UK weather forecast RECAP: Met Office extends snow and ice warning until MONDAY as Brits brace for freezing temperatures

Lows of -8C in the UK tonight

Brace yourselves Brits, you are in for a chilly one tonight.

The Met Office has shared tonight's forecast, with lows of -8C being seen in England.

"Blankets, dressing gowns, hot water bottles and thick socks," the forecast said.

"It will all be needed again tonight as temperatures drop away and a widespread frost develops."

In pictures: Winter hits Britain in full force

Winter is well and truly here this week, as snow and frost hit much of the UK.

Across the north of England, as well as Scotland, Brits have faced freezing temperatures of up to -10C.

While this snow can be difficult for some, it brings with it some truly stunning views.

Parts of Scotland covered in snow as temperatures plummet

Tomorrow to feature ‘freezing fog’ and ‘severe frost’

You will want to wrap up warm if you are planning on heading out to watch England take on France tomorrow.

The Met Office has warned of freezing weather over the weekend, as well as wintry showers.

Its forecast said: “Staying cold or very cold, with further wintry showers, mainly for coasts. Freezing fog is also likely in places, this slow to clear. Severe frosts likely by night.”

Changing wind brings wet weather inland

The Met Office reported that a change in wind direction has brought showers inland, some of which have been falling as sleet and hail.

They tweeted: “A shift in wind direction has allowed showers to push into parts of northwest England and Wales today.

“Some of these have been falling as a mix of rain, sleet and hail.

“There's also been a few rumbles of thunder with the heaviest showers.”

Freezing fog could keep temperatures from rising above zero in some areas

Freezing fog may keep temperatures around freezing according to the Met Office.

They tweeted: “You'll certainly need some extra layers on when heading outside this weekend as temperatures will be struggling to climb.

"In localised spots where freezing fog persists during the day, it won't rise much higher than 0 or 1 Celsius.”

Nearly four inches of snow could fall in London and Southeast England

Today the Met Office issued a yellow snow and ice warning for London and southeast England, with snow expected on Sunday and Monday.

The new warning states between two and five centimetres of snow could fall over much of the country, going up as high as 10cm in some areas.

There could be travel delays, power cuts and injuries from falls on ice, while some communities could be “cut off” according to the warning.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: “The outlook for the UK remains cold at least for the next seven days, with the potential for this to continue even longer.

“At the moment the air mass which is feeding the cold conditions is coming from a northerly direction, even with an Arctic influence.

“However, this air mass is also relatively drier so most of the precipitation is in the form of showers rather than continuous like you would get with a weather front. This has the benefit of bringing quite clear and bright conditions by day for many.

“Along with the cold air there are a number of weather-related hazards including freezing fog, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings in the south of England.

“Overnight temperatures are likely to dip widely below zero with some more sheltered spots dropping to minus 10C.

“Our forecasters are looking at the possibility of snow affecting the southeast of England on Sunday night and into Monday morning. If this happens it could bring some disruption to Monday’s rush hour.”

Protect pets from toxic effects of cold snap

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned pet owners to be aware of the many hazards the freezing weather poses for their furry friends.

BVA Tweeted: "Salt and grit on the roads, antifreeze spills, and extended exposure to cold weather are serious concerns for pets during winter.

"As the @metoffice warns of a cold snap, follow our tips to keep dogs, cats and other pets safe and warm in this weather."

More snow predicted in forecasts

Temperatures look like dropping below zero overnight and could reach -10C in some rural areas, according to the Met Office.

There are four yellow weather warnings in place for ice and snow across the UK.

In Scotland there has already been snow and forecasts predict snow for London, the South East and East of England this Sunday.

BBC Weather's Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "By around 18:00 GMT this evening, still some snow lingering across northern and eastern Scotland, some around these Irish sea coasts.

"Some slippery conditions for northern and western areas on Saturday with another cold night.

"We're expecting temperatures as low as -6C in a few spots."

Will we have a white Christmas this year?

The Met Office has shared a forecast for later this month, and while things aren’t yet clear, can we expect a white Christmas?

The Met Office said: “The second half of December remains uncertain, but there are hints of a return to nearer normal temperatures.

“This would be associated with spells of more unsettled weather, especially for the south, and a reducing risk of wintry hazards overall, although periods of severe weather are still possible.

“Northern areas are likely to hold onto the colder conditions for longest.”

Keep up to date with forecasts as weather warnings mount

There are weather warnings in force throughout the weekend.

Be sure to stay safe by being well informed.

The Met Office’s forecast lets you know what to expect all over the UK.

How long will the Artic blast last?

The weather has turned sharply, but how long will the Troll of Trondheim be visiting the UK?

Jason Kelly, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said: “Through the weekend and into next week cold weather will continue, with an ongoing chance of wintry showers – mainly for coasts – and freezing fog patches inland. An area of low pressure may then threaten southern and southwestern parts of the UK through mid-week.

“Confidence in the exact track of this system is low, but should it push precipitation into the UK, then this would readily turn to snow, with a lower chance of freezing rain.

Saturday to feature ‘freezing fog’ and ‘severe frost’

You will want to wrap up warm if you are planning on heading out to watch England take on France tomorrow.

The Met Office has warned of freezing weather over the weekend, as well as wintry showers.

Its forecast said: “Staying cold or very cold, with further wintry showers, mainly for coasts. Freezing fog is also likely in places, this slow to clear. Severe frosts likely by night.”

Met Office press release says it’s going to stay cold

It will remain cold into the weekend and throughout next week according to a press release from the Met Office.

There is a risk of sleet and snow, especially in coastal areas.

There will also be overnight frosts, which will be severe at times.

Steve Willington, Met Office Chief Meteorologist, said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10°C or lower in isolated spots. Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time year.

“There is still a risk we could see some freezing fog in places, particularly southern England, especially for Sunday and Monday mornings. And there is also a small risk of a band of sleet or snow moving into the far Southeast on Sunday. If this happens it could potentially bring some disruption, especially to rush hour on Monday. A warning has been issued.”

Increased threat of power cuts

The possibility of power cuts has increased with the National Grid on standby to take "enhanced actions".

According to the Daily Telegraph, this is because wind levels dropped dramatically.

A spokesman for The National Grid said: “Margins are expected to be tighter this week, particularly for the next few days. This is based on our current assessment and is subject to change.

“Our control room has a range of operational tools available to manage this. These actions also include our enhanced actions.”

What will today’s weather be like?

Though there will be some sunshine, temperatures are not forecast to climb much above zero in some areas.

There may also be wintry showers and ice.

The Met Office have provided a useful graphic so you can see what the weather in your area of the UK will look like throughout Friday.

Beware of icy roads

Police in West London issued an appeal for motorists to be extra careful in the freezing weather.

This was after a car overturned last night in Ealing.

So, wherever you are, be careful while driving on icy roads.

Coldest December night in a decade

Temperatures plummeted to their lowest point in England for a December night in almost a decade last night.

In Benson, Oxfordshire, it dropped to -8.2C.

Arctic air from Norway, labelled the Troll of Trondheim, is causing the unseasonably cold weather.

Remember to wrap up warm if you’re going outside

Extra layers of clothing are advisable.

Temperatures dropped to -9C last night.

Also, there is widespread frost, so be careful on the roads and pavements.

Met Office issue warnings

The Met Office have issued multiple yellow weather warnings for ice and snow across the UK this weekend as an Arctic blast moves in.

Forecasters at the Met Office have warned that "some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services" in Scotland.

They have also predicted that a large proportion of the UK faces potential snow by the middle of next week.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said there could be significant snow in central parts of England and Wales in one long-range forecast model for next week.

He also outlined a second scenario with a 70 per cent chance of cold winds and snow showers covering Scotland and the East of England.

Met Office issue advice for keeping well this Winter

The Met Office have issued advice for keeping well this Winter as temperatures have already started to drop significantly this December.

The Met Office said: "Ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18 °C.

"Insulating your home not only helps to keep you warm and healthy, but it can also help to keep your heating costs down.

"There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. Find out more about keeping your home warm this winter."

London will see lows of -6C tonight

Londoners can expect a widespread sharp frost first thing this morning.

However it will be a predominantly dry day to follow with sunny spells.

Remaining cold despite the sunshine with maximum temperatures of 4 °C according to the Met Office.

Later tonight there will be light winds with minimum temperatures of -6 °C.

Warm banks open across Islington as temperature plummets

According to new figures, a number of warm banks have opened in Islington, London.

The soaring prices of basics such as food and heating have led to the rise in warm banks, housed in locations such as churches and libraries.

Campaign group Warm Welcome has compiled a list of warm spaces across the UK.

The charity says there are almost 2,700 warm banks across the UK, with 197 in London alone.