UK weather: Ice warning issued as UK set for coldest night in a decade

Met Office declares yellow alert over risk - but milder air forecast to arrive from Monday

A tractor with a snow plough clears snow at a shopping park in Basingstoke (PA)

The big freeze will continue to grip much of Britain, potentially bringing the UK’s coldest night in almost a decade, forecasters have said.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for ice across southern and eastern parts of the UK until 11am on Sunday.

But the plummeting temperatures will be short-lived, with milder air expected to push its way across the country from Monday.

Thick blankets of snow caused widespread disruption and treacherous road conditions across swathes of southern Britain on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday night motorists were stranded as heavy snow blanketed roads, and the wintry weather brought traffic to a standstill.

Sleet and snow in the early hours of Saturday brought across Kent and Hampshire disrupted many people’s plans.

With up to 19cm recorded in some parts, drivers were stuck in their vehicles, hundreds of schools were closed and travellers suffered long delays and cancelled flights.

The snow even caused some trees and branches in Kent to collapse and snap under the weight, cascading into roads and over pavements.

Kent County Council said it had 18 tree surgeons working to clear the A2045 in Walderslade, where trees were brought down.

Some football matches in League One, League Two and the Scottish League One and Two, were postponed.

An abandoned car in Basingstoke, Hampshire (PA)

Forecaster Simon Partridge said partially melted snow would refreeze as temperatures dropped, causing risky conditions.

The mercury could drop to minus 10C in southern England, with a potential of minus 16C in eastern Scotland, he said.

“If that happens it would make it the coldest night since 2010.

“But there is cloud coming from the West overnight over Scotland, so if it gets in fast enough it might just stop it getting quite that low.”

Average overnight temperatures in February are around 1-2C for southern England, with Scotland usually hovering around minus 3C.

The Met Office warned of icy stretches on many untreated road, pavements and cycle paths, and said accidents and injuries were more likely before the ice melts.

Milder air moving in from tomorrow will bring a big temperature contrast, Mr Partridge said

The Met Office said it will be less cold from Monday as rain moves east with some snow in the north. On Tuesday the weather will turn wet and windy, with gusts coming from the west.

Additional reporting by agencies