Britain is facing a severe deep freeze this morning, with temperatures plunging to a bitter -4C and weather maps turning icy blue across the nation. The Met Office has issued urgent yellow warnings for ice covering a staggering 99 areas throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Nationwide Alert as Temperatures Plummet
Weather conditions have shifted dramatically over recent days, with the landfall of Storm Chandra interrupting what had been a relatively mild mid-to-late January period. While the storm brought heavy rain and near gale-force gusts, Brits waking up today are facing a calmer but noticeably freezing climate, with the warmest parts of the country seeing highs of just 5C.
At their lowest, temperatures have sunk to -4C, freezing water that has pooled on streets and prompting the Met Office to issue its comprehensive warning. The alert states that "clearing skies" have produced sub-zero temperatures after midnight that could lead to "icy patches" on untreated surfaces.
Extensive Geographic Coverage
The Met Office's yellow warning for ice covers a massive portion of the UK from as far south as Robertsbridge in Sussex to Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire, Scotland. Not a single part of the country is expected to rise above low single figures for the day, with the highest temperatures this afternoon not anticipated to exceed 5C.
The warnings will remain in place until 10am, affecting all four nations of the United Kingdom. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will all experience the severe chill, with ice warnings creating hazardous conditions for morning commuters and pedestrians alike.
Essential Safety Advice from Forecasters
Weather forecasters have issued specific travel advice as the country freezes this morning, calling on people to take particular steps to keep safe on slippery roads and pavements. Among the crucial guidance provided by the Met Office this morning is a warning not to rush during travel.
The comprehensive advice issued by the national weather service includes:
- Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal to avoid rushing and reduce your risk of accidents, slips, and falls
- If you need to make a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery
- Cyclists should stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated for ice
- Drivers should check road conditions, while those using public transport should consult bus and train timetables to avoid delays
- Stay up to date with weather forecasts in your area as conditions may change rapidly
Complete List of Affected Areas
The warnings cover the following 99 areas across the UK, representing one of the most widespread cold weather alerts of the winter season:
Central, Tayside & Fife: Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling
East Midlands: Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock
London & South East England: Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire
North East England: Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees
North West England: Blackburn with Darwen, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton, Lancashire, Merseyside, Warrington
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders: Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian
Strathclyde: Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
Wales: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wrexham
West Midlands: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Warwickshire, West Midlands Conurbation, Worcestershire
Yorkshire & Humber: East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York
Northern Ireland: County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, County Tyrone
The icy conditions follow the extreme weather brought by Storm Chandra, which created significant disruption across the country before giving way to this current freezing spell. Residents across all affected areas are advised to exercise extreme caution during their morning commutes and to follow the Met Office guidance closely to ensure their safety during this period of severe cold weather.
