The Met Office has upgraded weather warnings for snow and ice for the weekend, as temperatures plunged to as low as -8C in some parts of the country on Thursday night.
Amber weather warnings for snow and ice have been issued for Saturday and Sunday, with a yellow weather warning in place in Scotland on Monday morning.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued cold weather health alerts for all of England ahead of a week of low temperatures.
Amber alerts – meaning the likelihood of a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions – are in place until 8 January, the UKHSA said.
Temperatures were expected to have fallen as low as -8C in rural Scotland and northern England on Thursday night, along with cold weather in parts of Wales and rural spots in southern England, with between -4C and -5C expected.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “At the moment we’ve issued a very large snow warning for Saturday until Monday but it doesn’t mean that everywhere within that warning could see snow, it’s just a heads-up there could be some impacts.”
What are the weather warnings for this weekend?
Fresh weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for ice ahead of a blast of snow over the weekend.
Amber weather warnings for snow and ice are in place for most of the UK from 9pm on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
This could mean some rural communities cut off, along with potential power cuts, delays to rail and air travel, and travel delays on roads.
The Met Office has previously warned that about 5cm of snow is expected widely across the Midlands, Wales and northern England, with as much as 20-30cm over high ground in Wales and the Pennines.
Strong winds could lead to snow drifts in some areas, and freezing rain as temperatures creep up could add to the risk of ice.
The weather warnings in place for Friday (left) and Saturday (right) as of 11am on Friday. (Met Office)
The warnings for Sunday (left) and Monday (right). (Met Office)
What are the weather warnings for next week?
Conditions should become warmer by the end of the weekend but cold weather is set to strike again early next week, Stroud said.
He said: “The second half of the weekend should be in the high singles or low doubles. But temperatures will dive again next week, particularly on Monday and Tuesday.
“They should start to improve towards the latter end of the week. But there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge until then.”
A yellow weather warning is in place for snow and ice for Scotland from midnight on Sunday to 12pm on Monday.
Cold weather health alert issued across England
The impending cold snap triggered formal guidance for the public to take care of their health while temperatures plunge.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has now issued an amber Cold-Health Alert (CHA) for all regions of England, which will be in place until at least midday on Wednesday, 8 January.
Conditions are likely to exacerbate pre-existing health conditions, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, while other other vulnerable groups, such as rough sleepers, will also be at greater risk.
Today we have updated our cold health alert to amber for the whole of England, from today at 12pm to Wed 8 Jan at 12pm. ❄❄❄
Our data dashboard includes a cold health alert map with useful information and guidance: https://t.co/eioXiEMnUL pic.twitter.com/3JKmS8bKPz
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) January 2, 2025
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: “The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.”
On Thursday, London councils activated an emergency accommodation protocol for people sleeping rough in freezing conditions. The emergency measures, which see extra beds made available, have been active for three nights so far this winter.
What about flooding?
Wet weather has seen flood warnings and alerts issued across swathes of England. (Reuters)
Dozens of flood warnings and flood alerts had been issued by the Environment Agency in the wake of the latest bout of wintry weather.
As of Friday morning, seven flood warnings remained in place and 36 flood alerts.
Follow the latest official advice here.
What to do in cold weather
Speaking on Sky News, Age UK chief executive Paul Farmer said: “The very simple message to older people is to wrap up warm, put your heating on, and to make sure for the rest of us that we’re keeping an eye on our neighbours, our friends, our family members who are older who might need that extra bit of help during this cold snap.”
The government website advises that anyone struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them.
Assistance available to help with heating bills includes:-
Other advice includes speaking to your energy provider, and taking steps to make your home more energy efficient.