Temperatures have dropped as colder arctic air spreads across the UK, with amber cold weather health alerts in place ahead of a weekend of snow forecast for much of the country.
Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice have been issued for much of England and Wales and parts of Scotland over the course of three days, with cold conditions forecast to continue into Monday.
Separate warnings for ice are in force on Thursday and Friday after much of the UK was lashed by strong winds and heavy rain, which led to widespread flooding across the north-west of England.
Cold Arctic air is sweeping across the UK, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures and triggering amber cold weather health alerts. Snow is forecast for much of the country this weekend.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across England, Wales, and parts of Scotland, with cold weather expected to continue into Monday.
Ice warnings are in effect for Thursday and Friday, following strong winds and heavy rain that caused widespread flooding in the north-west of England.
This drop in temperature marks the end of a mild festive period, which saw temperatures between 11°C and 13°C on Christmas Day.
Temperatures are expected to be about 5°C below the usual early January levels, with wind chill making it feel even colder.
Amber cold weather health alerts are in place across England, although not for the rest of the UK. These alerts are issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) when low temperatures may affect vulnerable people, such as the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions. The alerts serve as a warning to healthcare providers.
A yellow ice warning will be in effect from 17:00 GMT on Thursday to Friday morning for north-west England, western Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as temperatures continue to fall overnight.
