South set for more chilly weather

The mercury dipped below zero last night causing widespread frost.

And the overnight chill is expected to continue.

Hampshire County Council’s gritting team were out working on the roads for several hours and will be doing the same through the week.

And police said drivers should take extra care.

The temperature is forecast to be slightly warmer overnight tonight, with the Met Office predicting a low of two degrees, but will dip to freezing again overnight on Wednesday.

Wintry conditions including the “risk of snow” and freezing temperatures could reach the Midlands, north east England and north of London by Wednesday thanks to a blast of cold air from the Arctic, the Met Office said.

Forecaster Mark Wilson said Britons facing a cold crisp winter’s day on Tuesday with some sunny spells may find there is “definitely some risk of snow” on Wednesday.

He said: “People should wrap up warm. There is a potential that central parts of the UK could see some snow at lower levels. We do not expect to see significant accumulation.”

This may be no more than 0.8in (2cm).

Some sleety wet snow could hit East Anglia, the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber with temperatures of around 2C-4C (35.6F-39.2F) generally and 6C-7C (42.8F-44.6F) in parts of Scotland.

Mr Wilson warned there could be freezing temperatures if it snows and “there is obviously a risk of ice as well”.

He said the cold, wet and windy conditions will become much milder by Saturday, reaching around 10C-12C (50F-53.6F).

A yellow warning for heavy rain has been issued for western parts of Scotland, suggesting there could be 1in-1.6in (25mm-40mm) or as much as 2.4in (60mm) on higher ground.

The warning runs from 10am on Tuesday through to midday on Wednesday.