As the clock strikes midnight, the United Kingdom is bracing itself for an unusually harsh weather front, with the Met Office issuing warnings of sub-zero temperatures, snow, and ice. The country is expecting its coldest night this year, with temperatures potentially dropping to -15C in some sheltered Scottish areas. The rural communities, particularly those that have seen snowfall, are the most susceptible to the extreme weather conditions.
The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across all four nations of the UK, including the south-east, London, East Anglia, the Midlands, and south Wales, until 10 am on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Scotland will continue to face snow-only warnings until the end of the week.
The temperatures are expected to plummet almost six degrees below the coldest recorded in March last year, when they reached minus 9.1C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. In fact, the lowest ever recorded temperature in March was in 1958, when temperatures reached -22.8C. The lowest recorded temperature this year, -10.4C, was recorded in Drumnadrochit near Inverness in the Highlands on January 19.
According to Chris Almond, a deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, very cold air is set to spread across the UK, bringing snow even to low levels in the north and east through Monday and Tuesday, with accumulations of over 10cm expected on high ground in the north and lower levels. Almond warned that the pattern will set in for some time, and the cold air is expected to remain in place until at least next weekend.
UK Braces for Coldest Night of the YearGrahame Madge, a Met Office spokesperson, echoed Almond’s warnings, stating that the temperatures will be much, much colder than expected at this time of year. He emphasized that the cold air is coming from a much higher latitude and is expected to remain in place for several days.
As the country prepares for the extreme weather, forecasters have warned of travel delays, with some vehicles potentially becoming stranded. There is also a slight chance of delayed or cancelled rail and air travel, as well as power outages and problems with services such as mobile phone coverage. National Highways have advised people to keep warm clothes and a torch in their car in case they get stuck in the freezing conditions.
The UK Health Security Agency has also renewed its warnings about the severe cold weather, stating that there is a 90% probability of its arrival. The agency warned of the potential risks to vulnerable patients and the disruption of services, especially in areas that will experience icy conditions or heavy snow.
As the night wears on, the country is bracing itself for the cold, dark, and potentially hazardous conditions. It remains to be seen how the country will fare under the blanket of snow and ice, but one thing is clear – it’s going to be a chilly and eventful night.