UK wakes up to ‘freeze of the century’ with snow, sleet and ice forecast
A cold spell is set to last until at least Friday this week.
Brits woke up to biting temperatures this morning, as Scandinavia’s ‘freeze of the century’ moves in.
The Met Office issued a yellow ice alert for London and the south east lasting until 10am, with warnings of sleet, snow and ice and plummeting temperatures.
It comes after forecasters predicted a cold spell across the country coming from Scandinavia that is due to last until at least Friday this week.
Norway’s weather service said it recorded the coldest temperature seen in the country in 25 years last Friday.
One village in Lapland recorded -43.5°C.
Although we’re not expecting quite such extreme temperatures in the UK, parts of England could fall as low as -4°C and -8°C in Scotland, with the windchill factor making it feel even colder.
The weather warnings come as many regions across the country continue to grapple with flooding following Storm Henk.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited residents in Oxford yesterday and spoke to Environment Agency (EA) workers who are still trying to mop up after the deluge.
With the wet surfaces likely to turn to ice during the colder weather, drivers are urged to take care.
A Met Office spokesperson said: ‘Given these wintry showers, and also wet surfaces after recent wet weather, some icy patches are likely on untreated surfaces.
They added: ‘Additionally a few of the snow showers could turn quite heavy; these probably only affecting a narrow zone but a few places could see 1-3cm, mainly over the north Downs and on grassy surfaces.’
An amber cold health alert (CHA) for the north west of England, West Midlands, East Midlands and south west of England is also in place through to noon on Friday.
The amber alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, means ‘cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time’.
There is also a yellow cold health alert in place for the north east of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, east of England, south east of England and London.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: ‘With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold.’
The cold weather can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections and can have a serious health impact for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
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