Brits have been told to take care on their journeys to work and school this morning after parts of the country were hit by a freezing fog overnight.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for the south coast of England after patches of dense, cold mist were seen forming in the area in the early hours of Wednesday.
Motorists have been advised to give extra time for their commutes as visibility has been reduced to less than 100m in places, making driving conditions tricky.
Slower journey times and delays are also expected for bus and train services, whilst there is a chance of cancellations to flights and ferries.
The warning was first issued at 2am and remains in place until 9am, when the fog is expected to clear and make way for warm and sunny weather.
The fine and bright conditions have been a staple of the early March weather and are set to stay for the rest of the week.
But the clear skies have meant cold, frosty nights have been felt across the UK at the start of this week, with temperatures falling to -6C (21F) in Benson, Oxfordshire, on Tuesday night.
From Wednesday onwards, it is likely to be cloudier overnight, meaning temperatures should stay above freezing.
After a gloomy winter filled with storms and sub-zero temperatures, large parts of the UK are set to be hotter than Barcelona and Madrid on Thursday, with temperatures predicted to reach 16C in London.
And meteorologist Honor Criswick told The Standard that the fine weather was ‘on the cards’ for a while, as the ridge of high pressure bringing the better conditions is set to stick around into next week.
The warmest figures are likely in the Bristol area on Thursday, and temperatures are likely to reach the mid-teens in parts of northern England too, with 16C (61F) possible in York.
The only areas which may have widespread cloud and some drizzle are parts of the far North West, such as Cumbria, on Wednesday and Friday, plus parts of the far west and south west.
The upbeat forecast follows a cloudy and dull February, with only 88 per cent of the average sunshine, the Met Office said.
Parts of London endured zero minutes of sunshine for seven consecutive days for the first time in nearly 50 years.
The weekend is set to remain mostly dry with sunny spells and mild temperatures, with the warmest spots including south and south-east England, as well as sheltered spots in North Wales.
Forecasters say there is still a chance of a ‘colder spell’ towards the middle of March – so it may not yet be time to pack away the winter woollies – but then it is likely to warm up as spring officially arrives from March 20.
By the end of the month, the Met Office predicts that ‘above average temperatures are more likely, though some colder spells remain possible during late March.’