Freezing Fog And Frost Set To Disrupt Travel

Freezing fog and icy conditions after one of the coldest night's of the year will bring hazardous driving conditions and delays to flights across the country.

Temperatures are expected to plunge as low as -11C in some areas of the UK.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "Expect icy patches, with dense freezing fog an additional hazard, mostly over England and Wales.

"That fog may well give some travel disruption and will linger all day in places."

On its Twitter feed, Heathrow Airport said: "There may be some disruptions tomorrow morning (Wednesday) due to freezing fog tonight and tomorrow. Please check your flight status with your airline."

British Airways warned that flights out of all London airports could be affected.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for fog across much of South and Central England, which could persist throughout the day in the East.

"Visibility will reduce to below 100m in places and therefore the public should be aware of the risk of disruption to travel," it said.

In the north of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland it warned that showers would bring an increased risk of ice on untreated surfaces.

The AA Special Operations Response Team said that the freezing temperatures and fog would make conditions particularly tricky for motorists.

"Not the greatest driving conditions tonight! pls #drivesafe & leave more room than usual to the car ahead," it said on its Twitter account.

The cold conditions come despite Britain being spared the worst of a brutal weather front dubbed the 'Beast from the East'

The sub-zero conditions are expected to give way to a bout of milder weather later in the week, bringing torrential rain and gales creating gusts of up to 70mph.

Four flood warnings - the second highest alert available - and 17 less serious flood alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency.

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "We are expecting an inch of rain in areas of the south, and possibly double that in higher areas, so that will obviously mean a risk of flooding."