Wintry conditions are expected to continue in coastal areas of the UK after up to 7cm (2.7in) of snow fell in parts of the country.

The Met Office said the forecast in central inland areas was likely to be brighter and drier, while wintry showers were expected on the coasts of north Scotland and the east and west coasts of the UK.

Areas including London, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Essex, Shropshire and Northumberland had snow overnight and on Wednesday morning. Met Office weather stations in Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, recorded 7cm of lying snow at 8am.

Snow on the Pennine Way near the village of Diggle, near Oldham, north-west England, on Wednesday. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

Reports from other stations included 5cm of lying snow in Lerwick in Shetland, 4cm in Loch Glascarnoch, 7cm in Altnaharra and 2cm in Aviemore, all in the Scottish Highlands, and 1cm each in Dyce in Aberdeenshire, Drumalbin in South Lanarkshire and Redesdale Camp in Northumberland.

A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice until 11am on Thursday has been extended north to the Humber to include parts of Lincolnshire.

It will be an exceptionally chilly start to Thursday with temperatures expected to reach -2C (28F) in London and -1C (30F) in the Midlands, rising to 1C (34F) in eastern parts of England.

A Met Office spokesperson said that, while there were no records of lying snow in the south, there were areas where snow fell but had not settled – and areas away from weather stations may have seen a “dusting”.

Wintry showers are expected on the coast of north Scotland. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

They added: “We will continue to see wintry showers on the windward coasts, so north Scotland as well as the east and west coasts of the UK.

“It’ll be brighter and drier in central inland areas. The front that has brought some falling snow in parts of the Midlands and south of England … will clear south and then we’ll continue to see wintry showers through the day.

“A number of warnings have been issued to cover the accumulations of snow in these areas, with an amber area for a part of north-east England.”

A person walks through snow with a pair of skis in Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

Multiple Met Office yellow warnings for ice and snow have been issued for the coming days, covering Northern Ireland, parts of Wales, northern and south-westerly parts of England and much of Scotland.

The Met Office chief forecaster, Neil Armstrong, said: “Cold Arctic air from the north is firmly in charge of the UK’s weather, bringing the first notable cold snap of this autumn and giving an early taste of winter weather.

“As a result, winter hazards are likely through the next few days, with snow and ice a particular hazard, and the coldest conditions likely on Wednesday and Thursday.

Snow in Tow Law, County Durham. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

“Wintry showers will affect areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind, in particular Northern Ireland, south-west Wales, south-west England, north-east England and across the northern half of Scotland.

“While not all places will see lying snow, where showers are most frequent accumulations of 2-5cm will be possible. On higher ground in Scotland, 15-20cm could accumulate, and potentially as much as 15-25cm over the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds.”