The UK is braced for a significant cold snap this week, with weather warnings for snow and ice coming into force after the country recorded its coldest night since March.
Widespread Cold and Wintry Hazards
A cold weather alert from the UK Health Security Agency is now active for parts of the Midlands and northern England. The warning, which covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber, began at 8am on Monday and remains in place until 8am next Friday.
This alert follows a spell of above-average temperatures, with the Met Office confirming that snow and ice are now possible. The sharp temperature drop was felt on Saturday when Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands saw the mercury fall to a chilling minus 7°C, marking the UK's coldest night in eight months.
Arctic Blast Brings 'Marked Wind Chill'
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Dan Holley, explained the dramatic shift. "As Storm Claudia retreats to the south, high pressure to the north west will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK," he said.
Holley warned that this will bring much colder conditions, with a risk of wintry hazards. "There will be widespread frosts across the UK, with temperatures dipping as low as minus 7°C in places next week, and daytime temperatures staying in single figures across the country," he added. "Couple this with a brisk northerly wind, and there will be a marked wind chill."
Travel Warnings and Increased Breakdowns
The sudden freeze has prompted warnings for motorists. RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said the conditions could create very slippery roads.
"There’s potential for freezing temperatures to make roads hit by heavy rain very slippery with a chance of ice," Simpson stated. The RAC anticipates breakdown volumes to be around 10% higher than normal for this time of year, equating to roughly 1,000 more call-outs each day.
Simpson also highlighted the danger of autumn leaves combining with ice, creating an extra layer between tyres and the road surface and increasing the risk of skidding. Authorities are urging the public to monitor local forecasts closely, as further warnings for snow and ice may be issued throughout the week.
