The United Kingdom is shivering through an intense and prolonged cold snap, with temperatures plunging to a bone-chilling -12.5°C overnight and widespread disruption continuing into Tuesday.
Record Lows and Nationwide Disruption
Thermometers plummeted well below freezing across the country on the night of Monday, January 5th. The coldest spot was in Norfolk, where a polar -12.5°C was recorded. The Met Office confirmed it was the coldest night of the winter so far, leading to a widespread icy and frosty start on Tuesday morning.
The severe conditions have caused significant disruption. Hundreds of schools remained closed for a second day on Tuesday following widespread shutdowns on Monday. Travel networks have also been hit, with flights cancelled and train services experiencing major disruptions.
Health Warnings and Weather Alerts
In response to the dangerous conditions, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold health alerts for all regions of England. These warnings, which are in force until Friday, indicate that the cold weather is likely to have a significant impact on people's health and wellbeing, particularly for vulnerable groups.
The Met Office has also issued a series of formal weather warnings. An amber warning for snow is active for large parts of north-east and northern Scotland from 11am until 7pm on Tuesday, with forecasts predicting 5-10cm of snow widely and up to 15cm in some areas. Further yellow warnings for snow and ice cover much of Scotland, extending as far south as Perth until midnight, and from the central belt down beyond the English border until 11am Tuesday.
Brave Swimmers and Stormy Forecast
While many opted to stay wrapped up indoors, some defied the freeze for a traditional winter dip. Swimmers from the Serpentine Swim Club in London were pictured lowering themselves into the partly frozen waters of Hyde Park's famous lake.
Looking ahead, senior meteorologist Jim Dale warned that the extreme cold could be followed by stormy weather later in the week. He described a looming battle as milder Atlantic air collides with the entrenched Arctic air. "It's like the red corner versus the blue corner in a boxing match," Mr Dale said. "The Arctic air is frigid and very difficult to move... If you're on the blue side, you'll get snow, and if you're in red, you'll tend to get the rain. But probably most parts will get the wind." This collision is expected to act as a catalyst for a deep low-pressure system.
The public is advised to stay updated on the latest forecasts and travel advice, and to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours during the continuing cold spell.
