Snow and severe frosts are heading for the UK from an Arctic blast threatening temperatures of -12C.
The Met Office extended its cold weather warning yesterday to a seven-day cold snap with ice and freezing fog.
Its forecast comes as research found millions of low-income households cannot afford to heat their homes.
Aberdeenshire has already been hit by thundersnow, while there was also a flurry in Shap, Cumbria, yesterday.
Temperatures in parts of England are forecast to drop to -6C this weekend and as low as -12C in Scotland.
The Government has been warned that its weather -payments-2019-what-13874235> Cold Weather Payments of £25, triggered by the big freeze in 300 postcode areas, will make little difference.
Poverty-fighting charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation fears households terrified of huge heating bills may ignore the UK Health Security Agency’s advice for vulnerable people to warm their homes to at least 18C.
They have also been urged to keep bedroom windows closed at night and to wear several layers of clothing.
The agency’s Dr Agostinho Sousa said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health. Older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk.”
But the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found a fifth of 2.5 million low-income households are going without food and heating. It surveyed 4,251 people in the bottom 40% of incomes last month and estimated about 4.3 million households had already curbed spending on heating.
Rachelle Earwaker, its senior economist, said: “The Government must see families will not be able to get through the winter on current levels of support.
“For hundreds of thousands of households it is not a choice between putting the heating on or not.
“Research shows they can’t afford any-thing recommended to protect themselves from plummeting temperatures.”
She added the basic social security level is “woefully below” the level that would fund essentials.
The foundation urged the Government to boost universal credit and the basic rate of support.
Meanwhile, there was serious concern for thousands of households left without gas for six days in Stannington, Sheffield.
A major incident has been declared after a burst water main damaged a gas pipe, sending thousands of litres of water into the gas network.
Engineers are battling to restore the supply to residents and the Red Cross has been drafted in to help those left most vulnerable to the freezing cold.
Jason Kelly, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: “Through the weekend and into next week cold weather will continue, with an ongoing chance of wintry showers, mainly for coasts, and freezing fog patches inland.”
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis warned drivers to be “winter ready”, saying: “Check tyres are properly inflated and with good tread, while topping up oil, coolant and screen wash levels.”
Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the temperature drops to 0C or below. Eligible recipients on low incomes get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between November 1 and March 31.
