The United Kingdom has been plunged into a deep freeze as the new year begins, with an Arctic blast sending temperatures plummeting to a bitter -6C overnight. The Met Office has issued a swathe of weather warnings for snow and ice, with significant disruption expected to continue through the first weekend of 2026.
Widespread Warnings and Disruption
As the first full moon of the year rose on Friday night, heavy snowfall and freezing conditions enveloped large parts of the country. Six yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are currently active, with the latest alerts extending into Monday. More severe amber snow warnings are in force for northern Scotland and Shetland throughout Saturday.
The Met Office has warned that areas under amber alerts could see substantial accumulations, with 10-20cm of snow at lower levels and 30-40cm on higher ground, accompanied by winds that may cause blizzard conditions. This follows a bitterly cold night where temperatures dropped below freezing nationwide, reaching a low of -6C in Hurn, Dorset.
Disruption has already taken hold, particularly in northern Scotland, where snow has caused widespread problems on roads and railways. Authorities have warned of potential power cuts, communities becoming cut off, and vehicles stranded.
Health Alerts and Public Advice
The severe conditions have prompted serious health warnings. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold health alert for all regions of England, effective until 10am on January 9th. This alert signifies that the weather is anticipated to have severe impacts across health and social care services.
Officials expect a rise in deaths, especially among those aged 65 and over or with existing health conditions. The British Heart Foundation has highlighted the specific risks cold weather poses for people with heart problems, noting thousands of additional deaths from heart and circulatory disease occur each winter.
Ruth Goss, a senior cardiac nurse at the foundation, advised: "It's especially important that people living with heart conditions are well prepared for the cold snap this winter by wrapping up warm and having their free flu jab."
In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan has activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) to provide emergency shelter for rough sleepers during the freezing nights.
Forecast and Ongoing Incidents
Met Office chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks stated: 'Arctic air and brisk northerly winds are gripping the UK as we start the new year.' She added that bitterly cold conditions will persist through the weekend and into next week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing in some areas and overnight lows potentially dipping to minus double figures.
The public is urged to stay #WeatherAware, keep updated with forecasts, and plan journeys carefully due to icy roads. The cold snap has already led to tragic consequences, with a major rescue operation launched off the East Yorkshire coast near Withernsea on Friday afternoon after people got into difficulty in the water. Humberside Police confirmed two people have died, and search efforts for one more person were set to resume at first light on Saturday.
With daytime temperatures expected to remain in low single figures for much of the country on Saturday and below freezing in parts of northern Scotland, the nation is braced for a prolonged period of severe winter weather.
