The cold snap looks set to continue this weekend, with the Met Office warning that conditions could become so chilly that some areas can expect freezing rain.
Snow is also likely to fall over higher ground in Scotland and northern England. The Grampians and north Pennines could get a few centimetres of the white stuff.
Met Office forecaster Honor Criswick said the ‘cloudy and grey’ conditions we’ve become used to recently would continue Thursday ahead of a ‘chillier’ night compared to recent ones.
There could be ‘some frost, possibly even some ice too, some outbreaks of rain starting to push into Cornwall, parts of Northern Ireland, perhaps the far Southwest of Wales later’, she added.
Ms Criswick said: ‘A chance we could see some hill snow as this area of rain moves into colder air. Even a chance we could see some freezing rain, so do take care as there could be some icy stretches by the morning.
‘But for many, most towns and cities just about dropping below freezing, so likely a colder night compared to recent nights and definitely going to see some frost by the morning too.’
What is freezing rain and how does it form?
Precipitation often falls from a cloud first as snow. If it falls through warmer air on its way down to the ground, it can melt and turn to rain droplets, the Met Office explains.
But on rare occasions, those drops can fall through cold air again just before reaching the ground.
They then become ‘supercooled’ – meaning they are still falling in liquid form despite their temperature falling below zero.
When the ‘supercooled’ droplet hits the ground – which is also below zero – it spreads out a little on landing, and then instantly freezes, encasing the surface in a layer of clear ice.
This is why it is called freezing rain.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: ‘We do see some change in our weather through the weekend, with rain in the west and the chance of snow further east over higher ground on Saturday.’
The central parts of the UK may also see clearer skies on Friday morning.
However, colder air from the east will bring further cloudy weather through Sunday and into early next week.
Heavy rain may also hit South Wales and south-west England on Friday, according to the forecaster.
The grey and cold weather will therefore linger for a few more days until Tuesday next week, when the UK may finally see some sunshine.
‘For a time, we’ve had these easterly conditions which have brought some more moist and cold air in the UK, cloudy and gloomy conditions,’ a Met Office spokesperson added.
‘As we get to Tuesday, we actually see more of a southerly track to the wind, which is bringing drier air, which will allow for some clearer skies for a time and a set of potential brighter spells at the beginning of next week.’
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