Coldest night in 25 YEARS as temperatures tumble to minus 22.9C! Extreme freeze continues as mercury dips to minus 6C in York and minus 1C in London with snow and ice warnings until Saturday
- Temperatures plunged to -22.9C at Braemar and -21.1C at Kinbrace, Scotland overnight, Met Office confirmed
- Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice remain in place across swathes of the UK for today and tomorrow
- Thursday starting off cold and frosty with the Met Office warning some areas could see further snow flurries Britain suffered its coldest night for more than two decades as temperatures plunged as low as -22.9C overnight.
The mercury dropped to minus 22.9C (minus 9.2F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the coldest temperature recorded in the UK since 1995, the Met Office said.
Scattered snow showers and some sunshine is forecast for large swathes of the UK over the rest of the day throughout today.
Yellow weather warnings for areas where wintry weather could cause travel disruption have been issued for the morning, covering the eastern half of Scotland and England, Devon, and south-west Wales.
Fresh snow at Loch Glascarnoch in Scotland where temperatures are likely to dip to around minus 11C today
After Storm Darcy snow come the big freeze - which has brought stunning ice structures to the Derbyshire Peak District
Hardy swimmers were out in force at the Serpentine in London this morning, in spite of the chill
A stricken lorry driver lost control on the A299 Thanet Way in Kent yesterday evening
Seagulls stand on a frozen Rushmere Pond at Wimbledon Common, south London, this morning
The mercury dropped to minus 22.9C (minus 9.2F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the coldest temperature recorded in the UK since 1995
A man and his miniature schnauzer test the frozen Rushmere Pond at Wimbledon Common in south London
There was a pretty wintry scene at the River Almond in Kirkliston, West Lothian in Scotland this morning
An early morning paper delivery through the snow in Kirkliston, West Lothian today
Frost can be seen over the River Thames at Lechlade on Thames, Gloucestershire this morning
Commuters wrapped up against the biting cold in London Bridge as they headed to work this morning
A man clears snow from his car after an overnight deposit of fresh snow in the town of Gravesend in Kent
Thermometers last night dipped to -21.9C at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, the coldest in the UK since December 2010, when minus 21.3C (minus 6.3F) was recorded in Altnaharra in the Highlands
Heavy snow in Gravesend, Kent overnight. As the snow clears towards the east through the morning, it could become 'quite pleasant outside with the sunshine, although still bitterly cold' in western areas, according to the Met Office
The fountains at Trafalgar Square remain frozen over, as Londoners woke up to a bright and sunny, if cold, start today
Weather warnings issued for snow and ice
The Met Office has issued a number of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, until lunchtime tomorrow, across;
Central, Tayside & Fife
Grampian
Highlands & Eilean Siar
North East England
Orkney & Shetland
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
Yorkshire & Humber
South West England
Wales
As the snow clears towards the east through the morning, it could become 'quite pleasant outside with the sunshine, although still bitterly cold' in western areas, according to Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir.
The latest plunge in temperatures comes after Tuesday night, when minus 17.1C (1.2F) was recorded in the Scottish Highlands.
That marked the coldest temperature recorded in the UK since January 2010, when the mercury dropped to minus 22.3C (minus 8.1F) at Altnaharra in the Highlands.
At Kinbrace in Scotland, the temperature fell to -21.2C overnight.
Cities such as Manchester and Carlisle may drop to minus 4C (24.8F) on Thursday, and York is expected to have lows of minus 6C (21.2F).
Nine flood warnings, where flooding is likely, and 88 flood alerts, indicating that flooding is possible, have also been issued for locations across England by the Environment Agency, but none were in place for the other UK nations on Wednesday night.
The forecast prompted responses from local councils in England, with residents warned to take 'extra care' while the cold snap lasts.
Ms Nasir said that on Friday and over the weekend the weather is expected to turn 'quite hazardous' as 'an area of cloud and rain' coupled with extremely cold air brings further risk of snow, and 'perhaps even of freezing rain'.
The Centrepoint charity for homeless youth has urged people to contact them or Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 if they see people living out in the cold.
Charities have also advised offering anyone sleeping rough a hot drink, meal, blankets or clothing.
The NHS said that despite tough conditions many vaccination centres had remained open, and any missed appointments would be rescheduled.
Several councils in England, including Rugby Borough Council and Southwark Council, in London, were forced to briefly suspend waste collection services due to the weather conditions.
Thurrock Council, in Essex, said more than 100 workers, mostly from street cleaning and waste collection teams, were diverted from regular duties to help clear snow from footpaths and routes to medical centres.
The water features and statues at London's Trafalgar Square are frozen over this morning following last night's dramatic temperature drop
Horses stand in a frozen field near to Dogmersfield in Hampshire as the cold snap continues to grip the nation
Great first home with room to extend but it's showing signs of damp: Estate agents put igloo on the market for £250,000 - and have five viewing requests
This chilly one bedroom house in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex was put on the market by local estate agents Palmer & Partners
A handmade igloo has been put up 'for sale' by estate agents - for an ice cool £250,000.
The chilly one bedroom house in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex was put on the market by local estate agents Palmer & Partners as a joke on Tuesday evening.
The 6ft detached snow sculpture was built by bricklayer Robert East, 30, who constructed the chalet so his children Freya, nine, Henry, seven, and Harry, two, had a base while playing on Rush Green field- a local playing field.
Robert spent five hours laboriously constructing mega concrete block alternatives by filling a recycling box with snow. He added a roof by putting a fence panel on top and covering it with the white stuff.
He said: 'I'm a bricklayer by trade. And I take great pride in what I do. We don't often get snow around here so I thought I'd make the most of it.
'The kids were sledging around as I was building it. The whole thing took the best part of five hours but it was worth it to see the smiles on their faces. They absolutely loved it and were playing in it while laughing loads.
'I've heard lots of other kids have been enjoying it since too. My mate said he wanted to use it on the estate agents' social media for a bit of fun and I said of course if it's going to make people smile. But I hope I get commission if it sells.'
The single storey offering, advertised as a great first home with room to extend, even comes with an en-suite bathroom.
The description of the property on fictional North Pole Road reads: 'Be quick! This won't be for sale long. A great chance to purchase this wonderful igloo built by a local family.
'This property is showing signs of damp so any potential buyer must have a survey before agreeing to buy. Viewing is available now and we have keys to view.'
Brady Rackham, 32, a partner at Palmers and Partners estate agents, was instantly bombarded with viewing requests.
The listing went up on Tuesday night and five people had already requested to 'view' it by the morning.
Mr Rackham said: 'It was only a bit of a joke so we're keeping it up on our website for now. The response has been so funny. I didn't think we'd actually get any interest in it.
'We thought we'd have a bit of fun with it by saying it won't be around for long before it melts and people seem to have rushed to enquire. The valuation of £250,000 is about right for a one bed in Clacton so it won't be long before it sells.'
As Kent was battered by snow again, many lorries got caught out on the icy roads - forcing Kent Police to close the A249, a major route from the M20 linking the M2
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