SUB-ZERO
UK weather: Met Office warns of snow and ice as temperatures plunge to -7C with five-day cold health alert issued
'Glorious' sunshine is also set to bask some lucky parts of the UK over the weekend
THE MET Office has warned of snow and icy conditions as temperatures plummeted to -7C amid a five-day cold weather warning.
Overnight, temperatures fell to as low as -7.2C in parts of the UK, with the cold weather expected to linger over much of the weekend.
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This comes as yellow cold health alerts were issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for a number of areas across England from 9am on Friday until 9am on Tuesday.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said today that the weather would turn "cloudier" and "much colder" for much of the UK.
He said a cold easterly breeze is set to bring much cloud for parts of England and Wales, while adding there are already some showers across the south east of England.
Tom said: "Falling is a mixture of rain, sleet, and perhaps snow in places, particularly over the higher ground."
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However, further north the weather will be far more "glorious", as northern and western parts of Scotland are set to have large amounts of sunshine.
Moving later into the afternoon, the strong eastern breeze is set to make "feels like" temperatures drop even further, potentially as low as -2C in places at around 4pm.
Heading into tonight, Tom said there is an ongoing chance of "some wintry showers" or "longer spells of rain, sleet and snow" across some central and southern areas of the UK.
He said a few centimetres of snow could settle by Saturday morning across higher ground, especially in parts of Wales.
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Temperatures are then expected to feel slightly warmer on Saturday than today, although cloud will likely be widespread across the UK, with Scotland having the best of the sunshine.
While temperatures may feel a slight respite over the middle of the weekend, colder conditions are expected heading into Monday.
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Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: “While some areas will see showers or some patchy rain on Friday and through the weekend, there will be the potential for some sleet or snow as temperatures drop, mostly over higher ground in central and southern areas.
"The cold will be accentuated at times by brisk easterly winds.
“There will be variable, and at times large amounts of cloud over the coming days with the clearest and sunniest weather across the northwest of the UK."
He continued: "There will also be icy patches and overnight frost in places.
"Whilst, for most, the weather is not expected to be disruptive, keep an eye on the Met Office website for any National Severe Weather Warnings.”
The has issued four yellow cold health alerts for the North East, North West, South East, and Yorkshire and The Humber.
This means these areas are likely to see an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people as well as a greater risk to life for these groups.
The warnings are in place from 9am on Friday until 9am on Tuesday, February 11.
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Today:
Cloudy across much of England and Wales with showers spreading west, these wintry over the hills, particularly later.
Elsewhere, dry with sunny spells, the best of the sunshine across the north and west. Feeling cold with a keen easterly wind.
Tonight:
Cloudy across England and Wales with showery rain, and some hill snow in the west.
Elsewhere, showers becoming a little more widespread overnight with a patchy frost in the northwest.
Saturday:
Showery outbreaks of rain, with some hill snow in places. Variable amounts of cloud, with skies breaking across the southeast later.
Feeling rather cold with a brisk easterly wind.
Sunday to Tuesday:
Feeling cold with easterly winds continuing over the coming days. Often cloudy, with the best of any sunshine in the west.
Outbreaks of rain, with some hill snow at times.
Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: “What we’re seeing with the UK’s weather over the next few days is the influence of high pressure and the development of south easterly air flow which will see temperatures drop for many.
“We could see temperatures drop as low as minus 7C in rural parts of Scotland from Friday into the weekend.
“Further south we’re still likely to see through the weekend sub-zero temperatures."
He added: "Rural parts of southern Wales could reach minus 4C from Friday overnight into the weekend.”
Stephen said it would be a “cold period” but not “historically noteworthy”.
Day-time temperatures will be “slightly below” the average maximum for February which is 7C, he said.
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He continued: “February has started warmer than average, so it’s going to be a return to more typical February averages, albeit a bit colder.
“From Friday, there’s a chance of some snow drifting in to parts of the south of England and south Wales, however, this is relatively short-lived, it’s not expected to be impactful at the moment.”
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