UK braces for coldest night of the year with temperatures set to plummet to -15°C

Met Office issues weather warnings for snow and ice across the country

A snow-covered A1 motorway in Northumberland on Tuesday. PA

Tuesday night could be the coldest so far this year with temperatures expected to drop as low as minus 15°C in the UK, the Met Office has warned.

This would break the current record of minus 10.4°C recorded in the Scottish Highlands earlier this year.

The coldest areas on Tuesday are likely to be in sheltered Scottish glens, particularly where there is fresh snow cover.

The UK's National Grid has warned of a tight power supply due to a shortage of electricity caused by the cold snap. The shortfall of up to 980 megawatts is larger than the current contingency requirement, and the National Grid has requested coal-fired plants to stand by, with three more coal units preparing to generate power on Tuesday.

Wind generation has slumped to provide only 13 per cent of the nation's power capacity.

The Met Office and the UK's Health Security Agency have issued warnings for snow and ice in large parts of the country this week.

The arctic air sweeping across the UK is due to a “highly amplified” jet stream, mixed with an area of lower pressure over the mid-North Atlantic, which is pushing air up into northern areas and back down towards the UK.

Yellow warnings have been issued across the UK and will remain in place in some areas until Friday.

Another yellow warning is in place for much of northern and eastern Scotland and north-east England until 10am on Wednesday. South-west England and south Wales will be covered by a similar weather warning all day on Wednesday, with a few centimetres of snow expected to fall in those areas.

Yellow warnings as temperatures in the UK are set to plummet to minus 15°C. Photo: The Met Office

The Met Office warnings for ice and some snow could lead to difficult travel conditions in some places. A band of rain moved southward through the course of Monday evening and early Tuesday, turning to snow on hills and lower levels in some areas.

While most areas will get little or no accumulation of snow, 1cm to 2cm could settle in some spots, particularly over high ground and southern parts of the warning areas.

Rain and snow are expected to turn light and patchy as southern England gradually clears on Tuesday. However, as skies clear overnight, ice is also likely to form on untreated surfaces.

The Met Office urged people in affected areas to stay alert to changing weather and heed the advice of local authorities. It also advised taking necessary precautions, such as dressing warmly and driving safely on icy roads.

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  A snow covered cottage near Carrshield, northern England. AP

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  Nenthead in the North Pennines in Cumbria after heavy snowfall. PA

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  Snow at the side of the football pitch at Oakwell Stadium, in Barnsley. PA

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  An expanse of snow covered fields in Holmfirth. EPA

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  Heavy snow in Lanchester, Co Durham, as an Arctic blast grips the UK. PA

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  A dog walker braves the snow as he walks past Bidston Windmill near Birkenhead, north-west England. AFP

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  Traffic at a standstill on the M62 near Kirklees, West Yorkshire. PA

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  Snow falls on Saddleworth Moor golf course in Uppermill near Oldham. PA

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  A man clears snow from the pavement in Tow Law, Co Durham. PA

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  The Angel of the North looks down on the snow lying in Gateshead, north-east England. Reuters

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  Snow covers a street in Liverpool after a heavy fall overnight. PA

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  Heavy snow covers houses in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire. PA

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  Snow falls around the Liver Building in Liverpool. PA

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  Bamburgh Castle is surrounded by snow in Northumberland. PA

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  Felicity the dog shelters from the snow under an umbrella at Crufts in Birmingham. Getty Images

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  Snow settles on Glastonbury Tor. PA

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  Snow-covered allotments in Stevenage. PA

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  Cars driving through snow on the M5 motorway near Taunton. PA

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  A couple walk their dog at Dartland Banks nature reserve near Sevenoaks. Getty Images

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  A jogger on the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. PA

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  Swimmers brave the cold at King Edward's Bay, near Tynemouth on the north-east coast. PA

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  Beach huts at Blyth in Northumberland. PA

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  A street blanketed with snow in the west end of Aberdeen, Scotland. PA

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  Goathland train station in North Yorkshire. PA

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  Snow-covered fields surround Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. PA

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  The North York Moors National Park after snowfall. PA

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  The Met Office issued guidance for driving in the heavy snow in Briggswath, North Yorkshire. PA

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  Wintery snowy scene in Northumberland. PA

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  St Mary's Church in Goathland, North Yorkshire. PA

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  Gritters treated the A1 motorway at Alnwick. PA

Driving safely in snow

The Met Office has issued some guidance for driving in the heavy snow and icy conditions.

• Use dipped headlights
• Accelerate gently, use low revs and change to higher gears as quickly as possible
• Starting in second gear will help avoid wheel slip
• Maintain a safe and steady speed. Keep your distance from other vehicles
• Keep a constant speed up hills. Leave plenty of room between cars
• Use a low gear to go downhill and try to avoid braking unless necessary
• Steer into skids. Do not take your hands off the wheel or slam on the brakes