UK faces coldest night of the year TONIGHT as temperatures drop to MINUS 10

Britain faces the coldest night of the year tonight as temperatures plunge.

Parts of the country will be gripped by lower mercury levels than Iceland’s capital Reykjavik.

In the Scottish Highlands, temperatures will dip well below freezing towards -10C.

In Birmingham, local residents could wake up to a harsh frost as a bone-chilling Polar blast sends temperatures plunging to below zero.

The mercury will drop close to zero under clear skies overnight and during the early hours of Thursday, but the bitter Arctic wind will make it feel like -4C.

A lorry negotiates an icy road near Ribblehead in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (Image: PA)

It will be a bitterly cold start to Thursday - the final day of the meteorological autumn - with temperatures struggling to climb above 3C.

A harsh north-westerly wind will make it seem exceptionally raw and there is the chance of wintry showers with sleet and snow.

Friday will also be cold with the mercury showing a slight upturn to between 4-6C, but it should stay clear and dry.

Dr Thomas Waite, of PHE's Extreme Events team, said: “As the weather is going to get colder everywhere in the coming days, this is a really good time to check on those who may be at-risk.

“People with diseases such as heart and lung conditions, older people and young children can feel the ill-effects of cold weather more than the rest of us.”

However, it should turn less cold by the weekend with temperatures edging upwards slightly.

The bitter Arctic blast will be replaced by warmer air during the early part of the weekend with rain and drizzle moving across the country.

There is also a chance of milder air moving across the UK next week as high pressure stations itself over mainland Europe.

This should block the biting Polar air from pushing southwards over Britain enabling a slight upturn in temperatures.

Birmingham and the Black Country should enjoy a few days of less cold conditions before the chill returns again.

A spokesperson for The Weather Channel said: “There is a cold and frosty few days ahead with plenty of winter sunshine.

“Temperatures will begin to rise again over the weekend as less cold air from the west mixes into the flow.”