Ghostly Pictures Reveal Britain Plunged To Lowest Temperatures Of 2014 So Far

Lowest Temperatures Of The Year Hit Britain In Surreal Pics
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Atmospheric pictures reveal Britain plunged to the lowest temperatures of the year last night, as minus 8.7 degrees Celsius was recorded in some parts of the UK.

People going back to work after the Christmas break woke up to a freezing start, after the temperature fell to -8.7C in Katesbridge in County Down, Northern Ireland – a record for the UK in 2014.

Rain showers on Sunday meant much of the snow around the country disappeared, to be replaced by widespread frost and ice.

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The lowest temperature of the year was recorded on Sunday night

Freezing weather brought treacherous conditions to roads over the weekend, with many motorists in Sheffield forced to abandon their cars after becoming snowed in.

More than 100,000 homes were left with power shortages as heavy snow wreaked havoc on electricity cables.

And Sheffield was still suffering the effects of the snowfall nearly 48 hours later yesterday when the Blades' League One match with Scunthorpe United was postponed yesterday afternoon for health and safety reasons.

Meanwhile the warmest part of the UK was the Isle of Wight, with a recorded temperature of a chilly 1C.

Winter weather
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A deer waits in woodland as the rising sun begins to burn off overnight frost at the National Trust's Dunham Massey Park on December 28, 2014 in Altrincham, United Kingdom. Many parts of the UK have had snowfall and below freezing temperatures overnight causing traffic problems on some roads. The MET office has issued warnings of further plummeting temperatures and possible snow fall. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
(02 of24)
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A double-decker bus travels over Standedge between snow-covered fields at dusk near the village of Diggle, northern England. Overnight flurries left parts of Britain blanketed in snow. (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
(03 of24)
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Frosty and cold weather near Tarporley in Cheshire this morning (credit:REX Features)
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Hard frost at Clayfield Copse, Berkshire (credit:REX Features)
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Ice forms on the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London following the coldest night of 2014. (credit:Louisa Collins-Marsh/PA Wire)
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Mountain ponies in the snow on the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain - 28 Dec 2014 (credit:REX Features)
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Frost covered trees and rooftops at sunrise over Buford in Oxfordshire as most of the UK woke to freezing temperatures (credit:REX Features)
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8 year old James Egerton walks in the snow in Bingham, Nottinghamshire as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
(09 of24)
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Farm workers near the Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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A frost covered landscape at sunrise over Buford in Oxfordshire as most of the UK woke to freezing temperatures (credit:REX Features)
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Mountain ponies in the snow on the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain - 28 Dec 2014 (credit:REX Features)
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Frosty and cold weather near Tarporley in Cheshire this morning (credit:REX Features)
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A mist and frost covered landscape looking from Evercreech in Somerset (credit:REX Features)
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Tractor drives along the road on Curbar Gap during snowy weather in Derbyshire, Britain (credit:REX Features)
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A frost covered landscape at sunrise over Buford in Oxfordshire as most of the UK woke to freezing temperatures (credit:REX Features)
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A young family enjoy a brisk early morning walk as overnight frost clings to the fauna and flora at the National Trust's Dunham Massey Park on December 28, 2014 in Altrincham, United Kingdom. Many parts of the UK have had snowfall and below freezing temperatures overnight causing traffic problems on some roads. The MET office has issued warnings of further plummeting temperatures and possible snow fall. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
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A cyclist out in freezing conditions at sunrise in Cambridge after the coldest night of the year (credit:REX Features)
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Traffic on the A93 near Braemar, Aberdeenshire, as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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Sheep near the Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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People playing in the snow in Buxton as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
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Sheep in a snow covered field in Langley near Macclesfield as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
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Early morning in Langley near Macclesfield as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
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Early morning in Langley near Macclesfield as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)
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Snow covered houses in Buxton as wintry weather swept the UK, with travellers left stranded as heavy snow covered roads and forced two airports to close. (credit:Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)

The record low temperature wasn’t quite as low as the -10C predicted, but the figures for overnight temperatures are preliminary and Met Office forecaster Charles Powell said it could have been even colder in some areas, ahead of official figures being released later.

A weather warning for ice is in place for the east Midlands as a combination of freezing temperatures and offshore rain showers risk slippy surfaces.

Another chilly night is ahead, forecaster Powell said, but the end of the year is shaping up to be a little milder - if wet and windy.

"Tonight will be cold, with the lowest temperatures expected in England and Wales," he said. "But we should have some milder weather later this week and some rain and wind just in time for New Year."

The best place to be weather-wise at the clock strikes midnight is the south-east, he said, which is expected to stay relatively dry.