The Met Office has issued several yellow warnings ahead of a -10C Arctic blast that is mere hours away from caking much of the UK in ice and snow.
According to the weather forecaster, the UK is now in the grip of a cold plunge of Arctic air which has moved in from Scandinavia, then in from the north across the whole of the country.
The northerly airflow is causing temperatures to plunge, but is also predicted to bring snow to much of Scotland, the north east and a small part of the eastern coast of England.
Latest weather maps from WXCharts are also in sync with the current weather warnings and show the northern areas of Scotland including Fort William, Wick, Portree, and Inverness covered with snow as the weather conditions turn chaotic during the week.
Among the warnings, people are urged to travel prepared – including carrying food, drink and warm clothes in the event they become stranded in vehicles. There are also risks of a blackout in some of the worst affected towns and villages.
Maps also show that the temperature could drop to as low as -10C on Wednesday and Thursday. As the bitter weather sets in, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) emphasised that vulnerable individuals could be impacted by the drop in the mercury.
The agency underscored the importance of checking on friends and family during this period, as the cold snap can potentially lead to a rise in incidents such as heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections.
The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for snow and ice cover the north of England, Northern Ireland and Wales as well as Scotland.
The national agency stated: “The UK is now in the grip of a cold plunge of Arctic air which has moved in from the north across the whole of the country.
“The northerly airflow is also bringing very cold conditions for all, with snow showers for some areas at times. A number of National Severe Weather Warnings have been issued for potentially disruptive snow and ice over the coming days.”
Some weather analysts have suggested that the nation might encounter its most severe snowstorm in 14 years.
The Met Office, while somewhat cautious in its forecasts, acknowledges uncertainty arising from various weather systems vying for influence over conditions. The Met Office says there will be “scattered snow showers around windward coasts”, with “brisk winds in the north”.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page, said: “Where and how much snow we will get will vary throughout the week and weather warnings could change quickly, you will need to keep an eye on the forecast for your region for the latest information.
“There will be widespread frost this week and we could see some fairly deep laying snow in parts of northern UK and strong winds could result in drifting or blizzard conditions at times. The snow and ice will be disruptive and could potentially impact travel plans, make driving dangerous and pavements slippery.
“It will feel bitterly cold with daytime temperatures in the low single figures for many, and overnight temperatures will fall to -3C or -4C in many towns and cities, and it will be even colder in many rural areas.”
From Tuesday (January 16), a yellow weather warning for ice will cover much of England and also the UK, with heavier snow showers expected in various parts of the country.
From the early hours of Tuesday morning, at around 2am, north western coastal areas, such as Blackpool and Southport could see snow, which will later further cover more of the north west, including Preston and Liverpool, as well as much further north over Barrow and Kendal by around 6am.
By midnight on Wednesday (January 17), parts of Cheshire and Derbyshire, including Macclesfield and Buxton, could see some brief snow showers along with parts of the north east. It is then a mostly clear outlook until around 3pm on Thursday (January 18), when forecasters predict small bouts of snowfall over Birmingham, Stafford and Shrewsbury.
-Angus
-Clackmannanshire
-Dundee
-Falkirk
-Fife
-Perth and Kinross
-Stirling
-Derbyshire
Aberdeen
-Aberdeenshire
-Moray
-Highlands & Eilean Siar
-Eilean Siar
-Highland
-Durham
-Northumberland
-Blackburn with Darwen
-Blackpool
-Cheshire East
-Cheshire West and Chester
-Cumbria
-Greater Manchester
-Halton
-Lancashire
-Merseyside
-Warrington
-Orkney Islands
-Shetland Islands
-Dumfries and Galloway
-East Lothian
-Edinburgh
-Midlothian Council
-Scottish Borders
-West Lothian
-Argyll and Bute
-East Ayrshire
-East Dunbartonshire
-East Renfrewshire
-Glasgow
-Inverclyde
-North Ayrshire
-North Lanarkshire
-Renfrewshire
-South Ayrshire
-South Lanarkshire
-West Dunbartonshire
-Ceredigion
-Conwy
-Denbighshire
-Flintshire
-Gwynedd
-Powys
-Wrexham
-Staffordshire
-County Antrim
-County Armagh
-County Down
-County Fermanagh
-County Londonderry
-County Tyrone
-North Yorkshire
-South Yorkshire
-West Yorkshire
This evening and tonight:
Temperatures dropping quickly after sunset, leading to a widespread and in places a severe frost. Mostly dry with clear skies for many, but snow showers continue in the north giving icy surfaces.
Tuesday:
Cold and frosty for all with showers continuing near windward coasts. An area of more significant rain, sleet and snow affecting northern areas during the day. Elsewhere dry and sunny.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Cold with sunshine and wintry showers, with overnight frosts and ice. Snow showers continuing for windward coasts throughout the week. Temperatures starting to recover late Friday as rain arrives.
