Another night of freezing temperatures across the West Country
The Met Office say large parts of the region will be hit by heavy snow and freezing rain this weekend
Last updated 4th Jan 2025
Amber warnings for snow and ice are in force across the UK this weekend - including South Gloucestershire.
It's feared some communities will be cut off as the West Country is plunged under freezing weather conditions.
Under the amber alert, the Met Office say, from 9pm tonight, some rural communities could be cut off, there could be power cuts and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, affected, and we could see major travel delays.
Less severe yellow warnings are in force in Wiltshire, Bristol, Bath and Somerset - and parts of Devon.
The Met Office said, across the UK, there is a "good chance" that up to 30cm of snowfall could fall in some areas.
A spokesperson confirmed the temperatures reached a low of minus 8.6C in Aboyne in Aberdeenshire overnight.
Chilly conditions were expected to continue for most of Saturday, today with most places ranging from 2-5C, with highs of 7C in south-west England.
The coldest temperature recorded in January last year was minus 14C, in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.
An amber warning for snow and rare freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England, including the Midlands and the north-west cities of Liverpool and Manchester, is in place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday, the Met Office said.
The second warning for snow, covering most of northern England including Leeds, Sheffield and the Lake District, has been issued from 9pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
Three separate yellow weather warnings for snow and ice will be in force for most areas of the UK, covering different periods of time until Monday afternoon.
National Highways warned a "spell of disruptive snow" would spread across southern and central parts of the road network on Saturday night.
Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said some "significant accumulations" of snow are possible in parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, and the additional factor of strengthening winds could lead to drifting of lying snow.
He continued: "There is a risk of freezing rain across parts of the Midlands and northern England, but especially Wales, adding to the risk of ice and leading to some treacherous conditions in places.
"As the super-cooled rain droplets hit the surface they instantly freeze, covering everything in a layer of ice, making it extremely dangerous."
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place ahead of a week of low temperatures - and local authorities up and down the West Country are implementing Severe Weather Emergency Protocols - to help those sleeping rough during the cold snap.
Some football games have been called off, including Cheltenham's clash with League Two leaders Walsall, Halifax's National League home game against Fylde, while Friday night's Scottish Championship game between Airdrie and leaders Falkirk did not take place.
Meanwhile, Saturday's race meeting at Newcastle has been abandoned because the course is frozen.
Deputy chief forecaster Dan Holley said temperatures would remain below average with some areas struggling to get above freezing for several days.
Further weather warnings could be issued for the start of next week.