Snow and ice weather warnings across UK: Met Office forecast as “Arctic airmass” sees temperatures plummet
Weather warnings remain in place across the UK as temperatures drop as low as -10C - here’s what the Met office has to say about the “Arctic airmass” bringing with it snow, sleet and hail showers.
It has got noticeably chillier the last few days with most of the UK experiencing snow, sleet or hail showers as temperatures plummet - in some places lower than -10C. According to the Met Office, this cold snap is due to an “Arctic airmass” which continues to cover the country.
Several severe weather warnings expired during Monday (January 5), however, several remain in place until Tuesday (January 6). A number of schools across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were shut, with flights also being cancelled and some train lines affected too.
The whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England remain under Yellow warnings for snow and ice with further warnings covering the east of England, west of Wales, Devon and Cornwall. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for England running until Friday (January 9), warning that adverse temperatures are likely to affect health and wellbeing.
Temperatures dropped to -10.9°C at Shap in Cumbria on Sunday night (January 4). Lying snow has been recorded at a large number of Met Office stations, with the greatest accumulations being 52cm at Tomintoul in Banffshire, 35cm at Durris in Kincardineshire and 34cm at Loch Glascarnoch in Ross & Cromarty as of 10am on Monday.
Overnight into Tuesday temperatures are expected to again fall below freezing for much of the country, with the lowest temperatures over lying snow possibly dipping to -12°C. More wintry showers will arrive on Tuesday across parts of Wales and southwest England with a mix of rain, sleet and snow moving south-eastwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland, then later into parts of Wales and England.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “The UK will continue to experience a range of winter weather hazards through this week, with low temperatures as well as snow showers and the risk of ice for many. A number of severe weather warnings have been issued and these are likely to be updated through the week so do keep up to date with the forecast.”
There doesn’t look like there will be much improvement to the weather as the week goes on with signs that “strong winds and heavy rain may bring additional hazards to the impactful weather across the UK,” the Met Office has warned.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Mike Silverstone, said: “While we’re confident an area of low pressure will move in from the west on Thursday and into Friday, the exact position of that low pressure is uncertain at this stage. The position is important as it will determine the type of severe weather different locations may experience.
“The most likely scenario at this stage is for low pressure to track near the south coast. Near and south of the low, heavy rain and strong winds are more likely, whilst snow could accumulate to the north as it encounters cold air. As confidence increases in the track of the low pressure, so will the detail of the weather impacts so it is important to stay up to date with the weather forecast through the week.”