Britain is battling its first icy “taste of winter” after the coldest night since last winter – and sleet and snow set to cause road and rail chaos all week.
In the early hours of Monday the mercury plunged to -7.8C (19.4F) in Tulloch Bridge, Scotland, the lowest temperature the UK has seen since last winter.
Now the Met Office warn this is just the start of a chilly week ahead with more freezing temperatures, ice and snow be a common sight – especially in the north of England – until the weekend, in what the Met Office dubbed our “first taste of winter”.
Temperatures are predicted to drop to -2C (28.4F) in London on Friday, -4C (24.8F) in Birmingham and -7C (19.4F) in northern England.
There is a possibility of 15-20cm (around 6-7.8in) of snow on ground above 300m (984ft) and a “chance” the white powder could blanket lower levels sparking more travel disruption.
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said snow has mostly fallen on hilltops on Monday – with 2cm falling in Lerwick, Shetland – but more is expected over coming days, with temperatures plunging to below average for the time of year.
“It is going to be quite a widely cold week,” Ms Maxey said. “A few degrees below average both day and night for most of the country.”
Ms Maxey added: “There’s likely to be a widespread frost overnight as we get this colder air coming in from the arctic maritime air mass – cold air from the north pushing down across the country – which will be across the whole country by the middle of the week.”
The Met Office issued several yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for parts of the UK and will likely issue further alerts – running through to Wednesday.
On Monday, one yellow warning came into force at 3pm and is in place until 10am on Tuesday covering Northern Ireland.
Another yellow alert comes into effect at 4pm Monday until 10am on Wednesday, covering areas in Scotland, and a third started at 7pm Monday until 10am on Tuesday covering the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the north of England.
Within affected areas, there is a chance of power cuts, disruption to road and public transport and the risk of injury from slipping on ice.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold health alert covering the Midlands and north of England for much of this week.
It states that weather conditions are likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services and a greater risk to life for vulnerable people.
National Highways has issued an amber severe weather alert for snow in the North East and North West regions of the country from 7pm Monday to 10am Tuesday.
Darren Clark, National Highways Severe Weather Resilience Manager, advised drivers: “Keep your distance and reduce your speed, because even in conditions that seem normal, and where the snow is not settling, it can be slippery if ice patches have formed, or where fresh grit has not been worked into the carriageway.”
While BBC Weather expert Stav Danaos warned: “The UK is seeing its first significant snow of the season as a cold snap sweeps across the country and there will be some very cold and frosty nights.
“Up to 20cm (8in) of snow is possible on the high ground of the south Pennines but even at lower levels we could expect to see perhaps 2-10cm (1-4in) of settling snow. There will also be icy stretches.”
Looking at the week ahead he explained how Tuesday morning is likely to see sleet and wet snow hit lower levels through the Midlands and into eastern England as cold air digs in behind the low pressure system.
He added: “The cold weather is forecast to last until the end of the week with cold and frosty nights expected for most of this week and daytime temperatures of only 3-8C.
“With a brisk northerly wind, there will also be a significant wind chill making it feel much colder than it is. By the weekend we are expecting the cold air to be replaced by milder south-westerly winds with potentially wet and very windy weather sweeping in.”
