The UK woke up to a blanket of frost on Thursday morning, with snow also falling in parts of the country.
Conditions have turned significantly colder over the past few days, and are expected to remain so for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
Daytime temperatures are rooted in single figures and overnight temperatures are falling well below freezing in many places.
Snow has been settling in eastern Scotland, as well as the north-east and south-west of England, but is yet to make its way to the capital.
Will it snow in London?
The Met Office is not currently forecasting any snow in London, though some could fall as close as Kent on Thursday night.
On Friday the forecaster says to expect a largely clear and dry day in the capital, with temperatures a maximum high of 4ºC during the daytime, with a risk of frost and fog overnight.
This will be followed by a “cold weekend with some sharp frosts and a continued risk of fog”. Saturday will be drier, with a “breezier and cloudier” Sunday, which will also be somewhat milder, with a chance of some rain.
While no snow is forecast in London, Sadiq Khan has implemented a severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) – which includes the opening of emergency accommodation by charities and local councils for rough sleepers across the capital – due to the cold weather.
The Mayor of London said: “With temperatures in London set to be below freezing over the next few days I’ve activated the SWEP process.
“This means, over the next few days across London, there will be accommodation available to those people sleeping rough.”
What is the latest weather forecast?
The Met Office said: “With the UK sitting in cold air from Scandinavia, the weather is turning much colder for the rest of this week and the start of next, with daytime temperatures struggling to get above single figures and overnight temperatures staying below freezing for much of the country.”
There is a yellow warning for snow and ice covering the entire east coast lasting from 5pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.
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An additional warning for south-west England expires at 4pm on Thursday, and a similar alert for the northern coast of Northern Ireland runs until 10am on Friday.
Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “We’ve already seen snow settling in parts of eastern Scotland and north-eastern England. As the cold air continues to spread across the UK we also expect to see some snow over the high ground of south-west England.
“Snow showers will continue along the North Sea coast with a north-easterly air flow, leading to further accumulations over higher ground. Where the showers fall as rain, there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing. A number of national severe weather warnings have been issued and these are likely to be updated through the week, so stay up to date with the forecast for your area.”
Here is the latest Met Office UK forecast:
Thursday
Cloudy for southern counties of England, with further patchy rain at times, falling as snow across the hills in the south-west. Sunny elsewhere, with wintry showers towards coasts in the east. However most places remaining dry with sunny spells.
Thursday night
Many places dry with clear spells and a widespread frost developing. Wintry showers near North Sea coasts and parts of Northern Ireland. Freezing fog patches developing. Cloudier in the south.
Friday
Staying cold Friday, with sunny spells and some wintry showers, mainly towards coastal areas. Another widespread overnight frost and some freezing fog patches likely.
Saturday to Monday
Cold and dry Saturday with further wintry showers, but these easing. Turning cloudier and warmer from the south-west with rain spreading north from Sunday, perhaps preceded with some hill snow.
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