UK weather latest: Car crashes hit M20 as snow and ice sweep Britain

Temperatures could reach 'double negative' figures, forecasters warn

A series of collisions hit the M20 after “heavy snowfall” as the UK braces itself for what may turn out to be the coldest week of the winter so far.

Forecasters warned temperatures could hit “double negative” figures in parts of Scotland, while hovering around freezing across much of the UK.

Police in Kent urged drivers to be extra careful after being called out to collisions on the road near Maidstone in the wake of a snow shower.

Warning that snow and ice could result in difficult driving conditions across the wider road network, their road unit tweeted some advice for motorists.

“Be aware. Extra time. Allow space, watch for changing road conditions. If you get stuck stay with your car leave engine running. If you are able, low gear low revs keep moving,” they said.

The Met Office warned the chilly weather is here for the long run, with temperatures “below average” for much of the month.

Weather warnings are in place for much of the country.

Rain, sleet and snow are set to sweep the UK, potentially disrupting transport and leaving icy patches on roads, pavements and cycle paths, according to a warning in place between 8pm on Monday evening and 3pm on Tuesday.

Forecasters have advised people to leave extra time for journeys that may be affected.

Alex Burkill, meteorologist at the Met Office said: “It is a very cold start to the day with widespread harsh frost. It fell to nearly -6C in Katesbridge, Northern Ireland. Widely temperatures are a few degrees below freezing.

“It is quite a prolonged cold spell that we are in for. Most places will be way colder than average for this time of year, roughly five degrees below average.”

He warned that Tuesday night will be particularly frosty, as we prepare for “one of the coldest weeks” of the year.

“Tuesday into Wednesday is looking very cold indeed touching negative double figures in parts of Scotland and even northern England. Widely, we are looking at around -3C to -6C through the night. Daytime time will be higher but not warm by any means.”

In the east and southeast of England wintry showers are forecasts, with snow and ice warnings in place covering East Anglia and parts of London – with motorists urged to watch out for black ice on untreated roads.

Monday will stay mostly dry, forecasters say, but snowy showers are expected to move southeast through Tuesday night from Scotland and Northern Ireland, reaching northern England and Wales, “in time for rush hour”.

Frosty showers and are also set to hit the west of the country in the early hours of Wednesday.

“Cornwall and Devon are included in the warning and they don’t often get much snow,” Mr Burkill added. “They could see some snow showers through Tuesday and Tuesday night.”

“We have got a few showers pushing in to eastern parts of the UK, in the southeast around Kent they are falling as a mix of rain sleet and snow. A snow shower hit part of the motorway there which caused some problems.”

Forecasters said we may see between one and three centimetres of snow in most affected places, but potentially as much as 10cm in parts of Northern Ireland.