Britain braces for eight inches of snow, -5C temperatures and 50mph gales ... but it should warm up by the weekend

  • Temperatures fell to -5C in England overnight bringing frost, before sleet and snow arrives from West
  • It will stay cold for next few days before conditions slightly warm up into weekend when it could hit 14C
  • Forecasters issued snow warning for Scotland and northern England, effective from midday today
  • Gales of up to 50mph could develop in the South West tomorrow before moving along the Channel

By Mark Duell for MailOnline

Published: 03:58 EST, 8 November 2016 | Updated: 18:13 EST, 8 November 2016

Winter is sweeping into Britain today with widespread snowfall up to eight inches deep threatening travel chaos.

Temperatures fell to -5C (23F) in England overnight bringing frost, before sleet and snow arrives from the West.

It will stay cold for the next few days before conditions slightly warm up into the weekend when it could hit 14C. 

The first flakes will hit Scotland this afternoon, before moving south to the Pennines - and Sheffield and Leeds.

Temperatures will be around -1C (30F) to freezing overnight, up from a low of -6.6C (20F) overnight yesterday.

Brave: A walker wrapped up warm takes on the Pennine Way in Cumbria today which is covered under a blanket of snow

Chilly outlook: A walker looks on from a snow capped crag close to the Pennine Way in Cumbria in the North Pennines today

Icy: A Pennine Way post in Cumbria which is covered under a blanket of deep snow on a calm and bitterly cold morning

A fence covered in rime ice - formed by a combination of cold wind and snow flakes contacting a cold surface - in Cumbria

Risk to motorists: Snow up on the North York Moors, as winter is set to sweep in early today with widespread snowfall

Crisp: Frosted grass and bracken in London's Richmond Park this morning ahead of snowfall in the north of the country

A cyclist makes their way past deer among frosted grass and bracken in Richmond Park in South West London today

Richmond Park deer: Forecasters expect snow to hit parts of the UK today as temperatures dropped below freezing overnight

Leeds and Sheffield could have up to 8in (20cm) of snowfall, according to the Met Office.

But lower lying parts of Yorkshire and Cheshire could see around 10cm (3.9in) of snow settling overnight.

Forecasters have issued a snow warning covering much of Scotland and northern England, effective from midday.

Inclement conditions will stay until tomorrow morning’s rush hour as a band of wintry weather moves eastwards.

Drivers are being urged to take care as snow falls to lower levels tonight over parts of Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Up to 3in (8cm) is possible in hilly areas above 650ft (200m), while as much as 6in (15cm) could fall above 1,000ft.

The Met Office said 6in (15cm) of snow could fall above 1,000ft in northern England and Scotland, and 3in (8cm) above 650ft

Growing up: Two young deer stags practise rutting in frosty scenery at sunrise in London's Richmond Park on a cold morning

Looking out: A deer stag stands in frost-covered scenery at sunrise at Richmond Park in South West London this morning

Falling temperatures: Deer walk along frosty grass in Richmond Park today on a cold autumn morning today

Misty morning: Richmond Park is covered in frost as temperatures stay low across Britain; dropping below freezing in places

Deer at Richmond Park: Temperatures today will reach 7C (45F) in southern England and 11C (52F) in the South West

Going for a jog: People brave the freezing weather on London Bridge this morning as temperatures drop in the capital

Chilly in London: It will stay cold for the next few days before conditions slightly warm up into the weekend

Off to work: Commuters make their way across London Bridge this morning towards the north bank of the River Thames

Meanwhile gales of up to 50mph could develop in the South West tomorrow before moving along the Channel.

Pershore in the West Midlands saw temperatures fall to - 5C (23F) overnight, which was the UK minimum.

Much of northern England saw readings of freezing (32F) while 2C (37F) was widely observed in the South.

Today temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 8C (46F) in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

They will get to 5C (41F) in northern England, 7C (45F) in southern England and 11C (52F) in the South West.

Freezing temperatures and frost are then expected to return as the wintry weather clears to the east overnight.

Chilly: A cold morning at Ward End Park in Birmingham today as temperatures fell to -5C in the West Midlands overnight

Frosted leaves: Ward End Park in Birmingham looked wintry shortly after sunrise this morning as the cold weather continues

Taking extra care: Frost and ice has caused difficult driving conditions in high hills today in Belmont, Lancashire

Sheep in Belmont: Wintry conditions will continue until rush hour tomorrow as a band of wintry weather moves eastwards

Stunning: A photographer captures the sun as it rises over the Vale of Pewsey near Marlborough in Wiltshire today

Good morning: The sun rises over the Vale of Pewsey near Marlborough in Wiltshire as winter is set to sweep in early today

Peeking through: Seaham Lighthouse in County Durham is pictured this morning as a gap in the cloud lets the sun in

Pretty: Seaham Lighthouse is pictured this morning after tmperatures fell as far as -5C in central England overnight

And there will be a return to similar daytime figures tomorrow, before temperatures rise a little into the weekend.

Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said a frontal system moving from the West will meet the recent cold weather.

She said: ‘We've had a few wintry showers but this is the first event where more people are going to be affected.’

Ms Sillitoe also warned of a risk of difficult driving conditions on high routes over the Pennines and in Scotland.

And she said people will have to scrape frost from windscreens so it will be 'quite slow getting out and about'.

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