Temperatures plunged to below minus 22C overnight, the lowest in 25 years, following an “extreme freeze”.
The mercury dropped to minus 22.9C (minus 6.5F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, the lowest February temperature since 1955, and the UK's coldest night since 30 December 1995.
The Met Office said the last time a temperature below minus 20C was recorded in the UK was December 23 2010.
READ MORE: Satellite images capture Scotland in the snow from space
Scattered snow showers and some sunshine is forecast for large swathes of the UK over the rest of the day on Thursday.
Kinbrace and Braemar were neck and neck for a while, but now Braemar is pulling ahead as we move into the final straight🥶 pic.twitter.com/FPD6LDRadr
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 11, 2021
Yellow weather warnings for areas where wintry weather could cause travel disruption have been issued for the morning, covering the eastern half of Scotland and England, Devon, and south-west Wales.
As the snow clears towards the east through the morning, it could become “quite pleasant outside with the sunshine, although still bitterly cold” in western areas, according to Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir.
The latest plunge in temperatures comes after Tuesday night, when minus 17.1C (1.2F) was recorded in the Scottish Highlands.
That marked the coldest temperature recorded in the UK since January 2010, when the mercury dropped to minus 22.3C (minus 8.1F).
Cities such as Manchester and Carlisle may drop to minus 4C (24.8F) on Thursday, and York is expected to have lows of minus 6C (21.2F).
(PA Graphics)
Nine flood warnings, where flooding is likely, and 88 flood alerts, indicating that flooding is possible, have also been issued for locations across England by the Environment Agency, but none were in place for the other UK nations on Wednesday night.
READ MORE: The latest weather forecast as cold snap gets set to continue
The forecast prompted responses from local councils in England, with residents warned to take “extra care” while the cold snap lasts.
Ms Nasir said that on Friday and over the weekend the weather is expected to turn “quite hazardous” as “an area of cloud and rain” coupled with extremely cold air brings further risk of snow, and “perhaps even of freezing rain”.
(PA Graphics)
The Centrepoint charity for homeless youth has urged people to contact them or Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 if they see people living out in the cold.
Charities have also advised offering anyone sleeping rough a hot drink, meal, blankets or clothing.
In the last 24 hours, temperatures plummeted to -17 in some parts on the UK. ❄️ It's far too cold to be outside.
Here's what to do if you see someone on the street.
🧡 Please pass this on. pic.twitter.com/SuLHFImWpi
— Centrepoint (@centrepointuk) February 10, 2021
The NHS said that, despite the tough conditions, many vaccination centres have remained open, and any missed appointments will be rescheduled.
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