The Met Office has issued fresh weather warnings for ice after huge areas of the UK were hit by heavy snow.

Parts of southern Scotland, the northeast, Yorkshire and East Anglia have been issued a yellow warning for ice that will run from 4pm Thursday to 10am on Friday.

The news comes as travellers faced huge delays due to heavy snow that swept large areas of the country. Manchester Airport was forced to close its runways to remove snow.

The forecaster said: “Scattered wintry showers on Thursday evening will slowly fade overnight, leading to the risk of icy patches on untreated surfaces as temperatures fall below freezing.

“Isolated snow accumulations of 2-4 cm will be possible, more especially in Wales on hills above 150m elevation.”

At present there are four yellow warnings for Thursday and five alerts for Friday in effect warning of icey and snowy conditions across various parts of the country.

It comes as the Met Office predicted an unsettled week with some forecaster suggesting temperature levels plummeting to -16C.

Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen, said, “Another very cold night is expected tonight with temperatures dipping as low as -16°C where we have lying snow in Scotland and northern England. Temperatures will also be well below freezing across much of the UK so there is a continued risk of ice overnight and through Friday morning’s rush hour.

“Milder air will attempt to move into the UK from the southwest on Friday morning, heralding the end of this impactful cold spell. Increasing cloud and light rain, perhaps preceded by a little snow, will begin to affect northwestern then northern parts of the UK through the weekend. Here, temperatures will be back to around average by Sunday, and on Monday it’ll be much milder, with temperatures reaching double digits in Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland”.

With continued low temperatures, ice and lying snow continue to bring disruption to the transport network in parts of the UK. RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Cold conditions will last until at least the weekend, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant of the risks posed by ice and, in some locations, snow. Black ice on rural roads can be impossible to spot, leaving very little time to react if driving at speed. Sticking to major roads that are most likely to have been gritted is strongly recommended.

“With a huge number of vehicles failing drivers in the cold, our teams are working as fast as they can to rescue our members. In fact, we’re currently seeing our highest levels of demand over a three-day period since December 2022. It’s vital motorists drive prepared for the conditions by packing a warm waterproof jacket, sturdy footwear, a flask of hot drink and a power bank to keep mobile phones charged up.”

The UK Health Security Agency has imposed an amber cold health alert for England until Sunday (January 12), warning of “significant impacts across health and social care services.”

Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said: “We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.

“This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable. These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”