The UK is set for a 10-day Arctic freeze as snow and sub-zero temperatures are forecasted in the coming weeks.
From January 14, temperatures are set to drop to as low as -11C as snow is forecasted in parts of the UK. The Met Office warned of “increasing chance of wintry hazards” from Sunday, with widespread frost and “disruptive snow” in the south.
There are still numerous flood warnings in place after a cold night saw temperatures drop to -9C in some areas, with -3C being recorded at London Gatwick Airport.
And the cold weather is set to continue until January 22, with a potential for snow across the whole of the UK.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “A cold front from the north towards the weekend will mark another change in the airmass for the UK, moving from something with a bit of an Atlantic influence to air that comes more directly from the Arctic.”
Temperatures fell to -11C at Aviemore in Scotland last night, making it the coldest night of 2024 so far. An amber cold alert was issued for the North West of England, the South West and South East.
The charity Age UK said the “Big Freeze is happening at the worst possible time for older people” given the flooding, cost of living crisis and pressure on the NHS.
According to weather maps, January 19 could see the coldest temperatures for parts of the midlands and Wales, with lows of -11C.
Meanwhile, London could see 10cm of snow on this day, while northern Scotland could see 16cm. It’s likely that the majority of the UK will see some snow in the coming weeks.
Predicting the long-range forecast for the period from January 14 onwards, a spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Cloud, with patchy light rain clearing central and southern areas initially. Thereafter, turning colder from the North, with brisk northerly winds likely developing widely across of the UK, bringing a risk of snow showers, most frequent across the north.
“Temperatures remaining cold, and a marked wind chill especially in the north. There is risk of unsettled weather pushing in from the south through this period, which could lead to a band of snow and sleet where it meets the colder air across the country.
“Confidence is low with regards the timing of the arrival of any such disturbance, but there is an increasing risk of something potentially disruptive at some point in this period. Widespread frosts continue to be a feature by night, with a risk of ice in places.”
Wednesday, January 10 until Sunday, January 14
Headline:
Sunshine in the south and west. Cloudier elsewhere. Feeling cold.
Today:
Dry across most southern and some western areas with plenty of sunshine, though a cold breeze still blowing. Northern England, central and northern Wales, along with central and eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland, will be cloudier with patchy drizzle.
Tonight:
Largely dry with clear periods and a frost across southern England, parts of south Wales and the west of Scotland. Cloudier skies elsewhere giving the odd spot of drizzle.
Thursday:
Sunshine across the south of England becoming increasingly confined towards the southwest. Some sunny spells across western Scotland and at times Northern Ireland too. Otherwise rather cloudy with some drizzle.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Mainly cloudy on Friday with patchy light rain or drizzle. Brighter, but colder and windier weather slowly spreading from the north during the weekend, with some snow showers in places.
