UK Weather: Travellers warned as WIDESPREAD FROST takes over roads during ARCTIC SNAP
BRITONS have been warned the Arctic snap taking over the country could disrupt their weekend travel plans as subzero temperatures cause "widespread frost" on roads across the UK.
UK Weather: 'Widespread frost' as temperatures plummet
Britain is bracing for what could become the coldest October weekend for 25 years as forecasters have warned temperatures will plummet to minus 4C overnight.
Travellers have been warned to be careful on the roads as the freezing polar weather engulfs swathes of the country with widespread frost, ice and snow.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: "Temperatures plummeting, a widespread frost. We’re looking at, fairly widely, -1C to -2C in some rural spots. In some frost hollows, -4C.
"By Sunday the winds will have changed. Rather than northerly, we’ve got an easterly. It’s still a very cold start, a widespread frost, temperatures fairly typically down below freezing even in towns and cities."
The Met Office on Friday issued its first ice and snow warning of the season, advising Britons on the road to be careful as ice and snow make "accidents and injuries more likely."
Snowfall is most likely across the hills and mountains of Scotland and the north over the next few days although there could be flurries down the east coast.
Mr McGivern continued: "Many western areas will start off sunny and will keep that crisp autumns sunshine going well into Sunday afternoon.
"Temperatures once again feeling cold, 5C to 9C - subtract a few though for the windchill. Crisp weekend coming up, overnights frosts certainly and also that windchill but for many will see sunny spells and just a few showers.
BBC Weather: Temperatures to PLUMMET to freezing at weekend
Crisp weekend coming up, overnights frosts certainly and also that windchill
The mercury will plunge lower than Russia, Greenland and Iceland will freezing winds making it feel colder than parts of the Arctic.
Bitter cold will hold out into the start of next week before a horror storm tears into the UK from the Mediterranean.
BBC Weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker warned conditions are not expected to improve on Sunday, with temperatures remaining in the low single figures for most of the country and feeling much colder because of the biting northerly winds.
The BBC Weather meteorologist said: "Temperatures on Sunday, again, mostly into single figures but because the wind will be strong it’s going to feel a lot colder.
"Newcastle may be feeling like 3C or 4C but that’s against the bare skin of your hand and your face."