Britain is bracing for a dramatic drop in temperatures tonight, with the mercury potentially falling to -7C in southern England by Monday. The freezing Arctic blast is expected to last up to a week, prompting health warnings from Public Health England (PHE).
BBC meteorologist Darren Bent warned of hazardous conditions affecting travel, particularly on the M5, M6, and M56 motorways in Lancashire. He noted that a large area of high pressure will dominate southern England, drawing in Atlantic winds and causing widespread frost.
The Met Office confirmed that Northern Ireland experienced its coldest night of the winter, while temperatures in North Yorkshire's Topcliffe fell to -6.8C. London saw lows of around -1C. A mid-range cold weather alert has been issued until 6pm on Tuesday.
PHE's Dr Owen Landeg urged people to heat their homes adequately, warning that cold weather increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and chest infections. The elderly are particularly vulnerable.
Record high air pressure, potentially reaching 1050 millibars, could cause TV and radio blackouts, affecting Freeview, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, and Plusnet customers. MeteoGroup forecaster Mario Cuellar explained that high pressure can disrupt TV and radio waves by acting like a mirror.
