UK gets a break from big freeze

The big freeze will give way to a brief thaw over the next few days as most of the country gets a break from the bitter cold.

After a very chilly Christmas weekend, temperatures were higher today - with virtually the entire UK forecast to stay above freezing later this week as milder air sweeps in from the west.

The Met Office is nevertheless predicting that this month will be "by some margin" the coldest December since records began 100 years ago.

Rain, sleet and snow showers will affect some eastern and northern parts today, before easing later.

Although up to 15cm of snow will fall on higher ground, this will be the last batch for the foreseeable future.

Milder air then starts moving in from the west later tomorrow, along with more rain, with temperatures falling to zero overnight only in north-eastern areas of the country.

Parts of south-west England and south Wales are then set to see temperatures hit 11C (52F) by Thursday.

But the mercury is due to fall again towards the weekend. Temperatures fell as low as -18.2C (-0.76F) on Christmas Day — with -16C (3F) recorded in Shawbury.

Meanwhile, a winter storm has dropped a thick layer of snow that stranded thousands of airline, train and bus passengers in the USA.