Met Office maps show temperatures dropping to bone-chilling -16C in just days

A second warning, just for snow this time, will begin at 9am tomorrow, where snowfall could prove “disruptive”. It will be active for the remainder of the day.

And the bone-chilling snap shows no signs of relenting, as on Thursday, the mercury will plummet in many rural regions to figures below -10C.

Deputy Chief Forecaster, Chris Almond, said: “Thursday will see another cold night, with potentially the lowest temperatures of the Winter so far, -15°C or so is possible in locations with lying snow in Scotland or northern England.

“In the early hours of Friday, a front arriving from the west will encounter the cold air in place over the UK. This could bring further sleet or snowfall for some regions in the south and west, as well as a risk of ice for a time as it moves north-eastwards into central parts, but the extent of this is still uncertain.”

Parts of North Yorkshire and the Lake District are forecast to see the lowest temperatures, with a mercury of -16C expected on Thursday night - the coldest figure recorded so far this winter.

Additional warnings are expected to be issued in the coming days, as fronts moving in from the southwest brings with it the possibility of more snow.

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Met Office Chief Forecaster, Jason Kelly, said: “With cold weather persisting across the UK this week we have a number of severe weather warnings for wintry hazards. Snow showers will continue to fall over Scotland, Northern Ireland and into Northern Wales and northern England too.

“Where surface water and snow freeze overnight there is a risk of ice as temperatures widely dip below freezing. There will however be good spells of sunshine for those away from northern coasts, though it’ll still feel cold in the northerly breeze.”

On Sunday, the UK recorded its coldest night of the winter so far with a temperature of -13.3C recorded in Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands, between Ullapool and Inverness.

And tomorrow, outbreaks of snow will push in from the southwest, with 2-5cm of snow set to accumulate and as much as 10cm over higher ground.

Rain or sleet is more likely in coastal areas, and ice will likely form on untreated areas.

“There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel,” the Met Office said.