The UK has been hit by an unusually early cold spell Fresh snowfalls are expected to hit the UK as forecasters warn that ice will prove a major hazard on the roads.
Northern Ireland, west Wales and south-west England are set to be worst affected by snow and ice on Friday.
The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for many parts of the UK including northern Scotland, the eastern Borders and eastern England.
The earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years has gripped many parts of the UK and the cold snap could last two weeks.
BBC weather forecaster Laura Tobin said: “The really significant thing on Friday is going to be the ice as opposed to the snow, especially in Northern Ireland, west Wales and south-west England.”
Rain, sleet and snow is expected to turn to ice on untreated roads or where heavy downpours wash away grit.
Some 2-5cm (1-2in) of snow is forecast in these areas, with up to 10cm (4in) on higher ground.
The forecaster said the snow in eastern England and eastern Scotland would turn icy for Friday morning but they would not be as badly affected by snow.
Other parts of the UK are expected to be cold and sunny.
The Met Office has severe weather warnings for Friday for Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, eastern Borders, eastern England, south-west England, and Wales.
A plane with 188 passengers and one infant on board overshot the runway at Newcastle airport in icy conditions on Thursday night.
No one was injured on the Thomsonfly Boeing 737-800 from Lanzarote but the airport was closed for a while after the incident.
Saturday’s horse racing meeting at Newcastle has become one of the first sporting fixtures to be cancelled, with Gosforth Park under 7in (18cm) of snow. The weekend’s FA Cup second round matches could also be at risk.
The AA said it had attended more than 11,000 breakdowns by 1700 BST on Thursday, with the total for the day expected to be up 50% on normal.
Aberdeenshire Council said 121 schools in the area were closed or partially closed because of snow.
On Saturday, there will be more snow showers in northern and eastern areas of the UK as well as Northern Ireland, with temperatures barely above freezing.
The wind will pick up on Sunday, to make it feel even colder, with temperatures unlikely to be above 2C (36F).
Forecasters said the cold spell could last a fortnight, with snow reaching England’s southern counties next week.
Temperatures are expected to drop to -5C (23F) in some areas over the next few days, far lower than those normally experienced in November.
It is unlikely to rise much above 2-5C (36-41F) by day, remaining lower in more exposed rural areas.
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