London, Thanasis Gavos

Residents of many parts of the north of the UK woke up to a blanket of snow today as a cold wave of arctic air hit the country.

A Met Office 24-hour yellow warning came into effect from midnight for snow and frost, which will become “more persistent” in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Snow and frost are forecast to continue in some of these areas into Thursday.

In its highlands Scotland in fact, the mercury dropped to -9 degrees Celsius at night. In the same area, the snow is estimated to reach 20 cm.

The rest England and Wales they are sunny, but with temperatures that fell to -6.2 degrees Celsius in the early hours, specifically in west London.

On Tuesday night the temperature in parts of Scotland is expected to drop even lower. The coldest temperature this winter was recorded at -12.5C in Altnahara, Scotland, but it is thought to be beaten by tonight’s conditions.

The snow has covered, among other things, the Manchester and Liverpoolwhere dozens of schools remained closed today.

At least two major rail companies have warned the traveling public of potential disruption to services in Scotland and the West Country.

Also, a warning to drivers to be particularly careful in the north-west has been issued by the National Highways Service, while in England a preparedness alert has been issued for problems with the health of vulnerable citizens due to the cold weather conditions.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan activated the protocol which requires local boroughs in the capital to open heated rooms for rough sleepers.