BRITS shivered as temperatures dipped to a bone-chilling -7C last night – and an Arctic blast on the way means it’ll only get COLDER from here. Wales last night faced its coldest night of the winter so far, as the mercury took a tumble to -6C in the country, and Brits endured freezing temperatures. But […]
BRITS shivered as temperatures dipped to a bone-chilling -7C last night – and an Arctic blast on the way means it’ll only get COLDER from here.
Wales last night faced its coldest night of the winter so far, as the mercury took a tumble to -6C in the country, and Brits endured freezing temperatures.
But the whole country felt the freeze last night. It was below zero everywhere, with dipping -7C temperatures in Oxfordshire and the south coast of England.
The Met Office said: “Last night was the coldest night of the Winter so far for Wales, with Sennybridge recording a low of -6.0 °C during the early hours of Friday.”
Overnight frosts are expected to linger throughout the day today in some places.
Health chiefs issued a rare warning yesterday for it to be the coldest night of the winter so far for southerners.
Agostinho Sousa, a consultant at the UK Health and Security Agency, said the cold can have a deadly toll.
“Cold weather can have a serious impact on health, particularly for older people and those with heart and lung problems, as it increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections,” he said.
“Remind vulnerable relatives and neighbours to heat their home to at least 18C – particularly if they have reduced mobility, are 65 or older, or have a health condition.
“Should they need to go outside, it’s important for them to wear shoes with a good grip.”
Meanwhile, some places will soon see snow as the freezing blast holds the country in its grip.
Met Office forecaster Clare Nasir said: “There will be Arctic air streaming down from the north delivering snow showers, particularly in the far north-east of the country.”
However, in most places it’ll stay cold and mostly bright for the rest of the month.
Aidan McGivern of the Met Office said: “On Friday morning, there’ll be a widespread frost.
“It’ll be perhaps the coldest night of the winter for some southern parts of the country.”
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His colleague, chief meteorologist Steve Ramsdale, said cold air will hover over England and Wales into the weekend.
“With easing winds and good clear spells, a widespread frost is likely on Friday morning with temperatures recovering somewhat by day,” he said.
The bitter chill may not last for much longer.
Some weather models are suggesting signals for cold next month are getting weaker.
It means that if the high pressure continues, there could be some balmier weather on the way.
Emphasising that the forecast isn’t clear enough yet to make an accurate prediction, Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook said: “I wonder if we could have an early taste of spring?”
Before warmer days return, it’s predicted that snow will fall in London before the end of the winter.
Flurries are expected to hit the capital on February 9.
Parts of Scotland and the north-east will face a battering on January 28.
