UK braced for coldest night of the year

The cold snap comes after a weather bomb battered northern parts this week

Red deer forage for food in Glenshee as snow hits much of Scotland (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Days after a weather bomb sent high winds and heavy showers sweeping across northern parts of the UK, forecasters are warning the nation to brace itself for the lowest temperatures of the year so far.

The mercury could sink as low as -8c in parts of Scotland, on what is set to be the coldest night of the year.

The Met office has issued a yellow "beware" warning across all of Scotland and Northern Ireland – areas worst hit by this week’s ferocious storm – as well as in northern England, parts of Wales and the tip of southwest England.

While clearer skies are likely welcome following days of battering rain and winds, this will cause the ground to rapidly lose heat – allowing moisture from the showers to set and create icy conditions.

Residents of Scotland are advised to wrap up warm during weekend outings tomorrow as snowfall is likely tonight, with snow warnings issued in the West Highlands and Cairngorm areas.

However, despite the cold snap, tomorrow is going to be dry sunny and crisp for most parts and temperatures will be slightly higher, at around -1C or -2C in the north.

But some northern and western areas will have little respite from the poor conditions, and will be plagued by showers, although much less severe than in previous days.

By Sunday, the rain which will cover the north west overnight tomorrow will have sunk across the rest of the UK through.