Temperatures set to plummet overnight

  • Weather
A snowy scene at Nenthead on the border of Northumberland and Cumbria earlier this week Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The UK has been warned to brace for plummeting temperatures tonight as the mercury plunges below freezing for large parts of the country.

Areas of high ground, including Cumbria and the Lake District could see up to 6in of snow fall during the night, while Devon, the Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds and parts of Wales have been warned that up to 1.6in of snow may fall between the hours of 3am and noon tomorrow.

The Met office has issued a yellow alert for much of the UK today as well as an amber severe cold weather alert for north east and north west England, warning that there was a "90% probability of severe cold."

The weather agency posted on its website: "There is a 90% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions between 0800 on Friday and 1200 on Tuesday in parts of England.

"This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services. "

Walkers battled with the snow near the Spittal of Glenshee earlier this week Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Forecasters have predicted average temperatures in Northern Ireland will be 0C, Central England will most likely be as low as minus 1C, and southern England could see temperatures as low as minus 3C tonight.

Met Office spokeswoman Laura Young said: "It doesn't really warm up in Scotland and northern parts of England all weekend, so there is a very good potential for ice on Sunday. People really need to be aware of that.

"Basically, snow and sleet, then it becomes very, very clear, but then the temperatures really drop, and then it freezes."