Wrap up this weekend! Brits warned -11C deep freeze will proceed

Britain’s deep freeze may proceed for the remainder of this month with extra snow on the best way subsequent week, forecasters have warned after temperatures fell to -11C (12F).

The Met Office has warned of an ‘growing likelihood of wintry hazards’ from Sunday with additional widespread frosts and the potential for ‘disruptive snow’ within the South.

More than 200 flood alerts or warnings remained in place in the present day because the mercury fell to -9C (16F) at Dalwhinnie within the Highlands and -3C (27F) at London Gatwick Airport.

It comes after temperatures fell to -11.1C (12.02F) at Aviemore yesterday. The coldest night time of the winter up to now was December 3 when Altnaharra dropped to -12.5C (9.5F).

An amber chilly well being alert for the North West of England, the Midlands, the South West and South East remained in place till midday on Friday however might be prolonged.

The UK Health Security Agency alert warns well being providers of elevated demand – and advises folks to regulate aged and susceptible buddies and neighbours.

The charity Age UK stated the ‘Big Freeze is occurring on the worst potential time for older folks’ given the flooding, value of dwelling disaster and strain on the NHS.

Most of the 110 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency throughout England in the present day coated areas across the Thames Valley – the place properties in Wraysbury, Berkshire, have been marooned by floodwater – Dorset, Wiltshire and into Somerset, with folks in affected areas warned to take precautions attributable to excessive river ranges.

There have been additionally 119 lower-level flood alerts in place all through the identical areas, that means flooding is feasible.

Today, the Met Office stated additional chilly climate was doubtless via this week, with an ‘growing likelihood of wintry hazards in the direction of the beginning of subsequent week’.

The UK is underneath the affect of excessive strain, which is bringing colder than common climate for the time of yr, and a major discount in rainfall following the very moist begin to January.

The chilly and largely dry circumstances are set to persist via a lot of this week, with areas in southern England significantly chilly in comparison with common.

Then from Sunday a northerly airflow will develop which may improve the probabilities of ‘wintry hazards’.

Speaking within the newest Met Office ‘Deep Dive’ video which appears on the UK’s long-range outlook, forecaster Aidan McGivern stated: ‘A chilly entrance from the north in the direction of the weekend will mark one other change within the airmass for the UK, shifting from one thing with a little bit of an Atlantic affect to air that comes extra straight from the Arctic.’

This entrance this weekend will convey rain to the North, with western Scotland seeing the largest downpours – but additionally indicators additional chilly circumstances into subsequent week.

Will Lang, who’s described because the Met Office’s ‘head of situational consciousness’, stated: ‘There will probably be a resurgence within the actually chilly climate via the weekend and that spreads throughout the entire of the UK in the course of the early a part of subsequent week.

‘Initially, this implies there will probably be extra in the best way of showers across the coasts, turning more and more to snow for a lot of areas, particularly additional north.’

Speaking about subsequent week’s climate, Mr McGivern stated: ‘We begin with a northerly airflow and snow showers, particularly close to the coasts within the north. But there may also be brighter skies for some.

‘Then, from the center of subsequent week, low-pressure tries to maneuver in from the southwest, and the influence of that is nonetheless a bit unsure at this vary.

‘Different fashions are saying various things when it comes to the observe of this low, however you could have the components for snow with chilly air in place and extra moisture equipped from the Atlantic, which can convey rain, however on the boundary with the chilly air, you could possibly see some snow.’

The Met Office stated there was nonetheless uncertainty over the depth, location or impacts of snow subsequent week, however ‘winter climate hazards stay largely in focus, and an growing danger as we transfer via the week’.

Yesterday, because the chilly snap continued to grip the nation, Sussex and Kent woke to an additional dusting of snow whereas there have been extra wintry showers within the South West within the afternoon.

It got here after the temperature plummeted to -11.1C (12.02F) at Aviemore within the Highlands within the early hours of yesterday – a file low for the short-lived new yr. In England, the coldest place was Okehampton, Devon, which recorded -3.5C (25.7F).

Daytime temperatures solely reached highs of 3C (37F) to 4C (39F) yesterday, and felt nearer to freezing as a result of wind chill, regardless of it being a day of crisp winter sunshine.

Cloudy circumstances are set to maneuver in in the present day and tomorrow – that means frosts are unlikely – however temperatures are attributable to stay in single figures.

The Met Office stated a blast of chilly air is then attributable to arrive from the north, which is more likely to convey extra chilly circumstances over the weekend with some snow showers.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK stated: ‘The Big Freeze is occurring on the worst potential time for older folks and we urge everybody to take care so they do not turn out to be a sufferer of the extraordinary chilly.

‘Floods, the price of dwelling disaster and an NHS buckling underneath the strain of excessive demand and the aftermath of extended strike motion make for a difficult mixture, and it’s important that older folks keep match, heat and effectively.’