Britain faces coldest January in 15 years

Warmer southern England is also expected to see snow on 8 January, with 2-5cm of snow falling and up to 10cm at higher elevations. The Met Office has issued yellow snow and ice warnings for southern and north-west England, the Midlands, parts of northern Wales, western and northern Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Most areas across the UK recorded frost on the morning of January 8, as overnight temperatures dropped below freezing.

The lowest temperature of the night was recorded at Tulloch Bridge, Scotland (-7C), while Northern Ireland recorded its coldest winter night at -6.6C in Katesbridge. Meanwhile, in England, temperatures dropped to -6.3C in Shap, Cumbria, while in southern England, the temperature was just -6.1C in Benson, Oxfordshire. In Wales, the lowest temperature was recorded at Bala, Gwynedd, at -3.7C.

Heavy snowfall has caused widespread disruption, with hundreds of schools closed across Enland, Scotland and Northern Ireland, flights delayed, cancelled, roads closed and train lines cancelled. Meanwhile, people are also grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding, affecting homes and businesses across the Midlands, with more than 100 flood warnings still in place.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber health alert - the second highest level - warning that cold weather could lead to increased deaths, particularly among the elderly and vulnerable, as well as increased demand on healthcare services. Vulnerable people are at increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and respiratory infections due to cold weather, according to Dr Agostinho Sousa at UKHSA.

The last time the UK recorded a temperature below minus 20C was in February 2021 in Aberdeenshire, Braemar at minus 23C.