BIG CHILL UK weather: Urgent ice warning as freezing temperatures hit in wake of severe flooding – with mercury plummeting to -6C

THE Met Office has issued an urgent ice warning as the mercury threatens to plummet to -6C.

The freezing temperatures come after downpours drenched the UK, causing widespread flooding and seeing more than 1,000 homes evacuated.

Storm Henk saw rivers burst their banks, seeing floodwaters gush through thousands of homes.

This morning, more than 190 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, remained in place across England, while 205 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, were also still set.

And now a yellow ice warning is in place for parts of Surrey, Kent and Sussex from 4am tomorrow.

It comes as the Met Office said the mercury dipped to a chilly -4.3C in Shap, Cumbria yesterday.

Forecasters warned Brits would wake this morning to icy stretches of road, fog patches and frost.

They said that there was also a chance the temperatures would drop to -6C in rural areas along the Welsh border in Shropshire and north Herefordshire tonight.

In the hours that follow the yellow warning will come into play, with the Met urging Brits to take care as icy patches and wintry showers hit.

While the alert is only in place for six hours until 10am, drivers have been urged to take care.

Chief forecaster Jason Kelly said: “The transition to lower temperatures will be noticeable over the weekend.

"It will become rather cold next week with lower-than-average temperatures across much of the UK, accentuated by brisk easterly winds in the south. 

“As the prevailing weather conditions will be characterised by high pressure, a good deal of settled weather is likely.

"Clearer skies and a marked reduction in precipitation are expected, although any showers that do occur are likely to be wintry in nature.

"A combination of overnight freezing temperatures, saturated ground and calm winds mean increasing risks of frost, fog and icy conditions.”

Thousands of Brits were also forced to flee their homes as floodwaters rose, with photos showing the sheer devastation caused.

Storm Henk has now claimed two lives after a man and woman were killed in separate smashes on Tuesday and thousands of homes have been flooded.

The news of the woman's tragic death was revealed on Thursday afternoon, as floodwaters continued to rise and the Met Office warned more rain was on the way.

The same day a London party boat sank just after midday.

The Bar & Co boat, which acts as a floating bar, restaurant and nightclub, sank into the River Thames - with everyone on board luckily escaping.

A spokesperson for the boat, which was moored at Temple Pier said: "Likely it sunk because of weather conditions."

Elsewhere, swollen rivers overflowed into paddocks and gardens in Cambridgeshire, while a narrowboat was seen on its side in Barrow on Soar.

A cold warning is also now in place for much of the UK, with fears it could increase the chances of death.

It comes as Brits were warned of travel chaos, with train companies servicing parts of the country warning of delays and cancellations.

It came after were warned not to travel after the weather caused chaos on roads and rail.

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