Snow has hit parts of Britain this morning as the country plunged into a big winter freeze.
An icy dusting has covered the Scottish Highlands as people used brooms to clean their car windscreens.
Dog walkers wrapped up in scarfs and woolly hats to fend off the the chilly weather as they walked through Corrieshalloch nature reserve where 5cm of snow has fallen.
Snow dusted grounds at the Glenshee Ski Centre near Braemar and at Corgarff, both in Aberdeenshire, as well as alongside the A939 near The Lecht in the Cairngorms.
It comes as the Met Office put in place a yellow weather warning for snow and ice for large parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland from 3pm today.
As much as 10cm of snow is predicted to settle in areas more than 980 feet above sea level.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued Cold Health Alerts for large swathes of England running until Thursday.
According to the Met Office, last night saw the coldest of the season so far with the mercury recorded at -7.8C in Tulloch Bridge in the West Highland – the lowest temperature seen in the UK since last winter.
SCOTLAND– Shannon Finlayson uses a broom to clear snow off the windscreen of her car in Inchbae, Wester Ross
SCOTLAND — Maria Navarro walks her dog Skye at Corrieshalloch where there has been a couple of inches of snow in Wester Ross
SCOTLAND — Snow and ice at Corgaff, Aberdeenshire, as the UK braces itself for more snow to fall
YORKSHIRE DALES — The snow capped mountain of Ingleborough as Britain braces itself for below freezing weather
SCOTLAND — Laramie Finlayson walks through the snow at Inchbae, Wester Ross
SCOTLAND — Snow and ice surround The Watchers sculpture at Corgaff, Aberdeenshire
YORKSHIRE DALES — The snow capped mountain of Ingleborough
Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey said snow has mostly fallen on hilltops so far today- with 2cm falling in Lerwick, Shetland.
But more snow and ice is expected over the coming days, with temperatures plunging to below average levels for the time of year.
‘It is going to be quite a widely cold week,’ Ms Maxey said. ‘A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.’
Cold temperatures, ice and further snow feature on the forecast for the coming days in what the Met Office deemed is the country’s ‘first taste of winter’
It is predicted temperatures could drop to minus 2C in London on Friday, minus 4C in Birmingham and minus 7C further north.
There is a possibility of 15-20cm (around 6-7.8in) of snow on ground above 984ft, 5-10cm (around 2-4in) in areas higher than 656ft, with a ‘chance’ that snow could hit lower levels and cause road disruption – although the likelihood of that remains ‘uncertain’.
‘There’s likely to be a widespread frost overnight as we get this colder air coming in from the arctic maritime air mass – cold air from the north pushing down across the country – which will be across the whole country by the middle of the week,’ Ms Maxey said.
Another yellow alert comes into effect at 4pm and is in place until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third goes live at 7pm and lasts until 10am on Tuesday covering areas in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.
A low pressure system is moving in from the Atlantic causing the mercury to plummet and conditions to become icy, reported the BBC.
Communities in the affected areas could see their power cut off, disruption on their roads and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice.
SCOTLAND — Horses feed in a snow-covered field near The Lecht in the Cairngorms
SCOTLAND — Traffic on the A835 near Braemore, Berriedale, where a couple of inches of snow fell overnight
SCOTLAND — A man wearing a high-vis jacket wraps up warm as he leaves footprints in the snow as he walks past The Corrieshalloch Gorge visitor centre – Wester Ross
SCOTLAND — A lorry on a snowy A835 near Loch Dorma in Highland this morning
SCOTLAND — Snow on the Cairngorms above the ruins of Ruthven Barracks near Kingussie
The Met Office has issued snow and ice yellow weather warnings this week for parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England
As much as 10cm of the white stuff has already been predicted to settle on the higher ground areas of Orkney and Shetland in northern Scotland on Monday, while around one to three centimeters is also likely to settle in the lower-level areas of the East Midlands, Yorkshire and parts of Wales
SCOTLAND — The first snow of the year has blanketed parts of the country. Cars are seen here driving through the snow on the A97 near Huntly, Aberdeenshire
SCOTLAND — A dusting of snow surrounds the chair-lift at the Glenshee Ski Centre near Braemar in Aberdeenshire
SCOTLAND — Cars drive through the snow on the A97 near Huntly, Aberdeenshire
SCOTLAND — Snow and ice alongside the A939 near The Lecht in the Cairngorms
The Met Office said there was a chance some snow could settle on lower levels with it most likely in parts of Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
The warnings cover much of southern Scotland and north-east England, as well as parts of Yorkshire and parts of north-west England, including Lancashire and Cumbria.
The England warning is from just over the border and goes as far south as Nottingham and includes north Wales.
London is not forecast to see any snow this week, but temperatures will remain cold with highs of just 5C on Wednesday and 4C on Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: ‘We have issued yellow warnings for snow and ice as cold weather moves in from the north.
‘This brings snow showers and some ice to parts of Scotland on Sunday night, and then the potential for a spell of snow to lead to disruption to some transport routes across a central swathe of the UK on Tuesday morning.
‘Gusty winds in the east also remain a potential hazard. Updates to the warnings for wintry hazards are likely so it is important to stay up to date with the latest forecast’.
In addition, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a Cold Health Alert for large swathes of England running until Thursday – putting NHS services on notice to expect greater demand.
The Met Office details how colder air from the Arctic will arrive across northern Scotland and travel further down into southern parts of England, as temperatures drop
The Met Office shows the extreme weather experienced on Sunday, November 17 across the UK
It will be a chilly and icy start to Monday in Scotland with sleet and snow showers expected. It will be drier across Northern England and parts of Wales and there will be outbreaks of heavy rain in the south
People living in parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been told to brace themselves over the next few days, as snow falls, the mercury plummets and conditions become icy (pictured: A motorist scrapes ice of the windscreen of a car in Newcastle)
A severe weather warning for snow and ice across the UK was first put in place yesterday, as the cold weather creeps in, bringing with it temperatures as low as -1C (pictured: A dusting of snow at the Glenshee Ski Centre near Braemar in Aberdeenshire)
As the north prepares to feel the colder temperatures first, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, Katherine Crawford, has issued advice on how to stay warm.
She said: ‘As we get older it can take us longer to warm up, and colder temperatures can exacerbate respiratory problems, heart disease and other health conditions.
‘There is also a concern for older people who have difficulty heating their homes to a comfortable level because of the bigger energy bills we are facing.
‘There is concern too for those with restricted mobility, who may find it harder to get out and about while travel disruption prevents people from being able to get from one place to another safely.
‘There are also simple steps we can all take to ensure no one feels they are facing this period alone.
‘Bad weather may make it difficult for people to get out for essential shopping or medical appointments, so we’d urge everyone to check in on older family, friends and neighbours during this period to find out if they need any extra support.
‘A friendly phone call or an offer to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or de-icing paths could be a lifeline for someone who feels isolated at home during this cold spell.’
‘Older people, their carers and families in Scotland looking for help or advice can call Age Scotland’s free helpline on 0800 12 44 222.’
