Britain is set to ring in 2026 with bitterly cold weather as temperatures plunge to -9C in some parts, with 12 regions across the country braced for sub-zero conditions
The UK is bracing for a frosty start to the new year as a bone-chilling -9C blast is predicted to sweep across the country. Weather maps indicate that the beginning of 2026 will be bitterly cold, with 12 regions nationwide expected to shudder under the latest icy snap.
December has been dominated by low pressure systems, resulting in heavy rain and mild westerly or southerly winds for many. However, this trend is set to abruptly end as Netweather charts turn an icy blue, signalling a sharp drop in temperatures to sub-zero levels.
On January 3, both northern and southern regions are forecast to experience a significant temperature drop, with lows barely above 0C in some areas. Scotland is set to bear the brunt of the extreme cold weather, with the Highlands and Perth and Kinross anticipated to endure wintry lows of -9C at 3am. Meanwhile, Stirling and Argyll and Bute could see temperatures plummet to -8C.
Elsewhere in Scotland, temperatures are expected to dip between -2C and -4C, reports the Express. As we move further south, it doesn’t get much warmer, with large parts of Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West bracing for -4C.
North Wales could also see temperatures plunge to -4C, while Cardiff and Swansea are likely to experience a chilly -1C.
In London, the South West, East of England, and South West, temperatures are forecast to hover between -2C and -1C. The bitter cold appears set to persist, with forecasts showing that by 9am, vast areas of Scotland will be gripped by temperatures plummeting well below freezing.
Perth and Kinross could experience bone-chilling lows of -8C, while the Scottish Highlands will endure a brutal -4C.
Major cities across the North East, including Newcastle and Sunderland, may find themselves blanketed by a harsh -5C freeze, with Yorkshire and the Humber facing similar conditions.
The Met Office’s weather outlook for December 26 through to January 4 cautions of “below average temperatures”.
The forecast states: “High pressure will likely dominate the weather in the run up to the New Year, slowly drifting to the west. This will maintain largely settled conditions, although with an increasing chance of showery conditions later in the period.
“Temperatures will be below average much of the time, with frost likely where clear skies and light winds prevail.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.