Great Brrritain! UK climate map reveals the place BLIZZARDS may hit within the coming hours – as temperatures throughout the nation plummet

Britain is bracing for icy days and nights as temperatures are set to plunge to a piercing -16C in some parts. 

Four yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across the country – with one that could see blizzards sweep through.  

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow covering southern counties of England from 9am today until midnight, which ‘could prove disruptive’. 

According to weather experts, there is a chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected.

Some rural communities could become cut off, most likely in upland areas, while there is also a small chance of travel delays on roads, alongside delayed or cancelled rail and air travel.

A weather map shows the cold front edging across the southern-most point of England and including South London. 

The Met Office said: ‘Whilst not all areas may be affected, outbreaks of snow may push in from the southwest during Wednesday, potentially giving some significant accumulations in places. 

‘Two to five cm of snow could accumulate fairly widely, and as much as 10 cm over higher ground, especially over east or northeast-facing slopes. 

‘Rain or sleet is more likely near coasts. Note that there is still a possibility that the weather system, and associated rain or snow, may remain further south across the English Channel.

‘As precipitation clears eastwards and skies clear during Wednesday night, ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces.’

Weather warnings issued on Tuesday for snow and ice covering the Midlands, parts of North Wales, the North West of England, west and northern parts of Scotland as well as Northern Ireland remain in place until midday on Wednesday.

The coldest nights of the year are also expected this week, with temperatures potentially reaching -14C on Wednesday night and -16C on Thursday night, both in the North East of England and Scotland, the Met Office said.

As a result of the cold snap, the UK Health Security Agency has imposed an amber cold health alert for England until this Sunday amid ‘significant impacts across health and social care services’. 

Monday proved to be Britain’s coldest night of winter so far with -13.3C (8.1F) at Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands – but this will likely be beaten in the next few days. 

Scores of flood warnings remain in place across England as fresh snow flurries hit London and Manchester on Tuesday.

Hundreds of schools have been closed across the UK, with more than 170 shut in Bradford, as well as more than a dozen in Lancashire.

Since New Year’s Eve, the Environment Agency estimates that at least 300 properties across England have flooded. 

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.’

Experts also warned of an ongoing flood risk due to the combination of heavy rain and snow melt.

Stefan Laeger, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: ‘The recent heavy rain combined with melting snow means it is probable significant river flooding will continue in Leicestershire today, with minor river flooding probable in some other parts of the country, continuing through to Thursday for some larger rivers.

‘Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, operating flood defences, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.

‘We urge people to remain vigilant over the next few days and advise anyone travelling to be especially careful and urge people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.’

It added that fronts moving in from the South West on Friday and Saturday could also bring more snow, with the possibility of further warnings.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Chris Almond said: ‘Thursday will see another cold night, with potentially the lowest temperatures of the Winter so far, -15C 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.’

He added that by Sunday, milder air will have moved in across much of the UK, ‘meaning rain is more likely than snow as we get to the end of the weekend’.

Mr Almond continued: ‘Northern Ireland and Western Scotland are most likely to see some showery outbreaks of rain and breezy conditions through Sunday, with conditions further south and east drier and more settled.’ 

Snowmelt has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly in the Midlands, following the heavy rainfall over the New Year that saw significant river and surface water flooding across the North West of England and Yorkshire, the Environment Agency said.

Floods minister Emma Hardy said: ‘My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.

‘I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.’

On Tuesday, more than 100 flood warnings were in force across England with people urged to remain vigilant over the coming days.

A danger-to-life warning was issued on Tuesday morning but was later removed for the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, where people living in caravan parks were urged by the Environment Agency to act, with a large-scale evacuation needed to save lives.

Dozens of people have been rescued by firefighters across Leicestershire since Monday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Homeowners on Belton Road in Loughborough were stranded on the first floor of their semi-detached houses on Tuesday after rising water from the nearby Grand Union canal flooded the street.

One flood warning and six flood alerts were in place in Wales.

Hundreds of schools were closed across the UK, with road and rail links blocked.

Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool John Lennon airports were forced to suspend flights because of the conditions.