The UK has braved its coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures dropping below -15C in the Scottish Highlands as snow blanketed parts of London.
Thermometers at Kinbrace in the Highlands gave readings of -15.2C overnight on Tuesday, the Met Office said – the lowest the mercury has dropped all year.
A blast of Arctic air means that sleet and snow is expected across southern England and south Wales on Wednesday, while scattered snow and hail showers will impact Scotland's northern coasts as the cold snap intensifies.
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said the weather could cut off rural communities in the north and impact travel over the next few days across southern England and south Wales.
A number of national severe warnings for snow and ice were issued, with the Met Office saying further warnings, or updates to the current warnings, are “very likely”.
Alerts stretching from Nottingham to Inverness are in place until 6pm on Friday, warning “that roads may become blocked by deep snow, with many stranded vehicles and passengers”.
“There is a small chance that long interruptions to power supplies and other services, such as gas, water, telephone and mobile phone coverage, may occur,” it added, warning that some communities could be cut off for several days.
Temperatures were widely below freezing across the entire country as of 7am on Wednesday, save for the western tip of Cornwall, which appeared unaffected by the Arctic blast as the mercury there hit double digits.
Night-time sub-zero climes are predicted in all four UK nations until at least Friday.
The UK Health and Security Agency has also issued a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert for the whole of England, which alerts social and healthcare services to take specific actions to help protect high-risk individuals.
The agency’s head of extreme events and health protection, Dr Agostinho Sousa, said people should check on vulnerable relatives and told pensioners and anyone with an underlying health condition to heat their home to at least 18C.
National Highways has urged people to pack extra provisions in vehicles in case they become stranded.
“Keeping a kit of essential items like a torch and warm clothes, in your vehicle, can be vital in case you and your passengers become stranded in winter,” said Dale Hipkiss, the company’s national network manager.
“Freezing conditions bring so many hazards, such as snow and ice, and take every possible step to understand your journey in advance and allow lots of extra time when travelling to prepare for the unexpected.”
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