UK weather – Britons will suffer SIX HOURS of snow causing travel chaos after -12C frosts plunge on coldest night of the year

BRITS is bracing for SIX HOURS of snowfall that could wreak havoc on roads after temperatures dropped to -12C on the coldest night of winter so far.

The Met Office has issued an emergency snow and ice warning for areas of the country with severe cold conditions.

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A new band of snow and sleet will sweep across the UK and tonight could be the coldest night of the year as temperatures drop to a bone-chilling -12C in places.

Forecasters have warned the mercury could drop as low as -12C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire overnight, and stay below zero in other parts of Scotland.

It will also be Baltic elsewhere, with temperatures hovering around -6C in Preston, -5C in Stafford and -4C in Oxford, according to weather charts.

Anything below -10C would beat the frigid temperatures recorded in November 2021, making it the coldest night of the season so far.

Severe conditions will continue on Thursday, with three more warnings in effect for snow and ice.

These areas cover much of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland with “frequent sleet, hail and sleet” and 6 inches of white matter is expected – which could cause road chaos.

Meteorologist Richard Miles said: “It’s going to be colder than we’re used to seeing over the past few days and Christmas. We’re entering a period where the temperatures will drop a little bit.”

An even stronger wave of attacks is due on Friday, with warnings covering Scotland, western England and Northern Ireland until 11am.

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Forecasters warned: “Frequent sleet and sleet could lead to some difficult driving conditions and disrupted travel on Friday morning.”

There may also be a power cut, with an “isolated” risk of lightning strikes.

Met Office meteorologist Claire Nasir said: “As we go through Wednesday night, with clear skies and milder winds, we’ll see a very rapid drop in temperatures so a wave can be expected. widespread frost.

“Temperatures will drop to around -4C in England and Wales and -10C in snowfields across Scotland.

“Ultimately, a high pressure peak will widen, so we should see a fairly stiff frost on Thursday morning before lighter air moves in from the Atlantic with a band of clouds and rain.

“When the rain meets colder air, it turns to snow. It’s also colder behind so there’s a high chance of sleet to last through Friday.”

The cold snap has caused bookies to lower this month’s odds as the coldest January on record was 6/4.

Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati said: “Weather warnings are being issued left, right and center, and the odds suggest that could very well lead to a record cold month to come.”

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