FREEZING BRITAIN: Sub-zero temperatures and frosts to plunge UK to -7C
CHILL winds are set to sweep across Britain in the coming days bringing sub-zero temperatures and overnight frosts.
Cold weather to remain in southern parts of UK
Southern regions have borne the brunt of the cold weather this week while Scotland and the north have basked in almost spring-like conditions.
Thermometers hit 13.2C (55.76F) in Aboyne, Scotland, on Tuesday, and will hover in double figures through today.
In contrast the south struggled to get out of single figures with lows of -7.1C (19.22F) recorded in Kent overnight.
Moment Bristol FREEZES during the winter of 1991
This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services
The latest shock weather forecast shows cold air from Scandinavia and Russia will creep across the country towards the weekend sending the mercury plummeting across wide areas of the UK.
Northern parts will see daytime highs fall into single figures while the south will stay cold with temperatures dipping below freezing overnight.
Thermometers in the south could hit -4C (24.8F) overnight by the weekend with the north dipping to around -2C (28.4F) in exposed spots.
Daytime highs of 4C (39.2F) or 5C (41F) are likely around the country with southern regions expected to stay slightly cooler.
The Met Office today extended a level-2 cold weather health alert into southwest England until Friday morning.
It states: "There is a 70 per cent probability of severe cold weather between Wednesday and 9am on Friday in parts of England.
"This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services."
Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples added: "There are a lot of clear skies around in the southeast and this is why it has felt colder than elsewhere.
"Over the next few days Polar Continental air will move northwards and westwards so temperatures will be lower generally.
"It will feel especially cold where we get clear skies and there could be some rain around the coasts and over hilly regions.
"Temperatures in the south will remain in minus figures overnight in a few spots and elsewhere will be cooler than of late."
Despite the cooler weather much of Britain will remain dry after last week's snowy blast caused mayhem across the country.
Early forecasts show signs the weather will turn milder after the weekend although it could be wet in parts.
WeatherOnline forecaster Simon Keeling said: "The weather remains quiet through the coming days with high pressure over and to the south of the country.
"There will be plenty of cloud for many areas but the risk of some drizzle in the west at times.
"Milder and more unsettled weather is edging into Scotland next week, it will probably stay drier in the east and south; temperatures slowly lifting here."
Early Met office figures reveal January has been drier than average across most of the country with 20 per cent of the expected rainfall recorded in parts.
A spokesman said: "The weather for much of the first half of January has been generally settled, though temperatures have alternated between just above and just below average."