UK weather forecast: Bone-chilling cold snap shows signs of easing off as temperatures set to rise

A bone-chilling cold snap that has been gripping the UK is showing signs of easing off as temperatures looked set to rise.

The mercury plunged to lows of -4C overnight in some regions, but forecasters predict there is milder weather to come on Wednesday.

It will be a cold and cloudy start, with frost lingering into the morning after forming overnight, Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said.

But breaks in the cloud in the northeast and Scotland could see temperatures rising into double figures as the morning progresses.

Mr Deakin said: “For most places it will be remain dry but quite drab, certainly more cloud than in recent days across southern parts of England and Wales.”

“Breaks in the cloud are likely over northeast England, which will allow temperatures to rise and with some sunshine over eastern Scotland we could get to 11, 12 or maybe even 13C.

“Typically for England and Wales it will be between 7 and 9C, feeling chilling without the sunshine of recent days. And again, there will be double digits likely across Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

With the end of the bitterly cold spell is on the horizon, a Public Health England cold weather alert was set to be lifted at 9am.

It comes after the UK was blanketed in freezing fog and frost on Tuesday morning, with police issuing ice warnings as driving conditions became treacherous.

Looking ahead, Mr Deakin said: “Into the evening there will be not a great deal of change, again, misty and murky perhaps especially on some of the higher routes… but overall it stays dry and that continues into Thursday as well.”