Temperatures in the UK have begun to thaw after the coldest night of the winter earlier this week, but the freezing conditions remain in full force elsewhere across the globe. 

The UK experienced its coldest night of the winter so far on Tuesday into Wednesday, when Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands recorded a temperature of -14C.

But while Brits may be breathing a sigh of relief as snow and ice warnings are set to be replaced by wind, rain and milder air by the weekend, other nations are making the most of the sub-zero temperatures. 

In the Yakutia region of Russia, believers mark a religious holiday known as Orthodox Epiphany by plunging into ice holes while air temperatures reach -40C. 

The tradition takes place each year on Jan 19, with Russians dipping into freezing rivers, ponds and lakes across the country in commemoration of the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. 

Nearly one hundred residents of the subarctic town of Neryungri gathered on the banks of the Chulman River for a triple plunge, which worshippers believe is symbolic of the Holy Trinity and capable of washing away their sins.

Rescuers and medical workers remained on standby, keeping a close watch on those taking to the icy waters.

Arctic blast hits the US 

In the US, an Arctic blast has continued to sweep across the country, prolonging a bitter cold spell and setting record-low temperatures while causing disruption to daily life. 

On Saturday, a potentially dangerous snowstorm hit New York’s Buffalo region, with winds reaching 30 mph and snow falling at a rate of 5 centimeters per hour. 

As a result, the NFL pushed back a Bills wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers from Sunday to Monday, with Kathy Hochul, the  New York governor, and the NFL citing public safety concerns.

But a determined crew of 85 people undertook the mammoth task of digging out the Bills’ stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Sunday to enable play to go ahead. 

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Illinois, temperatures plummeted to lows of -20C, leading to a rare natural phenomenon known as a “steam devil”, which was sighted over the Chicago River and Michigan Lake.