UK snow to ‘final for fortnight’ as forecasters warn of ‘Polar specific’ -15C deep freeze
The bone-chilling conditions have been forecast to last for two weeks. The Met Office warned the snow and ice are here to stay beyond the weekend and into the next week
The UK is set to shiver through snow and sub zero temperatures for a fortnight. Forecasters have warned of a “Polar Express” freeze sending mercury plunging as low as -15C – colder than the Arctic.
The Met Office says the cold weather and snow are expected to last a fortnight. They said in a statement: “Monday has snow showers, with a mix of rain, sleet and snow into Wednesday.
“Atlantic frontal systems follow, with snow especially in central, northern and eastern areas, perhaps giving significant accumulations in places. A continuation of low pressure systems interspersed with drier interludes is favoured into the next week.”
It comes as the RAC is braced for a blitz of breakdowns today with up to 8,000 call-outs expected as cars struggle to start after being left idle over the festive period. Some 2,000 gritters, de-icing trains and airport snowploughs are on standby to tackle the travel mayhem.
Up to four inches of the white stuff could fall from Wednesday to Sunday. Large parts of England as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are set to get hit.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: “The -12.6C coldest temperature of winter so far is certainly one to watch in coming nights.” There will be showers and snow today and tomorrow in eastern and western parts.
And -15C lows are expected in the North, colder than -11C nights in Hammerfest, Norway, 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The South will also shiver amid bonechilling temperatures of -10C.
And there will be teeth-chattering daytime highs of just 1-4C until Friday, which will feel like -4 in places due to wind chill.
The freezing weather will engulf the UK over the next few days, with the Met Office releasing warnings for 12 areas, covering the entire nation. A series of amber and yellow alerts for snow and ice remain active from midnight on Monday until 11am on Tuesday across large portions of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Met Office forecaster Matthew Lehnert cautioned: “As we begin the first full working week of the year, we face a range of winter weather hazards with snow showers and ice. In the north of Scotland, snow showers are expected to become more frequent on Sunday night with some locations within the Amber warning areas seeing a further 20-30 cm accumulate by Monday morning.
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