Snow blankets much of Britain after coldest night of the year

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/feb/03/snow-blankets-britain-cold-snap-travel-disruption

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Large swaths of the UK have woken up to a layer of snow after the coldest night of the year in England and Northern Ireland.

The Met Office warned of hazardous travel conditions with more snow and ice to come.

Observation stations in Shap in Cumbria and Katesbridge in County Down both recorded temperatures of -9.1C, the lowest of the year.

England & Northern Ireland both had the coldest night of the winter so far last night, temperatures falling to -9.1C at Shap and Katesbridge

Related: Winter wonderland: readers' photos of snow in the UK - in pictures

Northerly winds will bring snow to most areas of the UK, with only western coasts and some low-lying areas of Northern Ireland escaping with sleet and rain, the Met Office said.

Up to 10cm of snow was forecast to fall in parts of Scotland and about 5cm was expected to carpet the north Yorkshire Moors. “The public should be aware of the risk of difficult driving conditions and some travel disruption,” the Met Office yellow warning said.

The police and the AA urged drivers to allow extra time for journeys and to clear snow from the roofs and lights of their cars as well as the windows.

Remove ALL the snow from your car before you go. That rooftop #Snowhican could fall over your windscreen, or into the way of the car behind.

Allow extra time for your journey & to prepare your car! It's not just the windows to clear but the roof & lights too pic.twitter.com/f65QvdGJzn

The forecast is for a cold Tuesday with sunshine for Wales, central and western England. Isolated wintry showers will weaken later in the day, a Met Office spokesman said. Temperatures are expected to rise from about -2C in the morning to 5C by lunchtime.

Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow was one of several MPs who turned to Twitter to remark on the overnight covering of snow, in London.

Snow still falling in Cheam. @suttonguardian pic.twitter.com/QV9YJTEiHT

Cold today, with some sunshine for Wales, central and western England. Elsewhere, cloudier with isolated wintry showers, weakening. I'm Dan