ANOTHER Beast from the East could hit the UK next week, bringing more cold weather.
Snow fell across England in the early hours this morning, blanketing Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Northumberland and Darlington.
The freezing start to the New Year will continue with hazardous fog and 'harsh frost' expected to ice over Britain next week.
The Met Office is monitoring an icy, easterly blast dubbed The Beast From The East which, in 2018, brought 20in of snow and the coldest March day on record.
Forecaster Tom Morgan said: “We could see it drop to -10C again in the days ahead. There will be more snow on the way.
“As things stand, 2021 starts how 2020 ended, on a very cold note with the risk of wintry showers and widespread frosts.”
Follow our weather live blog for all the latest news and updates from around the country…
- Chiara Fiorillo
'HARSH FROSTS'
Forecasters have predicted that the first week of January will see Britain gripped by "harsh frosts" and bitterly cold icy conditions.
Next week, cold easterly winds will develop, bringing wintry showers, particularly around eastern parts, while hazardous freezing fog, frost and ice risks will all continue, the Met Office said.
- Chiara Fiorillo
SNOW IN WEST MIDLANDS
Snow falls in significant amounts over Cradley Heath, West Midlands, catching people out walking.
Snow in Cradley Heath, West MidlandsCredit: Alamy Live News - Chiara Fiorillo
MORE SNOW TO HIT BRITAIN TONIGHT
Britain is set to be blasted with even more snow tonight as temperatures plummet to -12C.
The big freeze comes amid fears another Beast from the East could strike, with colder easterly weather expected to draw in later this month.
Up to 5cm of snow could fall, according to the Met Office, which has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice in force until 6pm on Saturday.
- Chiara Fiorillo
COLD AFTERNOON
- Claudia Aoraha
TONIGHT'S FORECAST
The Met Office said: "Patchy sleet or snow across the Midlands and east Wales fading.
"Northwestern areas clear and frosty.
"Eastern areas seeing showers, perhaps heavy but mostly falling as rain away from hills."
- Claudia Aoraha
SNOW IN WEST MIDLANDS TODAY
Snow has fallen in significant amounts over Cradley Heath, West Midlands, causing traffic to slow on the hills as it settles.
Credit: Alamy Live News - Claudia Aoraha
LATEST FORECAST FROM THE MET OFFICE
Here's what they have to say: "Whilst there are some sunny spells this afternoon it will be cold with areas of rain, sleet and snow pushing southwards."
- Chiara Fiorillo
HEAVY SNOW IN MIDDLESBROUGH
Heavy snow showers continued in Middlesbrough this morning.
It caused causing hazardous driving conditions on the A171.
Credit: Jordan Crosby - Chiara Fiorillo
WARNING FOR ICE AND SNOW
A yellow warning for snow and ice is in force across parts of northern England and Wales.
It is valid until 6pm today.
Credit: Met Office
- Chiara Fiorillo
WILL THE SNOW SETTLE?
Much of the north have already seen the snow settle, especially in Manchester and North Yorkshire.
Birmingham and Worcestershire also saw inches of powdery snow.
In Scotland, the ground is entirely white in some places.
However, in the south, the short bursts of snow has been unable to settle so far.
- Chiara Fiorillo
WILL IT SNOW TODAY?
The Met Office says the most likely place for snow on Saturday, January 2, is in the north east of England and in Wales.
But this will only be minimal, with Saturday set to bring patchy rain or sleet in the Midlands.
It is still expected to be below freezing overnight, with temperatures dropping to -5.
- Chiara Fiorillo
RUN IN THE SNOW
A runner braves the cold after snow blanketed parts of the North East of England overnight.
A runner in South Park, Darlington, County Durham this morningCredit: Richard Rayner - Chiara Fiorillo
WET WEATHER IN WALES
- Chiara Fiorillo
WHITE NEW YEAR
An Arctic blast saw New Year's Eve become the coldest day of the year at -7.5C with snow blanketing Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire and parts of Merseyside, along with Scotland.
And New Year's Day saw London and parts of the south – including Hampshire – enjoy snowfall, but not enough to settle.
- Chiara Fiorillo
TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST
The Met Office's weather forecast for today says: "A frosty start for many inland.
"Showers continuing across coastal fringes, perhaps heavy, wintry where they run further inland this morning.
"An area of sleet or snow may affect parts of northern and central England later.
"Feeling cold everywhere."
- Chiara Fiorillo
NEW YEAR'S SWIM
People were seen swimming on the Isle Of Man on the first day of 2021 yesterday.
Credit: Splash News - Chiara Fiorillo
TEMPERATURES TO HIT -10C NEXT WEEK
Temperatures could hit -10C next week after a cold start to 2021.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “We could see it drop to -10C again in the days ahead. There will be more snow on the way.
“As things stand, 2021 starts how 2020 ended, on a very cold note with the risk of wintry showers and widespread frosts.”
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE: COLD AND FROSTY START FOR MANY TODAY
- Joseph Gamp
FIRST WEEKEND OF 2021 TO SEE SCOTLAND RATTLED BY COLDEST TEMPS OF WINTER SO FAR
The first weekend of 2021 will see the coldest town and city temperatures of the winter so far in Scotland, with some places dropping to Minus 7C on Saturday night.
Highland spots with small populations have already endured lows of Minus 12C (10F) over the festive period but northerly winds are now pushing cold air further south, towards Glasgow and the central belt.
Below-zero temperatures bring an increased risk of water freezing in pipes, then bursting when milder weather arrives.
There have already been reports in South Lanarkshire of supply pipes to boilers freezing in the last few days.
Scottish Gas are advising customers to have pipes lagged and to open hatches to lofts to allow warm air to get into un-heated spaces.
- Joseph Gamp
COLD EASTERLY WINDS AND FREEZING FOG NEXT WEEK
Next week, cold easterly winds will develop, bringing wintry showers, particularly around eastern parts, while hazardous freezing fog, frost and ice risks will all continue, the Met Office added.
On Thursday, overnight temperatures dropped to a low of minus 7.3C (18.9F) in Wiltshire.
No weather warnings are currently in place after the Met Office's ice warning, covering the majority of Devon and Cornwall, expired at 9am on January 1.
- Joseph Gamp
EXPLAINED: WHAT IS THE COLD WEATHER PAYMENT?
Low income households can get £25 a week to help with energy bills during the winter thanks to the cold weather payment scheme.
Freezing weather in certain areas of the UK, mostly in Scotland, has already triggered the first payment for many.
Find out more here.
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE '4CAST' FOR SATURDAY
- Joseph Gamp
METEOGROUP FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
The Meteogroup has released it's latest forecast data. According to the weather agency Saturday "will see a good deal of dry and bright weather, particularly in western areas".
Further east there will be "some sunshine, but also some scattered showers from the North Sea, some turning wintry.
"The Midlands and also parts of Wales will also have some wintry showers. Chilly northerly winds."
And during Saturday evening, Meteogroup predicts "remaining wintry showers will largely clear from Wales and the Midlands, while north-eastern parts of the UK will have wintry showers arrive from the North Sea."#
It concluded that it will be "a misty and cloud night for most of Great Britain" into early Sunday, "while Northern Ireland will actually have some clear spells through the night."
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: FLASH FLOODS AND SNOW HIT BRITAIN
Flash floods and snow hit Britain as freezing weather continues
- Joseph Gamp
ACCRINGTON'S CLASH WITH PORTSMOUTH POSTPONED DUE TO A FROZEN PITCH
Accrington's League One clash with Portsmouth on Saturday has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
Stanley announced the game had been called off following an inspection on Friday, with local weather conditions not expected to improve.
It is another blow for Stanley whose Christmas programme was wiped out when opponents Doncaster and Sunderland withdrew from their respective matches due to coronavirus-related issues.
It means Stanley have not played since their goalless draw against Blackpool on December 19, and adds to the prospect of a fixture pile-up towards the end of the campaign.
Speaking prior to the Pompey cancellation, Stanley boss John Coleman told his club's official website: "I think it was worked out that it was one every four days we have to play to get the fixtures in in time and that doesn't account for any weather-related postponements."
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