Britain to be colder than Moscow as ‘polar plunge’ hits from New Year’s Day
Widespread snow and ice is expected to cause travel delays as Met Office issues yellow weather warning in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the north of England
Britain is facing the worst January freeze for 12 years with a -10C 10-day cold snap from New Year’s Day. Temperatures will be colder than Moscow as a 1,000 mile-wide “polar plunge” hits.
Widespread snow and ice is expected to cause travel chaos. And it is set to heap more pain on punters after a storm battering on New Year’s Eve tomorrow.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the north of England.
Revellers face disruption with 70mph gusts in the north and 50mph in the south tomorrow along with snow and rain in Scotland, then 50 to 75mph winds for many on New Year’s Day.
Arctic air on Wednesday is expected to bring up to four inches’ snow in northern England, with up to 10 inches and snowdrifts on higher ground.
A Met Office forecaster said: “Northern areas are likely to see the strongest winds on Monday and New Year’s Eve, with central and southern areas seeing the strongest winds on New Year’s Day.
“Winds will turn northerly and cold air will be drawn across the UK.
“Showers of rain and sleet will turn increasingly to snow, especially across the north, and coasts.
“There is a chance that rain may move in from the south over the first weekend of January, turning to snow as it runs into colder air.”
BBC Weather forecast highs of just 3-5C – but feeling like -1C to 1C in windchill – across most of the UK from January 2 to 10.
Nights are set to plummet to -6C in England and -10C in Scotland, colder than -5C lows due in Moscow.
The chill is set to be the most significant January cold period since 2013, records show.
Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze added: “Forecast models show the longest and most significant January cold spell for a number of years, starting from New Year’s Day.
“Bitter northerly winds are expected, with snow for many areas possible.”
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