Britain Shivers as Mercury Plummets to -11C
The United Kingdom remains in the grip of a severe cold snap, with temperatures plunging to a bone-chilling -11°C overnight. The frigid conditions, which have blanketed the nation, are causing significant disruption, from widespread school closures to treacherous travel conditions.
Frosty Figures and Meteorological Causes
According to the Met Office, the coldest temperature in the UK was recorded at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands. The mercury didn't stop there, dipping below -7°C across large swathes of the country. While conditions were slightly less severe in England and Wales, notable lows included -6°C at Trawsgoed in Ceredigion, Wales, and -4°C at Rostherne in Cheshire.
Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge explained the cause of the intense chill. He attributed it primarily to a ridge of high pressure that moved across the UK overnight, noting a key difference from previous nights was that the winds were much lighter, allowing the cold air to settle.
Widespread Disruption Across the Nation
The extreme weather has had a tangible impact on daily life. On Thursday, hundreds of schools were forced to close their doors due to the hazardous conditions. In northern Scotland, approximately 100 schools were shut. The disruption was also keenly felt in Wales, with 36 closures in Pembrokeshire, 14 in Carmarthenshire, and seven in Ceredigion.
In England, North Yorkshire saw 33 schools closed, while eight were listed as fully closed in East Yorkshire. Beyond education, roads were disrupted and some homes were left without power following snowfall, with images emerging of cars navigating snow on routes like the A169 between Pickering and Whitby.
A Glimmer of Hope in the Forecast
Despite the icy start, there is some relief on the horizon. The Met Office has indicated that widespread sunshine is expected later on Friday, though morning frost will be prevalent. Crucially, forecaster Simon Partridge stated that Friday marks the end of the coldest weather, with conditions expected to return to average for the time of year as we head into the weekend.
For the time being, however, the Met Office has issued a spate of yellow weather warnings for ice across the UK. These warnings cover north, east, south-east, and south-west England, northern and south-eastern Scotland, and north and west Wales, urging the public to take care.
