UK weather: Temperatures could fall to -12C as snow showers push south
Arctic conditions are set to tighten their grip on the UK Weather this week, with forecasters warning that temperatures could drop as low as -12C in areas with lying snow as wintry weather spreads further south.
Snow, sleet and hail have already caused widespread disruption, including flight cancellations, rail delays and the closure of hundreds of schools. New cold weather warnings are in force today after severe conditions marked the start of the week.
UK weather
The coldest temperature recorded so far was -10.9C at Shap in Cumbria on Monday, while the Met Office confirmed that 52cm of snow fell in Banffshire in Scotland.
Forecasters say that into Tuesday, parts of the UK could see overnight lows fall to around -12C, particularly where snow remains on the ground.
Snowfall is expected to become more widespread, with a band of rain, sleet and snow forecast to move southeast across Scotland and Northern Ireland, before reaching parts of Wales and England later in the day. Another area of snow may affect central and northern Scotland this morning, persisting into the early evening.
Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in place across the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Additional warnings cover eastern England, west Wales, and parts of the south west including Devon and Cornwall.
Between 2cm and 5cm of further snow is expected in many areas, while higher ground above 200 metres could see an additional 10cm to 15cm.
Amber cold weather health alerts have also been issued for all regions of England and will remain in force until Friday.
Matthew Lehnert, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said the country would continue to face a range of winter hazards.
“The UK will experience low temperatures, snow showers and a risk of ice through the week,” he said. “Several severe weather warnings are in place and these are likely to be updated, so people should keep checking the forecast.”
Travel disruption continues
The cold snap has led to significant travel disruption. The AA reported a 40 percent increase in callouts compared with a typical Monday.
National Rail warned that services in northern Scotland could remain disrupted until the end of Tuesday, while heavy snowfall forced flight cancellations at Aberdeen and Inverness airports.
The runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport was closed on Monday morning because of snow and ice, grounding flights for several hours. Although the runway reopened by mid afternoon, the airport warned that services could still face delays and cancellations.
Both Belfast International Airport and City of Derry Airport also reported cancellations and delays.
International rail services were affected too. Eurostar advised passengers travelling between London and the Netherlands to delay their journeys, as trains were unable to run beyond Brussels due to severe weather.
Despite freezing conditions, the first small boat arrivals of the year were recorded on Monday, with migrants seen disembarking from a Border Force vessel in Dover.
Schools closed across large areas
Hundreds of schools have remained closed across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Pupils in parts of Aberdeenshire, Shetland and Orkney were unable to return after the Christmas break, with many schools in northern Scotland set to stay shut on Tuesday.
Aberdeen City Council said some schools could reopen where staff lived locally, while in Moray decisions are being taken on a school by school basis.
Read More: Snow and ice warnings intensify as schools prepare to reopen
In Wales, closures have been reported in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Caerphilly and Pembrokeshire. More than 170 schools remain closed across Northern Ireland.
Cold weather payments triggered
Cold weather payments have been triggered for hundreds of thousands of people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Eligible households receive £25 for each seven day period when the average local temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0C or below. Payments are made automatically within 14 days.
More hazards ahead
Looking further ahead, the Met Office warned that strong winds and heavy rain could bring additional hazards later in the week.
Deputy chief meteorologist Mike Silverstone said an area of low pressure is expected to move in from the west on Thursday into Friday, although its exact position remains uncertain.
“That detail will determine what type of severe weather different areas experience,” he said. “People should stay up to date with their local forecasts.”
With Arctic air expected to remain in place, further snow showers are likely for areas exposed to northerly winds, including northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, west Wales, south west England and parts of eastern England.
