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UK endures coldest night of the year as freezing temperatures plunge below -15C

Temperatures plunged to minus 15.7C in Aberdeenshire on Sunday night as the UK recorded its coldest night of the year so far.

The Met Office recorded the temperature at Braemar while other parts of the country also experienced icy cold conditions.

Bear South East Trunk Roads tweeted that a minus 11.3C road surface temperature and air temperatures of minus 14.7C were recorded on the A702.

A Met Office yellow weather warning of snow and ice for the north of Scotland is in force until midday on Monday while a warning of ice and fog in Dumfries and Galloway is valid until 11am.

And yellow warnings of snow and ice have been issued for northern Scotland from midday on Tuesday until noon on Thursday.

The weather caused disruption to travel on Monday and also led to school closures in the Highlands.

Traffic Scotland said that the snow gates at Cock Bridge and Tomintoul on the A939 remain closed and advised motorists to take care and drive to the conditions.

On the railways, engineers dealt with an overhead line fault and a signalling fault at Haymarket in Edinburgh which was believed to have been caused by icicles.

Network Rail Scotland later tweeted: “Our overhead line staff have now removed icicles from tunnels which were believed to be causing the failure. The line has now reopened.”

UK Weather | December 2022: Snow hits London

A man takes to the air after hitting a ramp while sledging in Alexandra Palace Park (Getty Images)
A man takes to the air after hitting a ramp while sledging in Alexandra Palace Park (Getty Images)
A man takes to the air after hitting a ramp while sledging in Alexandra Palace Park (Getty Images)
A man takes to the air after hitting a ramp while sledging in Alexandra Palace Park (Getty Images)
People walk on the street in front of The Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben, as cold weather continues, in London (REUTERS)
People walk on the street in front of The Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben, as cold weather continues, in London (REUTERS)
An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames (AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames (AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames (AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames (AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames (AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows snow-covered offices and buildings including the Shard skyscraper on the south bank of the River Thames (AFP via Getty Images)
Trees are covered in snow in front of Buckingham Palace as cold weather continues, in London (REUTERS)
Trees are covered in snow in front of Buckingham Palace as cold weather continues, in London (REUTERS)
A swimmer dips her feet in Serpentine lake, as cold weather continues, in London (REUTERS)
A swimmer dips her feet in Serpentine lake, as cold weather continues, in London (REUTERS)
A person skis in the snow at Greenwich Park, London. Snow and ice have swept across parts of the UK (PA)
A person skis in the snow at Greenwich Park, London. Snow and ice have swept across parts of the UK (PA)
A person jogging in Richmond Park in south west London. (PA)
A person jogging in Richmond Park in south west London. (PA)
People walk through the snow in Greenwich Park, London. Snow and ice have swept across parts of the UK, with cold wintry conditions set to continue for days. (PA)
People walk through the snow in Greenwich Park, London. Snow and ice have swept across parts of the UK, with cold wintry conditions set to continue for days. (PA)

In the Highlands several schools and nurseries were closed due to bad weather while a school in Aberdeenshire was also shut.

The weather alert for Tuesday to Thursday warns that wintry showers will affect many areas of northern Scotland and parts of northeast England.

Forecasters said that a few centimetres of snow are likely to accumulate at low levels with the potential for as much as 15-20 cm over higher ground.

Ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces, mainly where some of the showers fall as sleet close to coasts.

Some roads and railways are likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services, forecasters warned.