UK weather forecast – Britain to be colder than NORWAY today with -5C chill as hail, snow and rain lash country

BRITAIN is set to be colder than NORWAY today as temperatures plunge to a bone-chilling -5C as hail, snow and rain batter the country.

As the bitter spring cold snap continues, icy weather conditions have sparked travel chaos alerts with Brits bracing for an Arctic freeze.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice for parts of the Highlands and northern Scotland – with flurries set to cause travel disruption.

It warns wintry showers “may lead to some difficult driving conditions and travel disruption”.

The Met Office states: “Frequent, often heavy showers of rain and sleet will give a risk of icy stretches overnight and into Friday morning away from northern coast roads.”

Up to 2cm snow could fall as “showers turn to snow inland above 150m”.

And with temperatures set to dip to a bitter -5C today in Scotland, it will be colder than the Norwegian capital Oslo where it is not due to be below freezing.

Arctic air from the north will gradually take a grip over the whole country, and as the Met Office warns, the cold air “will win out eventually” by the end of the week.

Maps from WXCharts show temperatures could get as low as -5C over the weekend too with widespread frost across the UK.

Parts of the UK are set to be hit by hail, sleet and snow today with a frosty night expected.

The Met Office states: “Rain clearing from southernmost counties of England.

“Sunny spells for many but also a scattering of showers, these heaviest and most frequent in the north with hail, sleet, and some snow on hills. Feeling rather cold.”

This week, Brits in Northern Ireland, North West England and North Wales were hit with intense gales – reaching 70mph.

On Thursday, two people had to be rescued by firefighters after a tree fell on their car during the winds on Wigan Road.

They weren’t injured – but a woman in another vehicle suffered a minor head injury, Lancashire Police said.