DORSET has woken to ice and frost after temperatures plummeted to around minus 7C overnight. 

People have had to deice the vehicles and there are frosty scenes across the county during what is the first cold spell of the winter.

Bournemouth-based forecaster Dorset Snow said by 6am, the temperature was minus 7C at Bournemouth Airport in Hurn.

Bournemouth Echo:

Bournemouth & Poole Weather said temperatures were around minus 4C widely with minus 7C in some places.

He said maximum temperatures will be 5C today but they will fall to minus 7C again tonight.

 

This morning the top floor car park of Castlepoint shopping centre has been closed due to ice.

Bournemouth Echo:

BCP Council sent out gritters to treat all the major commuter routes across the conurbation last night.

Conditions are set to remain cold for the next few days with minus 10C predicted by the Met Office for Bournemouth tonight and minus 7C on Friday and Saturday night.

Bournemouth Echo:

During the day, temperatures will be around 3C or 4C but will feel more like 0C or below. 

As reported, a cold weather alert has been issued and came into force at 6pm on Wednesday, December 7, and 9am on Monday, December 12.

Bournemouth Echo: Yani HaloYani Halo (Image: Yani Halo)

The amber level 3 cold alert says: "Rather cold conditions are expected to turn colder across much of the UK later Wednesday and through Thursday as air from the Arctic spreads south across the country.

"Very cold nights are expected, with widespread frosts and potentially severe frosts. Daytime temperatures persisting near or just above freezing, with overnight temperatures continuing to trend downwards.

"Wintry showers are also likely to affect some coasts, perhaps pushing into some inland areas at times, bringing a risk of icy patches."