UK snow forecast – Up to SIX INCHES of white stuff and blizzards today after -8C ‘coldest night of year’

 BRITAIN is set to be battered by up to six inches of snow as blizzards hit after temperatures plunged to -8C – making it the coldest night of winter.

Freezing temperatures saw sleet and snow hit the UK as ice and frost caused travel chaos, as snow is set to hit throughout the day.

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Drivers in Cumbria have been urged to take caution after snow and ice swept the countryCredit: Jordan Crosby

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Yellow weather warnings have been put in place across the countryCredit: MET Office

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A woman walked her dogs in the frosty morning weatherCredit: Alamy

The Met Office confirmed that temperatures plunged to -8C in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire the early hours, making it the coldest night in England so far.

Benson in Oxfordshire fell to -6.6C and London Gatwick Airport was down to -5.4C.

Up to six inches of snow is expected above 1300ft in the Scottish Highlands, with some lightning strikes also expected.

Two yellow weather warnings have been issued for snow 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”.

Ice and slush are expected to cause icy patches on roads – meaning travel chaos up and down the country.Met Office meteorologist Claire Nasir said: "Across much of the country we're bathed in cold air.

"Temperatures will be plummeting to around -4C in England and Wales and -10C on snowfields across Scotland.

"Eventually a ridge of high pressure will extend across so we'll see a fairly hard frost into Thursday morning before milder air moves in from the Atlantic with a band of cloud and rain.

"As the rain encounters the colder air, it will turn to snow. Colder behind as well so snow showers are likely through Friday too."

A ‘snowbomb’ is expected to hit next week, after the warmest New Year’s Eve on record was recorded.

Newcastle and Northumberland are likely to face white-out by midnight on January 12.

Parts of Scotland – particularly in the Highlands – will also face up to five inches as the mercury plunges below zero.

Friday will see a repeat of the wintry conditions in the north, with snow or sleet followed by sunshine.

East and south-east England will have a bright day but persistent rain was expected in the South West and South Wales.

The weekend weather was expected to remain unsettled, with milder spells, as a spiralling area of low pressure brings changeable weather conditions to the UK.

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Cumbria was hit by a snowstorm in the early hoursCredit: Jordan Crosby

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A dog walker in Rivington, Lancashire, wrapped up to avoid the coldCredit: Mercury

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Heavy snow hit Cumbria as the winter conditions continue to rageCredit: Jordan Crosby

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A blanket of the white stuff is set to cover the UKCredit: Alamy

Met Office 10-day weather trend report tells Brits what to expect as snow hits UK