Any hedgehogs or dormice thinking of emerging from hibernation probably took one look at the thermometer on Tuesday morning and snuggled right back into their beds.
Shiveringly cold temperatures, as low as -4.2C, were reported overnight, with parts of the country blanketed by up to 11cm (4.3in) of snow.
Most of England, Wales and Scotland woke to frost and sub-zero conditions on Tuesday. The mercury plunged to -4.2C in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, while a low of -4.1C was recorded at Sudeley Castle, in Gloucestershire.
Despite the chilly start, the sun had the good grace to make an appearance over much of the UK, but more wintry showers were expected in northern Scotland, where 11cm (4.3in) was recorded in Loch Glascarnoch by 10am. Kirkwall, in Orkney, had 4cm (1.6in) of snow, while Derry in Northern Ireland had 3cm (1.2in) and Capel Curig in north Wales received 2cm (0.8in).
A Met Office yellow warning for snow is in place for northern Scotland from 7pm to 10am on Wednesday, while a separate yellow warning for wind in Shetland runs to 7pm on Tuesday, with strong northerly gusts expected.
Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, said: “There’s a little system moving south, down through the North Sea and that will just clip Shetland later this afternoon, bringing some pretty wild conditions, strong winds of 60 to 70mph but also snow at the same time, so blizzard conditions potentially in Shetland this afternoon.”
The cold weather is expected to continue. The other side of the clear sunny skies enjoyed in central parts of the country would be felt overnight, Claydon said. “Temperatures will be down to similar or even a touch cooler than last night, so down to around -5C, with a bright start in those places tomorrow morning and a bit of a similar day tomorrow.
“There will be less showers around, the showers starting to ease from the west through Wednesday, so a drier day for many.”
