Temperatures expected to fall as low as minus 8C as week-long cold snap hits UK
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Temperatures are expected to fall as low as minus 8C overnight as a week-long spell of wintry conditions hits the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued cold weather health alerts for all of England ahead of a week of low temperatures. Amber alerts have been issued from 12pm on Thursday until January 8, meaning a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, is likely, the UKHSA said.
Temperatures had been expected to fall as low as minus 8C in rural Scotland and northern England on Thursday night. The Met Office also forecast cold weather in parts of Wales and rural spots in southern England, with between minus 4C and minus 5C expected.
Dan Stroud, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “There’ll be widespread frost across the country (overnight), from Land’s End to John O’Groats. “It will be comfortably below where we should be for this time of year and I would expect temperatures to hit minus 8C in parts of Scotland.”.
Mr Stroud confirmed conditions should become warmer by the end of this weekend before cold weather strikes again early next week. He said: “The second half of the weekend should be in the high singles or low doubles. “But temperatures will dive again next week, particularly on Monday and Tuesday.
“They should start to improve towards the latter end of the week. But there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge until then.”. The NHS Black Country integrated care board has warned the public to “avoid going out early when the frost is thick or late at night when it’s dark”, adding people should keep hands free and wear shoes with a good grip.
