Brits wake up to a freezing weekend braced for plummeting minus 8.1C temperatures and thick fog which threatens to spark travel chaos
TEMPERATURES plummeted to a nippy -8.1C overnight as Britain was hit with widespread fog and frost.
The lowest recorded temperature was in South Farnborough, Hampshire - but much of the country woke up to chilly temperatures and frost on Saturday morning.
A Met Office spokesman predicted that the heavy fog will cause travel chaos at the start of the week, as temperatures remain at -4 or even -5 in some areas.
East Anglia and the east part of the midlands will see the worst drop in temperatures - although it's not expected to reach last night's lows.
The thick, widespread fog over night on Sunday and Monday could be quite slow to clear. This will make for tricky rush hours over Monday and Tuesday mornings.
Met Office
A Met Office spokesman said: "It was a pretty cold overnight on Friday and for people waking up on Saturday morning.
"Good news it it doesn't look like it will be quite as cold for the rest of the weekend.
"Although it will stay pretty chilly over the next few days, mainly across central and eastern.
"But widespread fog in east Anglia and the east part of midlands could see temperatures drop to -4C or -5C, so it's a cold night to come.
"The thick, widespread fog over night on Sunday and Monday could be quite slow to clear.
"This will make for tricky rush hours over Monday and Tuesday mornings."
Drivers have been warned that the sun zero temperatures and fog patches will create dangerous driving conditions.
A Met Office spokesman said: "The cold conditions are expected to continue into the weekend with widespread frost expected, especially throughout the South of England."
The AA said drivers should plan ahead, with a spokesman adding: "Wear warm layers and plan your route, where possible favouring roads which have been gritted.
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"Stopping distances can be 10 times greater in icy conditions, so keep your speed down and leave plenty of extra space behind the car in front.
"Avoid harsh acceleration, braking or cornering - gentle manoeuvres are key. It may mean you need to allow extra time for the journey - plus extra time to de-ice the car - but you will be keeping yourself and your passengers safe.
"If it's foggy, use your fog lights if you need to - don't rely on automatic lights, as they may not come on in fog - but remember to turn them off once visibility improves."
Northern England and Scotland could even see the odd snow flurry over the weekend as the cold bites.
The freezing temperatures are expected to continue into next week.
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