The Met Office has warned that a weakened polar vortex could bring a spell of bitterly cold weather, frost, fog, sleet and snow showers across the UK this week. The forecaster described the disruption as an "exceptional development" for this time of year, noting it could lead to colder, drier conditions with a heightened risk of wintry hazards.
Polar vortex disruption and what it means
The polar vortex sits approximately 10 to 50km above the Earth's surface and circulates extremely cold air over the North Pole. According to the Met Office, the vortex has "weakened" and been disrupted, which could allow colder air to affect the UK. The wintry weather is expected to persist into Friday.
With such a bitterly cold spell anticipated, those aged 55 and above are being encouraged to take precautions against the freezing conditions. Lower temperatures become increasingly challenging for the body with age, forcing systems to work considerably harder to maintain warmth.
Advice for over-55s and staying warm
The Met Office explained: "As we get older, our body has to work harder to keep us warm. From about the age of 55+, we lose around 1% of our muscle mass every year. It doesn't sound like a lot, but our muscle keeps us warm. So it's really important to wrap up warm when you go outside."
One straightforward method to shield yourself from the bitter weather is to adopt a 'thin clothing' approach, which involves wearing multiple layers of lightweight garments rather than a single heavy layer. The Met Office advises that several thin layers will prove more effective at keeping you warm, as warmth becomes trapped between the layers, providing better insulation.
Staying active and preparing for power cuts
Health experts also suggest maintaining an active lifestyle and venturing outdoors for walks, even during cold spells. If leaving the house isn't possible, you should get up and move about at least once an hour. In its cold weather guidance, the Met Office said: "With many of us having to spend more time at home it can make it harder to keep active. It's important to continue to do what you can to stay active as this can help with both your physical and mental health."
The Met Office also urges households to stay on top of weather forecasts, as conditions can shift rapidly, and to prepare for wintry conditions by gathering key items at home in the event of power cuts or severe winter storms. These include torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack, blankets, warm clothing and essential food items such as bread, bottled water, milk, tinned goods, cereal, snack foods and dried pasta.
The Met Office added: "We are so reliant on the internet, but if a storm meant power and mobile phone networks were affected, what would you do? Consider a separate battery charger, and you could store key information such as the power cut helpline number (105) on your phone." It also recommends putting together a 'grab bag' with bottled water, medicines, a torch, radio and batteries, copies of important documents and a change of clothes.
