Widespread frost and freezing fog forecast as cold health alerts continue

Arctic air will maintain its grip on the UK to start the weekend, as cold health alerts remain in place for a large swathe of England.

Saturday will dawn with another sharp and widespread frost with the coldest conditions expected in England and Wales.

Patches of freezing fog could also be a hazard, reducing visibility and bringing a risk of very slippery surfaces in southern and eastern England.

Then it is all change by Sunday with most areas having a frost-free start, but heavy bursts of rain and brisk winds will sweep across the country later.

Saturday will start with temperatures widely below freezing in parts of England and Wales.

Lows in towns and cities are expected to fall to -2 or -3C, but in the countryside they could be as low as -5C.

In southern and south-east England there could also be some patchy freezing fog which forms in air that is below freezing.

Super-cooled water droplets remain suspended in the air and it can be particularly dangerous as they can freeze on impact turning untreated pavements into instant ice rinks.

Yellow cold health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are in force for the West Midlands and north-west England until 12:00 Saturday, external.

More of a breeze further north will mean most places will be a few degrees above freezing.

After the fog and frost clears, Saturday will largely become a bright and dry day.

By the afternoon, temperatures will rise across the UK - ranging from 7C in parts of the Highlands to a milder 12C in south-west England.

England and Wales are forecast to see long spells of sunshine, away from the odd shower early on in the far north-west.

Northern Ireland will have some bright spells in the morning, with thickening cloud in the afternoon and rain by evening.

A few showers are expected in parts of Scotland where is will also be a breezy day, and will feel colder due to the wind chill.