Brits are bracing for snow, ice and rare freezing rain (Image: WX Charts/Getty)
Britons are bracing for a brutal -10C Arctic blast with over a foot of and rare freezing rain imminent.
There are fears of some rural communities being cut off and of travel chaos as well as power outages as 1ft 4in (40cm) of snow could carpet parts of the UK.
Temperatures plunged to a low of -8.6C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, overnight, according to the , with a frontal system heading our way from the south west, bumping into colder air and bringing snow for many.
An amber for snow and rare freezing rain covering most of Wales and central England, including the Midlands and the north-west cities of Liverpool and Manchester, is in place from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday.
A second warning for snow, covering most of northern England including Leeds, Sheffield and the Lake District, has been issued from 9pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
The said both of the warning areas can expect to see 3cm to 7cm of snowfall widely, while snow may mix with rain at times in lower-lying areas.
A separate yellow weather warning for ice is due to end at 10am today (January 4) while a second yellow warning for snow and ice comes into force for most areas of the UK at midday until Sunday night.
This is a live blog. Scroll down for the latest updates
Baby dies in crash, police investigating possible link to icy conditions
Lincolnshire Police has said it is investigating whether a crash near Grantham which left a seven-month-old baby dead on Thursday night was linked to icy conditions.
A yellow Honda Jazz car left the southbound carriageway on the A1 shortly after 10.50pm before it hit a tree and returned to the road.
10 counties most at risk of falling trees revealed
Experts at tree care specialists, Ashridge Trees, have identified 10 areas most at risk of falling trees due to weather exposure and density.
These counties are expected to see severe cold temperatures, increasing the likelihood trees will become unstable.
Kent – predicted temperatures as low as -3C. Freezing conditions in rural and wooded areas pose a risk to aging oak trees.
Devon – a chilly -2 is expected across the county. Rural lanes and frozen, waterlogged soil make trees here particularly vulnerable.
Surrey – temperatures dropping to -4C. Urban areas with mature trees face high risks, especially with the combined factors of wind and frost.
Norfolk – with forecasts of -5C, coastal winds and freezing temperatures make trees here very unstable.
Cumbria – cold temperatures around -3C are forecast. Snow-covered and frozen soil in forested zones increase the risk of trees uprooting.
Cornwall – forecasts of -2C in coastal areas. Trees in exposed areas are especially prone to falling due to high winds and frozen ground.
Hampshire – low temperatures of -4C will cause suburban trees to be more prone to toppling, especially those with limited root systems.
Greater London – the capital is expected to experience -3C temperatures. Urban trees in parks and streets could face an increased risk due to the harsh conditions.
West Yorkshire – a predicted -3C with rural and roadside trees facing risks from icy weather and high winds.
Gloucestershire – expected -2C temperatures. The region’s historic woodlands are threatened by frozen roots and gusty winds.
Certain counties will be prone to falling trees, experts say (Image: Getty)
What’s the latest from the Met Office?
Snow will build up through this evening and into Sunday before turning to rain in central and southern areas of England, according to the .
The forecaster said it will continue to fall as snow in northern England, where some significant accumulations could develop through Sunday.
As the snow turns to rain further south, and especially over Wales, there is a risk of freezing rain, according to the .
This is a dangerous weather phenomenon which sees rain freezing as soon as it reaches surfaces, causing lethal, icy conditions.
Snow maps show when your region will be hit as Arctic blast poised to cover UK
My colleague Astha Saxena has details about .
Regions affected include Wales, the North of England and the Midlands.
Regions across the UK will see snow (Image: PA Images)
Met Office issues two amber weather warnings
The has issued two amber weather warnings for snow. One warns of rural communities possibly being cut off, power outages as well as road, rail and air travel delays between 9pm on Saturday and 11.59pm on Sunday. It applies to the Midlands, the North of England, Yorkshire and the Humber.
The second amber weather warning is in force from 6pm today until midday on Sunday. It warns of power cuts, travel delays, road closures, longer journey times, rural communities being cut off as well as delays to bus, rail and air travel.
This second amber warning for snow and freezing rain covers the Midlands, London, parts of Southern England, Wales, Yorkshire and the Humber and North West England.
Amber weather warnings have been issued (Image: Met Office)
Welcome to our live blog
Good morning and welcome to our live blog where we will bring you details and live updates as the warns there could be 40cm of snow in parts of the UK this weekend.