Snow Warning As Sub-Zero Temperatures Bite

Travel disruption looks set to continue as warnings of plummeting temperatures, snow and ice have been issued for large swathes of the UK.

The mercury will drop below freezing across much of the UK later, down to a low of -9C (16F) in the Scottish glens and -5C (23F) in southern England this weekend.

Sky News weather producer Rebecca Yussuf said: "Widespread sharp frosts will form each night over the weekend and early next week, with icy stretches on untreated surfaces.

"There will be further wintry showers, with rain and hail at low levels, sleet and snow over the higher ground.

"The higher ground of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England can expect a further 2-5 cm (up to two inches), with perhaps a slight covering at lower levels."

Southern England could see sleet and settling snow in places, mainly over the higher ground.

Dr Angie Bone, of Public Health England's extreme events team, urged people to help vulnerable relatives and friends keep warm.

"Cold does kill, even in places where the temperatures aren't at their lowest. Most of our advice on keeping warm in cold weather may seem like common sense, but it's important that we make the point that people should think about how cold can affect them.

"Our advice is that when indoors, have plenty of warm food and drinks to stay warm and try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long-term illness or are 65 or over."

Age UK urged older people to "take basic precautions" and called on the Government to "commit to improving the energy efficiency of homes across the country" in a bid to end preventable winter deaths.

Heavy snow has already caused disruption on roads, rail and at airports, and police have warned motorists to only to travel if necessary.

In Scotland on Friday, snow up to 5ft deep in parts left drivers stranded overnight on the A9 route to the Highlands.

Trains were cancelled between Perth and Inverness and there were delays at Glasgow Airport.

A van driver died when a tree fell on top of his vehicle in Co Antrim and a three-year-old child and an elderly woman were among three injured when a pallet was blown from a lorry in east Belfast during strong winds.

Winds of 101mph were reported in Great Dunsell, Cumbria - the highest in the UK - while other exposed areas also saw speeds of above 70mph.

The strong winds caused disruption on railways in Kent and Birmingham, and part of Glasgow city centre was closed off after metal sheeting fell from the roof of a hotel.

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