The Met Office has forecast UK weather this afternoon, including snow in some areas.

In a post on X, the Met Service said: “Most places are dry and cold this afternoon with patches of freezing fog continuing across Northern Ireland.

Winter showers in the north and west, often in the far north.

Thicker cloud with rain, sleet and snow will reach SW England and Wales.

More weather warnings may be issued for the start of next week as temperatures are expected to continue to plummet.

Milder air will briefly cover some southern areas over the weekend, before a new northerly flow allows cooler conditions to return across the UK next week, the Met Office said.

Temperatures will be below freezing for several days in some areas, said Don Hawley, deputy chief forecaster.

Some football matches have been called off, while Saturday’s race match at Newcastle has been called off due to icy tracks.

The canceled football matches include Cheltenham’s clash with League Two leaders Walsall, which was due to take place on Saturday, Halifax’s National League home game against The Fylde, also set for Saturday, while Friday night’s Scotland game between Airdrie and Falkirk, the league leaders, did not. to be held

Councils across London and southern England have activated emergency measures.

It includes extra accommodation to help the rough during the cold.

The government’s emergency planning team is holding a meeting as Ireland prepares for a “multi-hazard weather event”, which is due to hit the country later on Saturday.

As temperatures continue to drop, snow, ice, heavy rain and snow will arrive on the island of Ireland.

A series of weather warnings with status orange snow and ice warnings will be in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.

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Cold weather health warnings remain in place for the whole of England ahead of a week of low temperatures.

The British Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said the amber alert was issued on Thursday and will last until January 8, meaning that more deaths are likely.

The Met Office has warned of the risk of rare freezing rain leading to “treacherous” and “extremely dangerous” conditions in places.

Jason Kelly, head of forecasting, said: “There is a risk of freezing rain across parts of the Midlands and northern England, particularly Wales, increasing the risk of frost and leading to some treacherous conditions in places.

As the super-cool raindrops hit the surface, they freeze instantly, covering everything in a layer of ice, making it extremely dangerous.

He predicted that “significant accumulations” of snow were possible in parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, and the added factor of strengthening winds could lead to drifting snow.

The National Highways Agency has warned that a “spell of damaging snow” will extend across the southern and central parts of the road network on Saturday night.

Motorists were warned to take care in upland areas, particularly the Cotswolds and Peak District. Gwent Police issued a black ice warning on Friday.

Road users in northern England were warned that up to 25cm of snow could hit parts of the network including the A66 Old Spittal, the A628 Woodhead Pass and the M62 at Windy Hill.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that stranded cars on the roads, delays or cancellations of rail and air travel and power outages are all possible as the country grapples with a week of wintry conditions.

There is also a “good chance” rural communities could be cut off by the weather, with up to 40cm of snow expected in some areas.

Gwent Police have issued a warning for black ice.

The force warned of “dangerous” roads due to snow and ice in a social media post Friday night.