• People go sledging in the snow on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    People go sledging in the snow on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A cyclist crosses a snow-covered road in west London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
    A cyclist crosses a snow-covered road in west London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
  • People play in the snow on Primrose Hill in London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
    People play in the snow on Primrose Hill in London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
  • People go sledging in the snow on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    People go sledging in the snow on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A sign advising people to get a covid-19 test is displayed in a park as snow falls in west London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
    A sign advising people to get a covid-19 test is displayed in a park as snow falls in west London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
  • People play in the snow on Primrose Hill in London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
    People play in the snow on Primrose Hill in London, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
  • Children make their way back up the hill after riding a sled down a snow-covered field beside St. Mary's Church after heavy snowfall in Hartley Wintney, west of London. AFP
    Children make their way back up the hill after riding a sled down a snow-covered field beside St. Mary's Church after heavy snowfall in Hartley Wintney, west of London. AFP
  • A jogger taking his daily exercise, crosses Regent Street in London in the snow, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
    A jogger taking his daily exercise, crosses Regent Street in London in the snow, as the capital experiences a rare covering of snow on Sunday. AFP
  • People make their way back up the hill after riding a sled down a snow-covered field beside St. Mary's Church after heavy snowfall in Hartley Wintney, west of London. AFP
    People make their way back up the hill after riding a sled down a snow-covered field beside St. Mary's Church after heavy snowfall in Hartley Wintney, west of London. AFP
  • Alison Lawrence throws a snowball for her dog Bluebell to catch on a snow-covered common in Hartley Wintney west of London. AFP
    Alison Lawrence throws a snowball for her dog Bluebell to catch on a snow-covered common in Hartley Wintney west of London. AFP
  • A man takes a photograph as his friend rolls a giant snowball at Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    A man takes a photograph as his friend rolls a giant snowball at Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A man snowboards down the hill near Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    A man snowboards down the hill near Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A man wearing a face mask walks through the snow in Muswell Hill in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    A man wearing a face mask walks through the snow in Muswell Hill in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • People sledge down the hill near Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
    People sledge down the hill near Alexandra Palace in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
  • People go sledging in the snow on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    People go sledging in the snow on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A giant snowball shaped as a coronavirus is seen on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    A giant snowball shaped as a coronavirus is seen on Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A young woman walks along a snowy path on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    A young woman walks along a snowy path on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • People wear face masks as they walk on Westminster Bridge against the backdrop of the Palace of Westminster, during a snowfall in London. Conditions are set to become more hazardous going into the final week of January with weather warnings for snow and ice. AP Photo
    People wear face masks as they walk on Westminster Bridge against the backdrop of the Palace of Westminster, during a snowfall in London. Conditions are set to become more hazardous going into the final week of January with weather warnings for snow and ice. AP Photo
  • A man feeds the birds at the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens as snow falls in London. AP Photo
    A man feeds the birds at the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens as snow falls in London. AP Photo
  • Youngsters make a giant snowball on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    Youngsters make a giant snowball on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
  • A dog and a snowman are seen on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images
    A dog and a snowman are seen on Hampstead Heath in London, United Kingdom. Parts of the country saw snow and icy conditions as arctic air caused temperatures to drop. Getty Images

Europe

Snow and freezing temperatures hit UK

Scotland saw the heaviest snow, while Northern Ireland suffered the coldest temperature

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

January 25, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The UK was hit by snow and freezing temperatures into Monday morning, with warnings that more bitter cold weather is on the way.
In Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands, 17 centimetres of snowfall was recorded, the Met Office said.
In England, 15cm fell in the Cambridgeshire village of Wittering, and in Coleshill, a town in Warwickshire, central England.

Wales endured its coldest night of the year with temperatures dipping to minus 9.7 °C at Sennybridge in Powys.

The coldest temperature recorded in the UK was at Katesbridge in County Down, Northern Ireland, where the mercury fell to minus 10.4 °C.

Freezing temperature warnings are in force in Wales going into Monday evening.
Heavy snow fell across the UK on Sunday, forcing four vaccination centres in south Wales to close "for safety reasons".

London did not escape the wintry showers with substantial snowfall in the capital.

A rare "thunder-snow" event was reported in Hampshire amid the severe weather. The phenomenon happens when thunder and lightning mix with a heavy snowstorm, causing loud claps that can be confused with explosions.

Highways England said the snow caused accidents on the M3, M27 and M25 motorways, and urged drivers to travel only if absolutely necessary.

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