Wintry weather has gripped the UK, bringing snowfall and plunging temperatures to nearly -10°C (14°F). This cold snap is expected to persist through the weekend.
On Friday morning, the north of England and Scotland awoke to icy conditions as sleet and snow showers continued from the previous night. By the afternoon, snow and sleet showers were mostly limited to eastern coastal regions, while much of the UK experienced cold, crisp, sunny weather after early fog.
Forecasts indicate that Friday night will be cold and frosty, with freezing conditions extending into Saturday and potential fog in some areas.
The Met Office has warned of possible showers along coastal areas, increasing the risk of ice on untreated surfaces. Mist and freezing fog could form, especially in the south and east.
Frosty morning in County Durham leads to school closures due to hazardous road conditions.A low-pressure system moving from the southwest on Saturday evening might bring additional snow flurries to higher elevations. However, temperatures are expected to rise slightly in southern England on Sunday.
Nicola Maxey from the Met Office reported that temperatures fell significantly overnight, with the lowest recorded at -9.4°C in Shap, Cumbria. London also experienced cold temperatures, with Teddington dropping to -3.4°C.
The UK is currently under a yellow weather warning for snow and ice, covering the east coast from Northumberland to Kent and parts of Scotland.
The severe weather has caused traffic disruptions, with reports of cars stranded in North Yorkshire and affected routes between Scarborough and York. School closures have been reported in County Durham due to hazardous road conditions.
The UK Health Security Agency and Met Office have issued amber cold health alerts for several regions until December 5, signaling significant impacts on health services.
Motorists are advised to keep winter emergency kits in their cars. This year’s autumn, with a mean temperature of 10.76°C, ranks as the sixth hottest on record, following the warm trends of 2021 and 2022.