Scottish hamlet reaches minus 17.3C in coldest January night in 15 years
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A hamlet in northern Scotland dropped to minus 17.3C on Friday in the UK’s coldest January night in 15 years. Altnaharra, which is in the most northern region of the Highlands, reached the temperature shortly before 8pm, the Met Office said. It is the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010, when temperatures dropped below minus 15C several times at locations across the UK, including minus 22.3C on January 8 in Altnaharra.
Forecasters said they are not expecting temperatures in the Sutherland hamlet to fall below minus 18C on Friday but there is a very small probability it could reach 19C. Altnaharra reached minus 14.5C on Thursday night. Temperatures for large parts of the UK are set to fall again as the cold weather continues.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “Friday night into Saturday morning may well be the nadir of this current cold spell.”. Towns and cities in Scotland could see minus 2C to minus 5C and the Highlands may reach minus 14C or minus 15C. Higher ground in England such as the Pennines could hit minus 11C or minus 12C while the coldest city in England is expected to be Birmingham, which may reach minus 4C.
The average low in northern Scotland for this time of year is about 0.3C, while for England, overnight lows are around 1.5C to 1.6C. Met Office meteorologist Zoe Hutin said: “Certainly a cold night to come, especially for those beneath clear skies in the east and the north and in rural spots as well.”.
