The cold snap gripping the UK is set to continue with the mercury potentially dropping as low as -20C on Friday night in isolated places.
Temperatures of -16C were forecast for Thursday night but the lowest recorded ended up being -14.5C in Altnaharra in northern Scotland.
After many days of weather warnings across the UK covering snow and ice, the last of those – covering south-west England and south Wales – expired at 11am on Friday morning.
Tonight is predicted to bring the lowest temperatures of the cold snap in parts of Scotland and northern England, with temperatures between -15C and -20C possible.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said said: “That’s probably the lowest limits that we’re expecting. We probably don’t really expect many places to get close to minus 20C, but we could see one or two places that could just touch that mark overnight Friday into Saturday.
How cold will it get?
How cold it could get on Friday at 9pm (left) and on Saturday morning at 9am (right)> (Met Office)
The Met Office said Friday will see “the start of a change to our weather” with milder temperatures “attempting to move in from the south west through the morning”.
But this is expected to only make “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.”
The weather will slowly warm as Monday nears, though clouds will come in from the west which should prevent temperatures dropping as quickly.
The expected temperatures on Saturday afternoon at 3pm (left) and on Sunday at midday (right). (Met Office)
The weather will slowly warm as Monday nears, with temperatures of 7C forecast.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
The coldest January ever in the UK was recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire on 10 January 1982, when the temperature fell to -27.2C.
The coldest UK winters
Travel problems
Car insurer RAC said it has seen the highest levels of demand for rescues in a three-day period since December 2022.
“Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow,” said RAC breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson.
“Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended.”
Heavy snow falling in Brighton on Wednesday. (PA)
Snow falling and settling on the A37 in Dorset on Wednesday afternoon. (AP)
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.
As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.
Flood warnings
Flooding at a caravan park near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire. (PA)
As of Friday morning, there were 22 flood warnings in place across England, according to the Environment Agency, meaning flooding is expected in those areas, and 71 flood alerts, meaning flooding remains possible.
The worst hit area during the cold snap has been around the River Soar in Leicestershire, which was subject to a severe flood warning earlier in the week. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said on Tuesday they had rescued 59 people from the flooding.
In North Yorkshire, police said the body of a man had been recovered on Monday from an area of flooding in Beal, near Eggborough and Knottingley. The police said he had been identified and his family had been informed.
There are currently no flood alerts in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.