On Friday, a yellow weather warning was issued due to an imminent “freezing fog” expected to cover parts of the UK following a sharp overnight frost.
By Saturday morning, visibility in some areas could drop below 100 meters due to the dense fog, according to the Met Office. England, Wales, and eastern Scotland are likely to encounter freezing fog patches and icy conditions. Meanwhile, western Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland will experience milder weather as cloud cover and patchy rain move in, accompanied by brisk winds in the far northwest.
The yellow weather warning, effective from 2 am to 11 am, covers parts of England, including the Midlands, Yorkshire, Cheshire, much of the southwest, and Wales. The Met Office warns of potential travel delays and slippery, untreated surfaces.
Yellow Weather Warning Issued as Dense Fog, Ice, and Subzero Temperatures Disrupt Travel and Events“Freezing fog is expected to develop during Friday night and will be slow to clear in places through Saturday morning. Some fog could be quite dense with visibility falling below 100 meters at times,” stated the Met Office. Freezing fog may linger into late morning and possibly the afternoon in western England.
Freezing fog consists of water droplets that freeze upon contact with surfaces like pavements, roads, or cars, creating a dangerous layer of ice. The Met Office advises against traveling in these conditions if possible, recommending that those who must travel drive slowly with dipped headlights to avoid the “white wall” effect caused by full-beam lights reflecting off the fog.
This warning follows a week of plummeting temperatures below -10°C in parts of the UK, with Drumnadrochit near Inverness recording -10.4°C early Thursday, marking the coldest temperature of the year so far. Heavy snowfall forced Manchester Airport to close both runways temporarily and caused train cancellations in the Midlands and northern England.
The freezing weather has also led to the postponement of three Football League matches scheduled for Saturday. Bristol Rovers vs. Wycombe and Port Vale vs. Morecambe in League One, and Doncaster vs. Tranmere in League Two, have all been called off due to icy pitches and unsafe playing conditions.