A bitter blast of cold weather hits the UK from today bringing a drop in temperatures and freezing fog.
Drivers will suffer from fog this morning as the start to the day is chilly, with temperatures dropping below freezing in parts of the country.
And denser fog will descend by the end of the day, with parents and commuters warned it will be slow to lift on Friday morning.
Temperatures will struggle to climb over 2C across the central belt of England this morning
But it will be milder in London and the South East, where the mercury should climb to 7-8C.
And Met Office weather maps say low temperatures of -1C could be recorded in Northern Ireland, the north east of Scotland and parts of northern England.
There will be some rain in the south today, but most of the country will enjoy dry weather with sunny spells once the fog has lifted.
Tomorrow is set to feel even colder with the morning fog slower to lift. There will again be wet weather at times in the south of England and Wales, as well as northern parts of Scotland.
"A widespread frost forming - more widely than we've seen of late - and temperatures below freezing fairly widely, and some fog forming," Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said, talking about this morning.
"Certainly feeling colder on Thursday, especially where the fog persists throughout much of the day - and a similar day to come on Friday," added Mr McGivern.
The cold, foggy weather comes ahead of what forecasters are expecting to be a colder than average December.
The Met Office is forecasting "wintry precipitation" at times next month in the north and north west of the country.
Today
Most parts dry with light winds and sunny spells, though a few stubborn fog patches may persist. Cloudy in the far south, perhaps with a little rain at times. Rather chilly for many.
Tonight
Some rain for northwest Scotland. Perhaps cloudy with a little rain in the far south of England. Turning frosty elsewhere with freezing fog patches, perhaps dense in places by dawn.
Friday
Fog patches will be slow to clear, perhaps persisting in places, and feeling cold. Some rain for northwest Scotland, whilst also perhaps across southern England and Wales later.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Rain in west and northwestern areas, otherwise fog patches thinning to sunny spells Saturday. Rainy and windy in the far north Sunday and Monday, frost, fog clearing to sun elsewhere.
