Britons will have to endure one more day of icy blasts before temperatures soar into double digits – as the country’s record-breaking Big Freeze finally comes to an end.
Bitter-cold 80mph winds, freezing rain and dangerous icy conditions are set to hit parts of the UK on Sunday, as Britain faces the tail-end of the recent cold snap.
But in a sudden switch from a week of sub-zero temperatures, Met Office forecasters expect mercury levels to hit double digits next week, as milder conditions take over.
Before that, however, strong winds are expected to hit parts of western Scotland and Northern Ireland’s east coast between 4am and midnight on Sunday, according to the Met Office.
A yellow weather warning for ice is also in place for most of Scotland, northern England and the Midlands until 9pm.
Freezing rain and ‘treacherous ice’ is expected to occur in those areas, leading to possible disruption, the warning said.
Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said Sunday will not be ‘particularly pleasant’ for most people, with 80mph winds in costal areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and reaching up to 40mph inland across England.
Britons will have to endure one more day of icy blasts before temperatures soar into double digits – as the country’s record-breaking Big Freeze finally comes to an end
Bitter-cold 80mph winds, freezing rain and dangerous icy conditions are set to continue in parts of the UK on Sunday as Britain faces the tail-end of the recent cold snap. Pictured: A fountain at Trafalgar Square freezes over during the cold snap
Yellow weather warnings for ice are in place this morning for large parts of northern England and Scotland on Sunday. A wind warning is also in place for parts of Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland
He said: ‘It’s going to be a bitterly cold day. Certainly where you’ve got freezing rain and ice, combined with those strong winds.’
Overnight temperatures on Saturday are forecast to drop to minus 8C in Scotland and between minus 1C and minus 5C in England and Wales.
Daytime temperatures will hover around 2C in eastern areas, increasing to 11C in south-west England.
A yellow weather alert for wind warns of gusts of up to 80mph and large waves for coastal areas in western Scotland and Northern Ireland’s east coast.
But after a week of cold weather, including a record-breaking -23C in Scotland, the mercury level will begin to increase from Monday. Temperatures are expected to reach 13C across England, the Met Office forecasts.
However, Mr Miall said the weather will be ‘quite wet and windy’ for most of the week.
He said: ‘We will be hovering between 7C to 12C, I suspect, through Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday.
‘Most of the snow will start melting early in the week, with the exception being Scotland because they have had so much of it.’
The coldest UK temperature for 65 years was recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire on Wednesday night, when the mercury dropped down to -23C.
A record low temperature for February was also recorded in England and Wales when temperatures in Ravensworth, North Yorkshire, dropped to -15.3C overnight on Thursday.
The chilly conditions froze Trafalgar Square’s fountains and brought large amounts of snowfall to regions across the country.
In Derbyshire’s High Peak area, the impressive Kinder Downfall also froze, turning the 98ft waterfall into a slippery climbing wall.
In Derbyshire’s High Peak area, the impressive Kinder Downfall also froze, turning the 98ft waterfall into a slippery climbing wall
Public Health England (PHE) has extended its cold weather alert through the weekend. Pictured: A man ice climbing on the frozen Kinder Downfall, High Peak in Derbyshire
Public Health England (PHE) has extended its cold weather alert through the weekend and has urged people to check on vulnerable relatives and neighbours.
Dr Owen Landeg, group leader for extreme events and health protection at PHE, said: ‘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.
‘Make a call, or socially-distanced doorstep visit if they live close by, to remind them to heat their home to at least 18C, 64.4F, and to keep up to date with the forecast.
‘It’s also helpful to check they have enough food and drinks and any medicines they need.’