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UK hit by coldest night of winter UK hit by coldest night of winter
(10 minutes later)
The UK has suffered its coldest night of the winter so far with temperatures plummeting to -21.2C (-6.2F) in the north-west Highlands.The UK has suffered its coldest night of the winter so far with temperatures plummeting to -21.2C (-6.2F) in the north-west Highlands.
Overnight temperatures of -10C (14F) were widespread, leaving commuters again battling icy roads and pavements amid "stretched" road salt supplies.Overnight temperatures of -10C (14F) were widespread, leaving commuters again battling icy roads and pavements amid "stretched" road salt supplies.
Many schools remain shut, with rail and air travel again hit by delays. Fresh snow is falling in eastern England.Many schools remain shut, with rail and air travel again hit by delays. Fresh snow is falling in eastern England.
The weekend could be colder, as another week of Arctic conditions is forecast.The weekend could be colder, as another week of Arctic conditions is forecast.
Further mass school closures have been announced in north-east England, East Anglia, and the South East. Thousands of schools remain shut, with warnings that some exam candidates could have to wait five months to sit GCSE and A-level modules in England, Wales and Northern Ireland if weather prevents them taking them next week.
In Wales 556 schools are closed, almost a third of the total in the country.
FROZEN BRITAIN See a more detailed version Special report: Frozen Britain
Next week's GCSE and A-level exams in England, Wales and Northern Ireland could be plunged into chaos should schools remain closed.
Easyjet has cancelled about 30 flights at airports including Gatwick, Liverpool, Belfast and Stansted.Easyjet has cancelled about 30 flights at airports including Gatwick, Liverpool, Belfast and Stansted.
FROZEN BRITAIN See a more detailed version Special report: Frozen Britain
British Airways said passengers should check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.British Airways said passengers should check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.
Passengers at Heathrow airport have reported experiencing a lack of staff and delays in getting their baggage.Passengers at Heathrow airport have reported experiencing a lack of staff and delays in getting their baggage.
British Airways said it was aware of some problems with baggage reclaim but it was widespread across Heathrow, not just affecting BA or Terminal 5.British Airways said it was aware of some problems with baggage reclaim but it was widespread across Heathrow, not just affecting BA or Terminal 5.
Train companies operating revised timetables include South West Trains, Southern and Southeastern. Train companies operating revised timetables include East Coast, ScotRail, First Great Western, South West Trains, Southern and Southeastern.
The breakdown of a train travelling from Brussels to London in the Channel Tunnel has affected Eurostar services. The breakdown of a train travelling from Brussels to London in the Channel Tunnel on Thursday has affected Eurostar services.
Power suppliesPower supplies
Supplies of grit are close to running out in some areas, and many councils are restricting gritting to just major roads. Supplies of road grit are close to running out in some areas, and many councils are restricting gritting to just major roads.
The Local Government Association admitted supplies were "stretched". The Local Government Association admitted reserves were "stretched", while the government is helping suppliers prioritise areas most in need.
Some 95 major firms were told to turn off their gas supply and switch to alternative fuels as demand for energy soared. Meanwhile, 27 firms - 12 in the East Midlands and 15 in the North West - are still using alternative fuels after National Grid told them to turn off their gas supply, with demand for energy soaring.
They included 55 businesses in the East Midlands, 39 in the North West and one in East Anglia. At one stage on Thursday, 95 major firms were affected.
WEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO Get the latest on school closures and travel problems via your BBC Local websiteCheck if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency websiteFor information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office websiteFor information about staying healthy in the current cold snap, see the NHS Winter Health websiteWEATHER AND TRAVEL INFO Get the latest on school closures and travel problems via your BBC Local websiteCheck if snow is forecast in your area at BBC Weather Details of motorway and local road closures and public transport disruption are available at BBC Travel News For advice on handling difficult driving conditions, see the Highways Agency websiteFor information about severe weather warnings, see the Met Office websiteFor information about staying healthy in the current cold snap, see the NHS Winter Health website
National Grid said that figure would be reduced to 27 on Friday - 12 in the East Midlands and 15 in the North West. Of some 5,000 homes in southern England which were without power throughout Thursday, all but "a few hundred" were reconnected overnight, energy suppliers said.
The companies' contracts allow National Grid to make such a move in return for cheaper regular supplies of gas. Up to 25,000 homes across the UK have been affected by power cuts since Wednesday, mostly because of trees bringing down electricity lines or ice weighing down power cables and triggering safety cut-offs.
About 5,000 homes across southern England were without electricity because of trees falling on power lines and safety mechanisms being triggered by ice weighing down cables.
EDF Energy said only about 400 to 500 of those homes remained without power on Thursday night.
Most of those cut off in Kent, Surrey and Hampshire had been reconnected and it reported only "normal fault levels" for the time of year.
A further 970 homes were without electricity in East Finchley, north London, after a fault with an underground cable at about 2200 GMT.
Up to 25,000 homes across the UK have been similarly affected since Wednesday.
Temperatures barely rose above freezing on Thursday, remaining between -8C and 0C in most parts of the UK.Temperatures barely rose above freezing on Thursday, remaining between -8C and 0C in most parts of the UK.
Overnight lows included -13.4C (7.9F) in Woodford, Cheshire, -14.7 (5.5F) in Sennybridge, Powys, and -10 (14F) at Aldergrove near Belfast.Overnight lows included -13.4C (7.9F) in Woodford, Cheshire, -14.7 (5.5F) in Sennybridge, Powys, and -10 (14F) at Aldergrove near Belfast.
The lowest ever recorded temperature in the UK was -27.2C (-17F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in 1895 and 1982, and in Altnaharra, Sutherland, in 1995.The lowest ever recorded temperature in the UK was -27.2C (-17F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in 1895 and 1982, and in Altnaharra, Sutherland, in 1995.
• A man's body was recovered from under the ice of frozen waters on Thursday morning at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, where the World Darts Championship is taking place Temperatures are expected to stay around freezing throughout Friday, with the treacherous conditions causing many schools to remain shut. They include:
• Police are concerned for the safety of two teenage Welsh girls missing in sub-zero conditions near Newport. They have not been seen since Sunday
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  • At least 556 - a third of the total - in Wales and about 17 in Northern Ireland
  • All schools in the Borders, Highland and West Lothian council areas, along with most in Aberdeenshire and Moray
  • More than 430 in north-western England, at least 130 in Yorkshire and 200 in the north-east of England
  • Some 300 in Devon and Cornwall, 1,100 in southern central England, 250 in Essex and 260 in East Anglia
• A man was treated in hospital after being injured when the weight of snow caused a cattle shed to collapse in Aberdeenshire
• The AA said it had been called out to more than 16,000 breakdowns on Thursday by 1700 GMT
Major disruption has already been caused to the sporting programme over the weekend.Major disruption has already been caused to the sporting programme over the weekend.
Four matches in football's Championship have been called off, and only three fixtures survive in Leagues One and Two. Ten Scottish Cup games have fallen victim to the weather.Four matches in football's Championship have been called off, and only three fixtures survive in Leagues One and Two. Ten Scottish Cup games have fallen victim to the weather.
Horse racing and rugby union fixtures have also been hit.Horse racing and rugby union fixtures have also been hit.
FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHERFORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
Are you in the affected areas? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in the affected areas? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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We would also like to hear your experiences and memories, and see your pictures of the snow in 1963.We would also like to hear your experiences and memories, and see your pictures of the snow in 1963.
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