The UK has experienced its coldest night of the year as temperatures plunged to -12C in areas.

Schools and roads are expected to be disrupted by the sub-zero arctic blast on Friday with wintry hazards like frost and icy roads to go on.

The cold northerly airstream will also bring snow showers and icy patches after thundersnow struck parts of the north east.

Thundersnow occurs when heavy rainfall usually associated with a thunderstorm instead comes down as snow due to colder temperatures.

The heavy snowfall, accompanied by the thunder and lightning typically seen and heard during storms, is called ‘thundersnow’.

It is so rare because the phenomenon can only occur in certain months of the year when it is coldest.

Temperatures fell dramatically again on Thursday night with some parts of

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