Yellow weather warning issued for wintry conditions with temperatures as low as -10C
Parts of the UK could see 5cm of snow on Friday with temperatures expected to drop as low as minus 10C in some areas.
A yellow weather warning for snow and ice will remain in place on Friday for the eastern coast of the the UK, stretching from Scotland to East Anglia.
Ice warnings remain in place for Northern Ireland and south-west England.
Snow swept across the South West, parts of Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland on Thursday with hilly areas forecast to see more snow on Friday.
More than 30 schools in Cornwall were closed on Thursday or opened late due to hazardous conditions.
The wintery weather made conditions treacherous on the roads, with police in Country Durham reporting several crashes.
Overnight temperatures dropped as low as minus 6C in south-west England, minus 8C in Wales and minus 10C in parts of Scotland, the Met Office said.
Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: “For most of us it will be dry and bright. There will be some wintry showers over the hills.
“There could be 2cm to 5cm of snow for areas 100m to 200m above sea level, with rain falling at lower levels, particularly Northern Ireland and western Scotland.
“The North York Moors and parts of Scotland will likely get snow. There will be another widespread frost, with a max temperature of 5C across the South.”
The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued amber cold health alerts in five regions – the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber – until December 5, meaning “cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time”.
Motorists were advised to keep a winter kit, including a torch and warm clothes, in their car in case they were stranded.
National Network Manager at National Highways, Dale Hipkiss urged people to plan ahead and to check the forecast before travelling.
“It’s also a good idea for people to check (your) vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, etc. before heading out to reduce the risk of breakdowns," he said.
He added: “If you do unfortunately find yourself in an unsafe or vulnerable situation and need assistance, please contact the emergency services.”
The cold weather is set to last into next week, with a north-easterly air flow pushing through frigid air from the north with coastal wintry showers forecast.
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