UK SNOW? BBC Weather map shows FREEZING jet stream smashing through Britain
BRITAIN is set to be plunged into freezing temperatures as polar winds sweep south bringing fears snow could blanket the UK.
The BBC Weather forecast shows how the UK is set to be gripped by freezing conditions.
The Met Office issued a yellow severe warning for snow and ice in northern Scotland, east of England and Yorkshire for this morning.
On Thursday morning snow swept across the east of the UK and a brief flurry was seen in London, but did not settle.
BBC forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker stood alongside a huge graphic of the UK appeared to show even more Arctic winds blanketing Britain.
BBC
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He said: "For the time being, right now, we still have a northerly component, the jet stream where it's dragging in the colder air.
"But out here in the Atlantic, there is milder air ready to come in."
The Met Office has warned about icy stretches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths during the Friday rush hour as travel disruption is expected to hit Britain.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: "We have issued an ice warning for Scotland and colder temperatures, which will be in areas where there is underlying snow.
For the time being, right now, we still have a northernly component, the Jet stream here it's dragging in the colder air
“So temperatures will get down to levels where we see frost, where you get ground frost.
"But in some areas, where we have already lying snow, temperatures will come down further and in those areas we may see minus 6 or lower.”
Temperatures were forecast to become more mild at the weekend, but fears have grown that the cold snap could return next week.
Elderly people have also been urged to take care in the cold conditions as a weather health alert was issue between the Met Office and Public Health England.
It said: "There is a 90 per cent probability of severe cold weather and icy conditions up to Saturday, in parts.
"This weather could increase health risks for vulnerable patients and disrupt delivery services.
"Some snow and ice is possible, initially across higher ground and on some lower levels further south on Thursday."
These below-average temperatures for this time of the year are thought to be caused by a combination of “wild” jet-stream activity and a shift in cold air over the Arctic.
The La Nina cooling of the eastern Pacific has been linked to colder than average winters in the UK.
