Skate expectations ...but thaw on way

TEMPERATURES plummeted to nearly -20C on the UK's coldest January night in 15 years as the wintry weather continued to cause chaos and wonder across the country.

- Tony Whitfield

Yesterday morning, Altnaharra, in the northern Highlands, recorded an icy -18.9C, the Met Office said.

But forecasters believe things will warm up a little this week.

It was the coldest known January overnight temperature since 2010, when the mercury dropped below -15C several times at locations across the UK, including -22.3C on January 8 in Altnaharra once again.

Much of the UK endured below-freezing temperatures overnight into Saturday, including a very crisp -11.2C in Shap, Cumbria, and -6.7C at Bala in Gwynedd, Wales.

The average low in northern Scotland for this time of year is about 0.3C, while for England, overnight lows are about 1.5C to 1.6C.