Snow blankets parts of Britain before the big chill is finally blasted away by an ‘unseasonably warm’ Atlantic storm… but you’ll need your thermals again by the end of the month
Make the most of the next few days being warmer because the wet and windy weather will be followed by another cold snap in the second half of February
BRITAIN is set to warm up this week with temperatures hitting as high as 13 degrees celsius - but forecasters warn it won't last, with a return to the big chill expected later in the month.
After last week’s freeze, the Met Office forecast mainly milder, wetter and windy conditions for two weeks.
While the weather will be unsettled however, it will bring with it a rise in warm air with experts indicating that parts of the UK could see highs of 12 or 13C over the next few days before temperatures fall back to around 6C to 8C which is normal for the time of year.
But Government weathermen said Britain is set for a fresh “prolonged” chill in mid and late February with the countries facing a cold snap, prompting fears hundreds more will be killed by the cold – after 1,000 extra deaths when temperatures hit -5C this month.
February has seen temperatures plunge to at least -8C - and as low as -18C - in each of the past five years, Met Office records show.
A Met Office forecaster said: “During the second half of February, there are signs of a more prolonged colder spell developing.”
Met Office forecaster Emma Salter said: “It’s a big change from cold to unsettled conditions into February.
“A westerly flow means wet and windy spells at times, with gales possible in the North and West.
“But it looks like it turning colder again in mid and late February. The wind direction is expected to shift to a colder direction, which is from the east or north, with high pressure building.
“Wintry conditions are possible again. People should keep an eye on the forecast.”
Hundreds more cold weather deaths are feared in the February chill - after 1,023 more deaths than average were recorded in the week temperatures hit -5C this month.
In the week ending January 13, the most recent week for which death figures from the Office of National Statistics are available, 13,715 deaths were reported in England and Wales, up from the week’s average of 12,692.
Many who die in cold weather are elderly - but victims would not die anyway in coming months, the Department of Health said.
Twenty per cent of winter deaths are people aged under 75, with 11 per cent under 65, ONS figures show.
The Department of Health said cold conditions worsen winter killers including flu, chest diseases, heart attacks, strokes and dementia.
Public Health England said many cold weather deaths were preventable - blaming draughty houses’ lack of insulation, inadequate heating and Brits failing to wrap up warm in chills.
Department of Health chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies, writing in the Cold Weather Plan for England, said: “Cold-related deaths represent the biggest weather-related source of mortality. Winter sees a significant rise in deaths.”
Dr Thomas Waite, of Public Health England’s extreme events team, said: “Thousands of people die because of their exposure to cold weather. It’s really important we all do everything we can to ensure everyone stays well.”
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