BRITS are set to be battered by four inches of snow with temperatures plunging as low as -10 in the next few days.
The UK will be colder than Iceland, which will only fall to -4, and forecasters are warning that people need to prepare for extreme conditions.
Children build a snowman after the first significant snow fall in Cheshire this Winter earlier today
A woman makes her way through a snow flurry in Northwich
Weather warnings are in place
A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for much of Scotland as well as parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and south-western England until 12pm on Sunday.
On Sunday and Monday, another snow and ice warning for most of London and some of south-eastern England kicks in on Sunday at 9am for 24 hours.
The Met Office said the conditions could lead to more travel disruption, especially on Monday morning, and a small chance of some rural communities becoming cut off along with a possibility of power cuts and mobile phone coverage being affected.
Elsewhere, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sent out a level three cold weather alert covering England until Friday having extended the alert from Monday.
Forecasters are advising people to “stay up to date with the latest forecast forecasts, and if you are travelling, plan your route carefully, take extra cautions and give yourself extra time to travel because roads will be slippery and there will be a lot of frost around the place.”
It comes after temperatures plummeted over night to minus 9.2C in Eskdalemuir in Scotland.
In the next couple of days the mercury is set to sink further – with the met believing it could hit -10C.
It means the UK will be colder than Iceland – which is currently being treated to temperatures of -4C.
Elsewhere, the UKHSA is advising people to look out for friends and family who are vulnerable in the cold and to ensure they have access to warm food and drinks, adding that people should maintain indoor temperatures of at least 18C.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
“In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if you can. Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.”
Darren Clark, severe weather resilience manager at National Highways, said gritters would be out to keep motorways and major A-roads open.
He said: “National Highways is committed to treating every road which needs to be treated – whenever it is needed.”
Meanwhile, Rod Dennis, spokesperson for the RAC, has advised drivers to be alert and suggested football fans leave their cars at home and go on foot if heading out to watch England play France in the World Cup quarter-final.
He said: “The big freeze continues today and those heading out on the roads must be alert to the risk of ice, especially in the south and west of the UK which are covered by weather warnings.
“Leaving the car at home and going on foot to watch the match perhaps makes the most sense – and especially so if people are planning on drinking any alcohol while England play France.
“Yesterday was an exceptionally busy day for breakdowns, with the equivalent of around 400 drivers breaking down every hour – similar to what we’d expect on a Monday in December.”
