Britain suffers coldest January night in 15 years as Met Office map shows where temperatures are set to plunge even further with chance of -20C as Trafalgar Square fountains freeze

Britain has recorded its coldest night in January in 15 years as more icy temperatures are expected to grip the country tonight. 

Overnight temperatures dropped to -14.5C in Altnaharra, a small hamlet in the Scottish Highlands, making it the coldest night so far this winter and the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010. 

But, the mercury is expected to fall even furthers on Friday evening, potentially reaching -20C in northern parts of the UK, according to the Met Office.

The forecaster warned that patchy rain, sleet and snow is expected across parts of south-west Britain, while much of the rest of the UK will have another ‘dry and bright day’ and will remain very cold. 

Weather warnings for ice were in place across most of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England, until 10am on Friday. 

There was also a yellow warning for ice and snow in northern Scotland, where up to 10cm (4in) was expected to fall.

The icy conditions are expected to thaw in the coming days as milder temperatures attempt to move in from the south west through Friday morning.  

But this is expected to make only ‘limited progress’, with temperatures set to remain below freezing for much of Saturday morning. 

LONDON: Sub-zero temperatures have iced parts of the country, including London where even the fountain in Trafalgar Square (pictured) has been frozen solid

LONDON: A herd of deer brave the cold on a frosty morning in Bushy Park, London on Friday

DURHAM: A woman walks past icicles near Bowes in Durham as temperatures continue to fall

Graphic showing some of the coldest UK January temperatures

Friday night is predicted to bring the lowest temperatures of the cold snap in parts of Scotland and northern England, with temperatures between -15C and -20C possible.

Heavy snow in North Yorkshire also saw 23 visitors and six staff trapped inside the Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, which claims to be Britain’s highest public house at 1,732 feet (528m) above sea level.

Customers had trekked to the world famous boozer on Saturday night and later became ‘snowed in’ following the heavy snowfall.

While a number of guests had been able to leave on Tuesday, it was not until Thursday that the staff were able to make their own exit.

Oli Claydon, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told the PA news agency: ‘It will be another cold night tonight with temperatures as low as minus 15C again in the Scottish highlands. There’s a chance we could even see the coldest night of winter again.

‘We’re expecting to see frost in parts of the south west and Wales. Northern Ireland will be cold again but not as cold as Thursday night.

‘But that will be the last of the really low temperatures, with milder weather coming in during the weekend. 

‘This will spread from the north down to the south and it could be Monday or Tuesday before the south west starts to feel the milder temperatures.’

Heavy snow blanketed the Tan Hill Inn in Richmond, leaving 23 visitors and six staff trapped inside for six days

Heavy snowfall meant the customers were unable to drive home on Saturday

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: A person skates on a frozen flooded field in Upware, Cambridgeshire, on Friday 

WARRINGTON: Snow and fog surrounds Thelwall Viaduct in Lymm, Warrington, England, as it carries the M6 motorway across the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey

LONDON: A person walks their dog through a frosty Greenwich Park in London on Friday

LONDON: A view of the City of London seen from the frost covered riverside near to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich

DURHAM: Snow blankets the fields in Bows near Durham on Friday 

SCOTLAND: A snow plough clears snow following the coldest night of winter so far in Breamar, Scotland 

Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick previously said: ‘Saturday is still going to be another cold one, unfortunately.’

But clouds will come in from the west which should prevent temperatures dropping as quickly, he said.

The meteorologist added: ‘Sunday will still be a chilly one, but not as cold as what we’ve seen for today and for tomorrow.

‘By Monday, we are expecting the temperatures to come back up to what we would expect for this time of year, which is around sort of 7C (or) 8C.’

As icy conditions persist, motorists are being urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.

There is a chance of snow across northern Scotland and possibly the very north-east of England on Friday too.

Mr Eslick said: ‘Because that rain is falling on some pretty cold ground, it is likely to turn to icy conditions as well.

‘So, we are telling people to take care if you are travelling around with these cold temperatures for tomorrow, but at least it’s quite settled and away from that freezing fog it will be nice, bright and sunny’.

WEST LOTHIAN: Wild swimmer Emma Mooney braves freezing waters of Avon Lagoon in West Lothian

WEST LOTHIAN: A wild swimmer braves the freezing waters of Avon Lagoon in West Lothian, amid a sea of ice on Friday 

LONDON: A person makes the most of the wintry landscape views as they sit on a bench in Hampstead Heath on Friday

LONDON: People watch on in awe as a lake in Hampstead Heath is frozen over on Friday 

LONDON: A runner braves the cold as they go for a jog in Morden Hall Park on Friday 

PEAK DISTRICT: Snow lies on the ground on the lower slopes of Kinder Scout, in the Peak District National Park on Friday 

Spokesperson for the RAC Alice Simpson said this week had been ‘one of our busiest for breakdowns in the five years since the Covid-19 pandemic’.

She added: ‘We’re prioritising members who are away from home or in dangerous locations, and waiting times are inevitably longer.

‘Drivers setting out must ensure they are ready for the conditions. Until the weather warms up on Sunday, there is an ongoing risk of ice and snow which will make the roads treacherous.

‘Sticking to major routes that have been gritted is advised. We also urge anyone setting out to have an emergency kit in the boot, that includes warm clothes, waterproofs, food, a flask of hot drink and a mobile phone power bank.’

The AA has predicted that Friday could see a major increase in workload, with some roads, particularly in the north, likely to be affected.

The insurance provider advised against all but essential travel in hard-hit areas and urged drivers to check forecasts before venturing out and to take ‘extreme caution’ on hazardous roads.

Snow and winds have also brought rail disruption this week, with some lines forced to close.

National Rail said on Friday morning that some Southeastern services to and from London and Charing Cross had been affected by ice.

DERBYSHIRE: Members of Mountain Rescue help a motorist amidst white-out conditions on Snake Pass on Thursday 

A car lies submerged in frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday morning

STAFFODSHIRE: Wintry scenes surrounding Lichfield Cathedral yesterday morning

DITCHLING: Walkers enjoy the snow at Ditchling Beacon on Thursday morning

NORTHWICH: As dusk falls freezing mist, snow and sub-zero temperatures sweep across the lowlands on January 9

OXFORDSHIRE: A hard frost covered the countryside on Thursday after a bitterly cold night in Dunsden

WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather

Manchester Airport closed both its runways on Thursday morning ‘due to significant levels of snow’ but they were later reopened.

The airport warned that some flights may be delayed, and advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information.

Transport for Wales closed some rail lines in the country due to track damage following a period of ‘heavy wind, rain and snow’.

Buses are also replacing trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog until at least Monday.

Meanwhile, hundreds of schools in Scotland and around 90 in Wales were shut today due to the wintery weather. 

Significant travel disruption was also caused by the snow in Devon and Cornwall yesterday, with some roads closed and motorists stationary for ‘long periods of time’, a joint statement from Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon County Council Highways said.

Snow ploughs became stuck in queues of traffic caused by ‘minor incidents’, the statement added.

Ploughs have been fitted to gritters which were working into this morning to clear routes in the area, police and highways officials said.

WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather

STAFFORDSHIRE: Wintry scenes surrounding Lichfield Cathedral yesterday morning

WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather

WORCESTER: Frozen floodwater at Pitchcroft Racecourse on Thursday amid the severe weather

Travel disruption to road and rail services is likely to continue in the warning areas, as well as the potential for accidents in icy places, the Met Office has said. 

As icy conditions persist, motorists were urged to stick to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. 

Amber alerts have also been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: ‘We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.

‘This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.

‘These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.’

The country has been hit by widespread flooding in recent days and a danger to life flood warning was issued for Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire as firefighters had to rescue dozens of people stranded in rising water.