting fresh falls of snow for the UK
A snowplough patrols the A66 near Barnard Castle in County Durham as the area is hit by wintry weather today
A man walks along a snow covered footpath in Hawes, North Yorkshire, today
Sheep rest on snow covered ground in fields near Hexham, in Northumberland, this morning
Snow on the ground at daybreak near Leyburn in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, this morning
Motorist make their way through falling snow on the A66 near Barnard Castle in County Durham today
Cold weather on Blackheath in South East London this morning after temperatures fell below zero across the country
A snow plough and gritting vehicle drives along the snow lined Buttertubs Pass near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales today
Blizzard conditions lead to a white out scene in Northumberland this afternoon as snow falls across the North East
A snow plough clears roads of snow in Carrshield, Northumberland, this afternoon
A view of St Thomas Becket church in the morning frost today in Fairfield, Kent, following freezing overnight temperatures
A snowplough patrols the A66 near Barnard Castle on the border between County Durham and Cumbria today
Sam (right), Maisie (left) and Polly (centre) Williams scrape ice off the car before heading to school in Westerham, Kent, today
Members of the public walk through the snow in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, today after sub-zero temperatures overnight
A frosty morning on the Long Walk in Windsor this morning after sub-zero temperatures overnight
Mist covers the Thames near the Hampton ferry in South West London today after a night of low temperatures in the capital
A morning jogger runs around the Diana Fountain at Bushy Park in South West London this morning
A frosty morning in Marden, Kent, today after temperatures plunged across the country overnight
A person walks along the banks of the River Thames near Hampton in South West London this morning
Mist covers the water as a boater makes their way along Thames near the Hampton Ferry in South West London this morning
People walk across a frosty Tooting Common in South London this morning after a very cold night across Britain
A jogger runs through frost-covered grass in Wanstead Park in North East London today after a night of low temperatures
Between 1in (2.5cm) and 2in (5cm) of snow is likely above 650ft and 4in (10cm) to 6in (15cm) above 1300ft. Forecasters also said there could be travel disruption to trains and buses as well as ‘brief’ power cuts.
For lower levels, the Met Office said: ‘Falling snow may cause some temporary slushy accumulations which then may freeze and cause dangerous, icy patches where skies remain clear for long enough.
‘Winds will be gusty around heavier showers and there is also a risk of lightning strikes from isolated thunderstorms in some coastal districts.’
There could also be lightning strikes from isolated thunderstorms in coastal areas.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said places that could experience disruption are those in warning areas at 650ft and above.
Mr Madge said the wintry weather could include ‘thundersnow’ – a thunderstorm that produces snow instead of rain.
This is caused by the temperature difference between the cold front arriving from the west reaching the ground that has been warmed by unseasonable temperatures.
The weather is set to ease tomorrow morning, leaving a mostly dry and bright day with some sunny spells.
Mr Madge added: ‘We had sub-tropical air in charge last weekend, which gave us a record-breaking New Year. But you have to remember this is winter.
‘We are not expecting huge snowfall but there is the potential for significant accumulations in some places.’
Forecasters expect this morning to begin with a bone-chilling low of -12C (10F) around Aviemore in Inverness-shire.
Mr Madge continued: ‘Into Thursday morning, temperatures will drop to freezing almost everywhere and we may see places like Aviemore and sheltered glens falling to -10C (14F) or -12C (10F).
‘The snow is being caused by a weather front coming in from the west, bringing moisture-laden air and very strong winds.
‘As this moisture bumps into cold air over Scotland, it will trigger snowfall.’
The Met Office forecasts milder conditions going into the weekend.
The Met Office has issued a series of weather warnings for snow and ice across Scotland and northern England
The Met Office said strong winds and high tides around Northern Ireland will bring rough seas and large waves today
A man walks along a frosty path in Windsor this morning after very cold temperatures across Britain overnight
A horse grazes in a frost covered field in the Oxfordshire countryside at Dunsden this morning
A frosty start amid sub-zero temperatures in Windsor this morning after the mercury plunged overnight
A woman runs through Bushy Park in South West London after a night of low temperatures in the capital
A view of St Thomas Becket church during the morning frost today in Fairfield, Kent, after freezing overnight temperatures
People walk their dogs on Blackheath in South East London this morning after a very cold night in the capital
A flock of birds stand on a frozen pond at Bushy Park in South West London today after a night of very low temperatures
A frosty start at Windsor Castle in Berkshire this morning after sub-zero temperatures overnight
Cold weather on Blackheath in South East London this morning as people go for a run or a cycle ride today
A frosty start in Windsor this morning after Britain experiences sub-zero temperatures overnight
A view of St Thomas Becket church in the frost this morning in Fairfield, Kent, following freezing overnight temperatures
A morning jogger runs through a frosty Bushy Park in South West London today after a night of low temperatures
A light mist rises from the River Itchen in Ovington in Hampshire this morning after a very cold night
A snow plough and gritting vehicle drives along the snow lined Buttertubs Pass near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales today
Cold weather on Blackheath in South East London this morning as people cycle through the area today
A morning jogger runs through Bushy Park in South West London today after a night of low temperatures in the capital
Cold weather on Blackheath in South East London this morning as people cycle through the area
A view of St Thomas Becket church in the frost this morning in Fairfield, Kent, following freezing overnight temperatures
People run through Blackheath in South East London this morning after a very cold night
A cyclist rides through Wanstead Park in North East London this morning after a night of low temperatures in the capital
People run through Blackheath in South East London this morning after a very cold night
A frosty start to the day in Cambridgeshire today after temperatures fell well below zero overnight
Frost on the ground in the Surrey village of Woldingham this morning as temperatures fell well below freezing overnight
People run through Blackheath in South East London this morning after a very cold night
Frost on a garden in South East London this morning after temperatures fell below zero overnight
A woman runs through Bushy Park in South West London this morning after a night of low temperatures in the capital
A frosty start to the morning in London today after overnight temperatures fell to as low as -8C in parts of England
Mr Madge said: ‘Friday into Saturday we have got another frontal system moving across the UK. That’s more likely to deliver rain more widely.
‘By Saturday and into the weekend any wintry showers are likely to be just over the higher tops and fells.’
It follows the UK’s warmest ever New Year’s Day on Saturday when St James’s Park in London registered 16.3C (61.3F), beating the previous record of 15.6C (60.1F) set in Bude, Cornwall, set more than a century ago in 1916.
And that came after the country’s mildest New Year’s Eve on record last Friday when Merryfield in Somerset reached 15.8C (60.4F), beating the previous high of 14.8C (58.6F) set in 2011 at Colwyn Bay in North Wales.
