UK weather - as it happened: Snow and ice cause travel disruption and motorway crashes as coldest night of year expected
Follow how the day's weather and travel news unfolded as coldest night of year predicted
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Your support makes all the difference.Dangerous conditions on the roads have caused disruption, cancellations and delays as winter tightened its grip on the UK.
Police and breakdown services warned of black ice patches and urged motorists to drive carefully. The AA said it can take up to 10 times longer to stop on icy roads.
The Met Office issued yellow warnings of ice for large parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland after snow brought major disruption and power outages to swathes of the UK on Wednesday.
The RAC said ice caused an "incredibly busy" morning, and as a result of the conditions dealt with a number of battery failures, minor bumps and shunts, and skidding.
Meanwhile the AA described the country's roads on Thursday as "appalling" due to the "dicey icy roads".
Forecasters now believe the country is headed for its coldest night of the year year.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Stansted airport on Wednesday and fliers may experience fresh delays because planes will need de-icing, with London Luton urging passengers to check with their airlines before travelling.
The Met Office said temperatures fell to as low as -4.5C in Katesbridge, Co Down, in the early hours of Thursday while most parts of the UK hovered around 0C.
Two yellow warnings for ice covering parts of the country were in place until 11am, with road users being warned of treacherous conditions on untreated surfaces.
Sub-zero temperatures are expected widely across the UK again on Thursday night, with the mercury expected to plunge as low as minus 10C (12F) in parts of Scotland and Wales.
A yellow warning of snow has been issued for the East Midlands, the north of England down to the Humber and southern Scotland from 3am on Friday until midday.
A band of occasionally heavy rain is due to move eastwards across the UK that will turn to snow as it meets cold air, with up to 5cm expected.
Additional reporting by agencies
The RAC said overnight ice resulted in an "incredibly busy" morning, and as a result of the conditions dealt with a number of battery failures, minor bumps and shunts, and skidding.
Greater Manchester Police said the Mancunian Way was closed between London Road and Fairfield Street for more than an hour because of ice and after a collision involving four cars at around 6.15am.
PA
Greater Manchester Police appear to have had difficulty keeping traffic out of dangerous areas.
54 flights were cancelled at Stansted on Wednesday and around 50 more at Luton, and delays are expected to continue into Thursday. As temperatures hover around zero, planes need de-icing before take-off, therefore pushing back take-off times. Passengers are being advised to contact their airline before travelling.
Snow continues to blanket the UK as temperatures remain below zero in much of the country.This photo was taken near Edale in the Peak District.
Getty Images
The Met Office says more snow will fall in northern parts of the UK later on Thursday and into early Friday. Here its satellite images show snow clouds coming in from the Atlantic.
A Russian cargo ship which was leaning to one side after getting into difficulties off the south coast of England has been towed to harbour.
The Coastguard said the stricken Mekhanik Yartsev landed at King George V Graving Dock in Southampton, two days after the first plans were made to berth the listing vessel.
The ship was towed to safety with the help of a lifeboat, tug boat, pilot vessel and patrol boat.
The 13 crew on board are all safe and well.
A previous attempt to guide the boat to harbour had to be abandoned yesterday due to poor weather in the Solent.
A yellow weather warning for ice is now in effect for northeast Scotland.
Lancashire Police are urging drivers to drive carefully and allow extra time for their journeys an account of the amber warning for heavy snow issued for tomorrow.
Snow and ice warnings issued for Ireland
Snow and ice weather warnings have been issued for many parts of Ireland for this evening.
Met Eireann said snow accumulations of up to 2cm are expected in some areas.
A status yellow snow-ice warning has been issued for counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Leitrim, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.
The warning is valid from 4pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday.
A second warning has been issued for Leinster and counties Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal. Frost and icy conditions are expected to develop this evening across most of the region.
In Northern Ireland the Met Office has issued an overnight yellow warning of snow and ice.
The Met Office said some roads and railways are likely to be affected leading to longer journey times by road, bus and train services.
Some delays to air travel are also possible.
Forecasters said a band of snow and rain is expected to move northeastwards over Northern Ireland later on Thursday night and during Friday morning.
Snow is more likely over the north and west of the region.
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