BRITONS are bracing for up to 14 inches of snowfall today, with the Met Office issuing two rare amber warnings.
Temperatures fell to -8C overnight in some areas as the country braces for further sub-zero conditions over the weekend and into Monday.
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Mogshade Pond frozen over on a frosty morning in the New Forest, HampshireCredit: BNPS
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Early morning frost at Queen’s Park Golf Course in Bournemouth, DorsetCredit: BNP
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Walkers also braved the cold in Edinburgh yesterdayCredit: PA
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The Bureau of Meteorology has issued two yellow weather warnings. Credits: Bureau of Meteorology
The mercury dropped to a bone-chilling -8C at 2am overnight in Aboyne, Scotland.
Now the Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow and ice covering much of Wales and northern England from 6pm today until 12 noon on Sunday.
Those affected have been warned that there will be a “good chance” of power and service cuts, as well as travel disruptions on roads, railways and airports.
Regions such as the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire are among those in the firing line, along with parts of Wales and London.
A second amber warning for snow covering northern England runs from 9pm today until midnight on Sunday.
Heavy snow is forecast to fall across the country, with 3-7cm in many areas and a whopping 15-30cm over the hills of Wales and the Pennines.
There is a possibility of up to 40 cm of snow for the ground above 300 m, forecasters say.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for snow across England and Wales, stretching from Newcastle to London.
This is in effect from 12pm today until midnight on Sunday.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for snow in the Shetland Islands between 10am and 6pm today.
“Persistent sleet or snow on Saturday may cause disruption,” the warning said.
The Met Office says 2-5cm of sleet or snow could potentially accumulate “in quite a few places”, with up to 10cm above the ground.
Otherwise, another yellow warning for ice covers all of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland from 4pm until 10am tomorrow.
Another yellow weather warning applies to Iverness, Scotland and Carlisle, England from 9am tomorrow until 6am on Monday.
Meanwhile, health chiefs have issued amber warnings for the whole of England from now until January 8.
Temperatures fell to -5C overnight on Friday in parts of Cheshire and Somerset.
Keeping warm and toasty in cold weather – advice from the UK Health Safety Agency
Elsewhere, those in Eskdalemuir, Scotland, are experiencing the same sub-zero numbers on Thursday night.
The mercury dropped to a low of -8C overnight in Benson, Oxfordshire.
Meanwhile, Shap in Cumbria felt temperatures of -7.4C, according to the Met Office.
It comes after a boy was killed in a horrific crash on Thursday and police are investigating whether the incident was linked to the icy conditions.
Officers were called to the scene of a single vehicle collision involving a yellow Honda Jazz on the A1 in Lincolnshire near Grantham just after 10.50pm.
The baby, aged seven months, was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead just after 5am, Lincolnshire Police said.
The statement added that police believe the accident may have been caused by ‘icy road conditions’.
Officers warned others to “stay safe” on the roads due to dangerous weather conditions.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “Snow will be persistent and locally heavy, with freezing rain bringing hazardous travel conditions before milder air starts to melt things on Sunday morning.”
The UK’s Health Safety Agency has warned of a likely rise in deaths, particularly among the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.
The Met Office has warned people to be prepared and aware when traveling with longer journey times likely.
Trains are likely to experience delays or cancellations, with National Rail confirming that various routes across the UK are affected.
Conditions should warm up a bit over the weekend before cooling off again early next week.
Met Office expert Dan Stroud said: “The second half of the weekend should be in a high single or low pair.
“But temperatures will drop again next week, particularly on Monday and Tuesday.
“They should start to improve at the end of the week – but until then there’s still a lot of water under the bridge.”
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Fallow Deer on the frost today at Wareham Heath in Dorset Credit: Shaun Jacobs/pictureexclusive.com
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A person cycles through the snow in the Pentland Hills, Balerno, Edinburgh yesterdayCredit: PA
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A dog runs through the snow in the Pentland Hills Credits: AND
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A car drives through the snow in Balern, EdinburghCredit: PA
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