The British Army is on standby as nine Met Office weather warnings are issued for snow, ice and fog between now and Friday
BRITAIN's weather has taken a turn for the worse, and 10cm of snow is expected to fall during a 10-hour blizzard today after the "coldest night of winter".
The Met Office has warned that ice, snow and fog could cause travel chaos and major disruption across the UK today after the temperature plummeted to -12C overnight.
There is a total of 10 yellow weather warnings for snow, ice and fog across the UK over the next three days.
The whole of the UK is set to be piled with snow today, with a whopping 10cm forecast.
The Met Office has warned of a blizzard lasting 10 hours straight, from 5pm today until 3am tomorrow.
A bone-chilling -12C was forecast for Scotland and even the warmest areas of Britain have struggled to get above 0C - with a freezing wind making the temperature feel even lower.
Wednesday night was forecast to be the coldest night of the year so far, beating the -10.8C recorded in Braemar, Scotland on January 18.
The coldest temperature in Wales was recorded yesterday evening - a chilly -8.1C in Sennybridge.
Mark Wilson, Met Office meteorologist told The Sun Online: “On Thursday it will be generally dry in the north. The south and south west will see rain, sleet and snow throughout the day and some disruption from the snow is expected.
“Windy conditions will bring a wind chill and it will stay cold into Friday, with further snow falling in eastern coastal areas and the south.”
In rural parts negative double figures are possible
Met Office meteorologist
A Met Office meteorologist said: ";A very frosty start to Thursday and there is more snow on the way. There will be ice mostly across western areas overnight.
"Temperatures will be dropping well below freezing even in towns and cities and there will be mist and fog, particularly over the midlands which is likely to be dense so a few hazards around.
"In rural parts negative double figures are possible, -12C maybe.
"On Thursday there will initially be rain in Cornwall but as we get into Devon and other parts of southwest England and south Wales, it'll turn more and more into snow. Many other areas will be dry and bright.
"Other areas will start to see snow as it works its way northwards. Into Thursday evening snow will be falling in southeast England, into parts of East Anglia, across the Midlands and across to Wales. 1-3cm quite widely and in some spots: 5-10cm, particularly over the hills."
The Met Office's weather warnings say to expect injuries from slips and falls on the ice on roads and cycle paths.
Slower journey times are expected for bus and rail travel and there could be cancellations to flights due to fog and snow.
Snowfall could lead to rural communities being cut off and power cuts could occur.
