UK weather: Met Office warns another Arctic blast set to bring more snow, freezing temperatures and ‘wintry hazards’
BRITS can expect temperatures to remains distinctly chilly for the rest of the week – and conditions are only going to get worse.
It’s predicted to remain cold with the mercury possibly slightly rising towards the end of the working week but an Arctic blast is expected to see “wintry hazards” towards the start of next week, the Met Office says.
Wednesday with remain mostly dry with sunshine in the south although northern parts will get cloudy conditions with some light rain and drizzle.
The forecaster says that it will remain cold throughout with temperatures below average.
While temperatures across Thursday and Friday are expected to become slightly milder than previously it will remain cloudy.
Northerly winds though will lower temperatures once again by Saturday and there is a risk of wintry showers, the forecaster predicts.
Conditions go downhill from there as a northerly airflow is due to develop on Sunday which could increase the chances of “wintry hazards” for some.
It will turn colder from the North, due to the northerly winds which are expected to develop over large parts of the UK later on, bringing a risk of show showers, most frequent across the north.
Temperatures will remain cold and it will feel colder too due to a marked wind chill, especially in the North.
There is also a risk of unsettled weather coming in from the south, the Met Office warns, which could lead to a band of snow and sleet where it meets the colder air across the country.
Speaking in the Met Office’s Deep Dive, which looks at the UK’s long-range outlook, Aidan McGivern said: “A cold front from the north towards the weekend will mark another change in the airmass for the UK, moving from something with a bit of an Atlantic influence to air that comes more directly from the Arctic.”
The Met Office head of situational awareness, Will Lang, said: “There will be a resurgence in the really cold weather through the weekend and that spreads across the whole of the UK during the early part of next week.
“Initially, this means there will be more in the way of showers around the coasts, turning increasingly to snow for many areas, especially further north.”
There are more than 200 flood warnings and alerts in force on Tuesday evening in England while the Welsh government has said 37 properties had been flooded, 23 of those in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales.
England has seen 2,000 homes flooded, minsters said on Monday.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber cold health alert covering the north-west, south-east and south-west of England and the east and West Midlands lasting until 12pm on Friday.
A yellow alert is also in place covering the north-east and east of England, Yorkshire, the Humber and London.
The amber alert means: “Cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors may also start to observe impacts, indicating a coordinated response is required.”