UK weather: Snow and ice warnings continue after -14C recorded in winter’s coldest night – live

All schools in Shetland and Orkney were closed on Thursday amid the wintry conditions.

In Aberdeenshire around 130 schools were shut while others had delayed openings.

In Moray nine schools and nurseries were closed due to the weather while others had late or staggered starts.

Another cold night was recorded in the UK with Scotland seeing temperatures dropping to -10C and England -11C.

Much of the UK endured temperatures below freezing overnight, preliminary data from the Met Office showed.

However, temperatures didn’t drop as low as -18C as the forecaster had warned they could. Yesterday’s coldest temperatures were recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands at -14C. If temperatures drop below -15C this week, the UK will have recorded its coldest January night since 2010.

An amber warning for snow across northern Scotland, the Orkney and Shetland Islands is currently in place until 6pm on Thursday, with the potential of up to 20cm more snowfall.

As the UK gears up for yet another day of plunging temperatures and heavy snow, the long-range forecast shows weather will be turning milder and wetter over the next few days.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said that by the weekend, temperatures will begin to rise from “several degrees below average to several degrees above average”.

Here’s the Met Office’s ten-day forecast:

The Met Office had warned that freezing temperatures last night could plummet even lower across much of the country.

While preliminary figures aren’t in yet, the forecaster said the overnight minimum temperature could reach as low as -18C.

If the temperature gets below -14.3C it would be the coldest January night since 2010.

Yesterday’s coldest temperatures were recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands at -14C.

Some rural spots of England and Wales could also drop to between -5C and -10C with very cold widespread frost.

A “cold plunge of Arctic air” has moved south across the whole country over the past few days, making it 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year, the Met Office said.

This stream of cold air straight from the Arctic is causing havoc and misery across the UK.

There is a hot and cold side to the stream and a narrow ban of air is flowing quickly at high altitudes with the UK on the northern, cool side.

The low temperatures are also due to how long the cold snap has lasted, according to the Met Office.

A build-up of snow allows for temperatures to get progressively colder, and the UK doesn’t often see cold spells lasting three to five days.

Read the full report below:

The Met Office amber warning forecasts some areas could see an extra 15-20cm of snow, meaning power cuts are likely and more remote communities are at risk of being cut off.

The forecaster has said more than 40cm of snow may fall on high ground in north-west Scotland by the end of Friday.

Meanwhile, lower ground in north-west Scotland could see between five and 10cm of snow by the end of the working week.

The UK Government has confirmed that thousands of households in England and Wales are eligible for cold weather payments.

They are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.

The payments go to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below over seven consecutive days.

Payments will be made to homes across Cumbria, Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Norfolk, Staffordshire and Powys in Wales.

As the country goes into a deep freeze, people are rediscovering their thermostats and layering up. But, says trend forecaster Jane Kellock, there are other ways to kill the chills and develop a ‘positive winter mindset’ and no it’s not all about the Danish practice of Hygge..

Read Jane Kellock’s premium piece here:

A Met Office spokeswoman said the low temperatures are also due to how long the cold snap has lasted.

She said: “It’s due to the prolonged nature of this cold spell, it will have been lasting for quite a few days.

“A build up of snow, as well, just allows for the temperatures to get colder and colder and we don’t often see a cold spell last three to five days.

“The air is coming directly from the Arctic, so it is exceptionally cold air.

“It’s staying cold until Friday, and then looking further ahead into the weekend we’ve got some deep areas of low pressure pushing in, so a big change in weather type, and we could see some stormy conditions by the end of the week.

“The cold isn’t lasting right to end of the week, but we have a very different type of potentially disruptive weather arriving.”

Further wintry hazards. Turning mild, wet and windy this weekend.

Snow showers will continue to feed in across northern Scotland overnight. Some will also affect areas in the west and near to North Sea coasts, giving icy stretches. Largely dry and clear elsewhere with a widespread and locally severe frost.

Further snow showers are likely across the north and west of Scotland, Northern Ireland, north and west Wales, Cornwall and eastern counties of England. Mostly sunny elsewhere. Feeling very cold.

Rain and snow will affect Scotland on Friday. Mostly fine elsewhere, but still cold. Turning mild, wet and windy over the weekend, with severe gales possible in places later.