After a relatively mild winter so far, temperatures are going to take a dip this week and there are signs the cold weather could stick around for some time.
The Met Office reported a few weeks ago, a sudden stratospheric warming occurred at the end of December meaning the usual driver of our weather – the jet stream – is much weaker than usual for the time of year, which leaves the British Isles with an increased chance of settled weather and cold spells.
Colder air will move across the UK tomorrow (Wednesday) followed by even colder air arriving from the Arctic on Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist Dan Suri said, “From Thursday colder arctic air will have spread across the country, with temperatures struggling to reach above 5 or 6 Celsius for most of us. This is close to the average January temperature for the UK – but since it has been quite a mild winter so far, many will notice the difference by the end of the week. It’s going to feel very cold overnight with temperatures widely dipping close to or below freezing.”
“The colder weather will bring a range of winter hazards, with a widespread frost and icy stretches expected from Wednesday night and continuing into the weekend. Not a lot of snow is expected during this period, though we will see snow showers in some areas during Wednesday night and Thursday. Most of the snow showers will be over the hills and mountains, although snow could fall to lower levels in the north, and also some eastern parts of the country during Thursday.”
Several cold weather alerts have been issued following advice from the Met Office to our partners in Public Health England (PHE) on the cold weather. Dr Emer O’Connell of PHE said: “Experience shows us that every winter thousands of people are seriously affected and even die from illnesses linked to the cold. Protecting yourself from the cold may seem like common sense but many people don’t manage to keep themselves warm enough.
“If you know someone at risk, someone over 65, anyone with dementia or a heart and lung condition, or a young child, check up on them and see if there’s anything you can do to help. All of us should be heating our homes to at least 18C, keeping up to date with weather forecasts and planning our days around them – simple steps can really help protect against the cold.”
Looking further ahead, Chief Meteorologist Dan Suri said; “Next week’s forecast shows signs of a reduction in winds from our typical westerly direction, meaning we are more likely to see cold winds from northerly and easterly directions later in the week. This does not guarantee a repeat of “Beast from the East” conditions as some media are speculating – yes, it is getting colder, but it is too early to provide detailed forecasts on the potential severity of the weather or snow amounts at this stage. We advise the public to keep in touch with Met Office forecasts and warnings over the next few days and weeks so you can be prepared for the cold weather.”
Two thirds of British people have been caught out by severe weather according to latest research from the Met Office. To help them be better prepared for severe weather all year round, our ‘WeatherReady’ partnership with Cabinet Office provides expert advice on travel, protecting your home and your health and wellbeing.
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