Snow and ice warnings issued across UK with temperatures set to drop to -20°C
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Britain’s gas storage levels have become ‘concerningly low,’ says the owner of British Gas as cold weather grips the UK. The UK’s gas storage sites are currently 26% lower than this time last year, ‘leaving them around half full.’. The issue has been caused by plummeting temperatures and the country’s high demand for gas-fired power stations.
![[Ugo Sassi from Cambridge skates on a frozen flooded field in Upware, Cambridgeshire. The Cambridgeshire Fens were the birthplace of British speed skating and require four nights of frost, with a temperature of -4 or colder and little or no thawing during the days in between, to make ice strong enough to skate on. Temperatures will continue to fall over the coming days, with the mercury potentially reaching minus 20C in northern parts of the UK on Friday night. Weather warnings for ice are in place across the majority of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England. Picture date: Friday January 10, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story WEATHER Winter. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235547184-7b80.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The owner of British Gas said: ‘This means the UK has less than a week of gas demand in store.’. Yesterday evening was extremely cold, with temperatures sinking to -16°C in some areas. And frosty conditions are only set to continue as we head towards the weekend, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings for much of the country.
![[Hanwell Station]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235555203-e1fb.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Meanwhile, all railway lines through London Paddington have closed after an emergency incident, affecting the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway services. Traffic is ‘coping well’ after road closures were lifted following the response to a crash on the A50 near the M1 earlier this afternoon.
![[Traffic camera showing a long queue on the M1 near Northampton after a crash.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/M1-22222-c30d-e1736517439429.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The A50 eastbound exit slip to the A453 and M1 Junction 24 had been closed for several hours after the collision. The UK has recorded its coldest January night in 15 years. Temperatures this week have plunged well below freezing on more than one occasion in multiple locations.
![[Snow covered rooftops in Buxton, Derbyshire.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235445133-9fe7.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The coldest temperature recorded thus far was on Thursday evening in Altnaharra, Scotland, where temperatures plummeted to as low -22.3C – the coldest any January night has been since 2010. And it’s only set to get colder with Friday night forecast to bring the lowest temperatures of the cold snap in parts of Scotland and northern England.
![[Traffic camera showing a lane closure on the M56 near Liverpool.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/M56-dae9-e1736514578671.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
