Temperatures plummeted to minus 11C overnight as a severe cold snap continues to grip the UK. The frigid conditions have forced hundreds of schools to close and left homes without power.
The Met Office recorded the lowest temperature at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands. Much of the country saw the mercury dip below minus 7C, with Wales experiencing minus 6C at Trawsgoed and England reaching minus 4C at Rostherne, Cheshire.
Forecaster Simon Partridge explained the cause: "A little ridge of high pressure moving across the UK overnight." He added that "the main difference between that and previous nights is the winds are a lot lighter".
Brief respite ahead
Despite widespread frost in the morning, much of the country can expect sunshine later on Friday. Partridge said: "Friday is really the end of the really cold weather as things turn back to average by the time we get into the weekend."
Widespread disruption
The cold snap has severely disrupted daily life across the country. About 100 schools closed in northern Scotland on Thursday, while Wales saw 57 closures across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
In Yorkshire, 33 schools shut their doors in the north while eight closed in the east. Roads faced disruption and some homes lost power due to snow.
Ice warnings remain active
The Met Office has issued yellow ice warnings for Friday morning. The alerts cover north, east, south-east and south-west England, northern and south-eastern Scotland, and north and west Wales.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
