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Last night was the coldest night of the winter so far in the UK.

Some places reached -13C overnight, and weather forecasters think last night could have been the coldest January night for 14 years.

This week, there has been heavy snow in Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of northern England and north Wales.

The UK weather service, the Met Office, issued yellow warnings - the lowest warning level - to alert people of the impact of snow and ice in some areas throughout the day.

More than 180 schools in the north and north east of Scotland have been closed due to snow.

Travel disruption is likely, especially in north-west England and Scotland.

A list of school closures in your area will be available on council websites and will be announced on ������̳ local radio stations.

Where has the most snow fallen?

Up to 40cm of snow has been forecast across higher ground in Scotland. Snow, sleet and rain are all predicted for throughout the week.

On Monday, Transport Scotland warned motorists to expect "severe impacts" from snow and ice on the roads.

National Rail has warned there could be disruption for passengers travelling by train across the network throughout the week.

The Met Office monitors UK weather and described conditions as the "coldest spell yet".

It said temperatures so far this week were about 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year.

It said people should prepare for icy conditions, which can make roads and paths unsafe.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber cold health alert for the whole of England. This alert helps emergency services and those whose health might be affected by cold weather to prepare.

The four-colour system ranges from green, which is the least severe, to yellow, amber and through to red, which is the most severe warning.

There are yellow warnings for snow and ice in Northern Ireland and northern Scotland, and ice warning in southern Scotland, and a snow and ice warning for northern England and northern Wales.

Will schools close?

In the north of Scotland, the snow closed many schools earlier in the week, including more than 100 in Aberdeenshire, and more than 60 schools and nurseries in the Highland area.

When it snows and it's cold, roads can get very slippery, making it dangerous to drive, cycle, or walk to school for teachers and pupils.

If your school is going to be closed, the school will let your parents or guardians know.

Announcements can be often found on schools' social media, council websites or via ������̳ local radio.

Staying warm in the cold

When it snows there's loads of fun to be had, like sledging, having a snowball fight with your mates, or building a snowman.

Remember to wrap up warm when you head out, and if it's snowing, wear something waterproof so you can stay dry.

Whack on a pair of gloves, a hat and a scarf to stay warm. Layering is a great technique for keeping yourself warm - so under your waterproof you could wear a fleecy jumper and some thermals.

If you'd rather stay in when it's cold, you can always do some cosy activities. That could be making a blanket fort with your family, watching a film, or maybe making some art of the wintry scenes you might see outside your window.