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Britain in grip of snow and ice as temperatures plunge to winter low Britain in grip of snow and ice as temperatures plunge to winter low
(about 4 hours later)
The winter's lowest temperature in the UK of -12.9C (8.8F) was equalled overnight on Tuesday, signalling that icy conditions are settling in for a prolonged spell. The winter's lowest temperature in the UK of -12.9C (8.8F) was equalled overnight on Tuesday, signalling that icy conditions are settling in for a prolonged spell.
Snow showers are lingering on the east coast, especially in Kent and Essex, and there are likely to be heavy falls on Friday as a lozenge-shaped band of rain moves in from the Atlantic and freezes as it reaches the south-west of England and Wales.Snow showers are lingering on the east coast, especially in Kent and Essex, and there are likely to be heavy falls on Friday as a lozenge-shaped band of rain moves in from the Atlantic and freezes as it reaches the south-west of England and Wales.
Bright sunshine will continue to play its part but without the power to ease increasingly cold conditions. Much of the country is expected to stay below freezing all day Wednesday, with steep falls in temperature as twilight comes. Bright sunshine will continue to play its part but without the power to ease increasingly cold conditions. Much of the country is expected to stay below freezing all day Wednesday, with steep falls in temperature as twilight comes.
The coldest place in the country on Tuesday night was Braemar in Scotland, which equalled the -12.7C recorded there on 16 December before the markedly mild spell of Christmas and new year weather.Freezing fog has added to traffic hazards in the Midlands and East Anglia – the latter still recovering from the brunt of Monday and Tuesday's snow, which closed 42 schools in Norfolk and grounded all aircraft at Norwich international airport. The county nearly matched Braemar, with -12.1C (10.2F) recorded at Houghton Hall, the former home of Britain's first prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole. The coldest place in the country on Tuesday night was Braemar in Scotland, which equalled the -12.7C recorded there on 16 December before the markedly mild spell of Christmas and new year weather.
Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said many areas had been bitterly cold with temperatures falling to -3C (27F) even in London. She said: "Most places are looking as if they will be dry today, with some sunny spells. But fog and low cloud could linger in the East Midlands and East Anglia, with further outbreaks of sleet and snow across parts of western Scotland." Freezing fog has added to traffic hazards in the Midlands and East Anglia – the latter still recovering from the brunt of Monday and Tuesday's snow, which closed 42 schools in Norfolk and grounded all aircraft at Norwich international airport. The county nearly matched Braemar, with -12.1C (10.2F) recorded at Houghton Hall, the former home of Britain's first prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole.
She also predicted snowfall as deep as 5cm-10cm (2in-4in) across many parts of the country on Friday and over the weekend, a prospect supported by the Meteorological Office, which forecasts: "Mainly dry in the north-east on Friday, but rain, sleet and snow will spread from the south-west. This pushing north-east through Saturday. Further rain and snow spreading north-east on Sunday. Windy throughout." Gemma Plumb, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said many areas had been bitterly cold with temperatures falling to -3C (27F) even in London. She said: "Most places are looking as if they will be dry today, with some sunny spells. But fog and low cloud could linger in the East Midlands and East Anglia, with further outbreaks of sleet and snow across parts of western Scotland."
She also predicted snowfall as deep as 5cm-10cm (2in-4in) across many parts of the country on Friday and over the weekend, a prospect supported by the Met Office, which forecasts: "Mainly dry in the north-east on Friday, but rain, sleet and snow will spread from the south-west. This pushing north-east through Saturday. Further rain and snow spreading north-east on Sunday. Windy throughout."
Roads have been affected by accidents and breakdowns with a six-vehicle pileup injuring three people on the A11 in Norfolk and the AA reporting 1,000 callouts an hour.Roads have been affected by accidents and breakdowns with a six-vehicle pileup injuring three people on the A11 in Norfolk and the AA reporting 1,000 callouts an hour.
The AA's spokesman, Darron Burness, said: "The main problem is flat or failed batteries, as cars' electrical systems have to work much harder in the cold. When you get in your car, switch off all the electrics before starting it — for example, blowers, lights and heated windscreen — and dip the clutch while starting to take some of the load off the starter motor and, in turn, the battery." The AA's spokesman, Darron Burness, said: "The main problem is flat or failed batteries, as cars' electrical systems have to work much harder in the cold. When you get in your car, switch off all the electrics before starting it – for example, blowers, lights and heated windscreen – and dip the clutch while starting to take some of the load off the starter motor and, in turn, the battery."
The snow will cheer those disappointed by rapid thaws on Monday and Tuesday, which ruled out sledging and other snow games. The snow will cheer those disappointed by rapid thaws on Monday and Tuesday, which ruled out sledging and other snow games.
In county Durham, police added another deterrent when officers in Crook used Facebook to warn of potential arrests for anyone snowballing cars, houses or people who were not keen to join in. The warning attracted a few ripostes about cheerlessness but 35 "likes" in favour of a crackdown amid references to children wrapping snow round stones. In County Durham, police added another deterrent when officers in Crook used Facebook to warn of potential arrests for anyone snowballing cars, houses or people who were not keen to join in. The warning attracted a few ripostes about cheerlessness but 35 "likes" in favour of a crackdown amid references to children wrapping snow round stones.
Facebook user Chris Clynes said: "We've had a snowball thrown through our slightly ajar backdoor and it knocked the fabric softener off the top of the tumble dryer. Good shot, but annoying. Still, I'd have done the same when younger." The Facebook user Chris Clynes said: "We've had a snowball thrown through our slightly ajar backdoor and it knocked the fabric softener off the top of the tumble dryer. Good shot, but annoying. Still, I'd have done the same when younger."