Severe weather warnings in place as forecasters predict up to 10cm of snow in South West

A severe weather warning has been issued as up to 10cm of snow is expected in parts of the UK.

The Met Office’s amber weather warning, which mainly covers parts of the South West and South Wales, runs until 9pm on Thursday and Cornwall Airport, near Newquay, has already been forced to temporarily close.

Amber warnings mean travel delays on roads are likely, stranding some vehicles and passengers, while some delays and cancellations to rail travel are likely.

Rural communities could become cut off and power cuts are likely.

Other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may also be affected.

However, the Met Office dismissed claims that the warnings represented a ‘danger to life’.

Britain woke up to mist and fog this morning, after experiencing its coldest night of the winter so far.

Temperatures in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, plunged to as low as -12.9C overnight, while it dipped to minus 12.8C (8.96F) at Loch Glascarnoch.

All four countries in the UK set new records for the 2018/2019 winter with Sennybridge, Powys, dropping to minus 9.3C (15.3F), Katesbridge in Northern Ireland falling to minus 8.2C (17.2F) and Redesdale Camp, Northumberland, recording temperatures of minus 10.4C (13.3F).

Forecasters are now warning of more snow today and overnight tonight, while commuters are set for cancellations and treacherous driving conditions.

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Southeastern Trains said 21 services were being cancelled or altered on Thursday morning to minimise the impact of ice forming on the rails and ensure lines were clear and that it would run its ‘winter weather timetable’ on Friday due to the forecast.

The freezing temperatures have led to weather warnings being issued by the Met Office for snow, ice and fog on Thursday and into Friday.

Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said the cold temperatures were due to stick around.

He said: ‘It’s been a very, very cold night. On Thursday night we could see similar temperatures in Scotland, but Northern Ireland, England and Wales probably won’t be quite as cold.

‘Saturday night into Sunday could also be very cold.’

Manchester and Liverpool airports were brought to a standstill on Wednesday morning, and several schools closed across the UK due to the harsh conditions.

Mr Wilson said central England and Wales could bear the brunt of the snow on Thursday afternoon and into the evening as wet weather coming through the south-west England turns wintry, with some places seeing up to 4in of snow.

Yellow weather warnings for ice are in place in north-western Scotland and the Northern and Western Isles, alerting travellers to be wary of slippery roads.

A similar warning is in place for north-west England, south-west England, Wales, Yorkshire and The Humber.

A yellow warning for snow is also in place across large swathes of England and is due to remain in place until late on Friday night.

Most of Scotland should also be prepared for snowfall, the Met Office warned.

Commuters are urged to check local forecasts and weather conditions before they travel.