UK Faces Coldest Night with Snow, Blizzards, and Floods

The UK is bracing for the coldest night of winter on Thursday, with temperatures expected to plunge to -20C (-4F). Snow, blizzards, ice, and floods are causing widespread disruption.

Freezing floodwater in the Midlands has prompted a danger to life warning, with more icy weather expected. Images show contrasting scenes, with cars frozen in the Peak District and homes flooded in Leicestershire.

Hundreds of schools and transport links are closed, with yellow weather warnings in place for ice and snow. The last time the UK saw such low temperatures was in February 2021.

The cold snap is expected to continue until the end of the week, with widespread hard frosts and minimum temperatures between -3C and -10C. The Environment Agency estimates that at least 300 properties have flooded since New Year's Eve.

The Fire Brigades Union is calling for the Government to take action to prepare fire and rescue services for flood response. They argue that England needs a statutory duty and investment to be made resilient to flooding.