The UK has had a bitterly cold start to 2025 with Arctic air moving southwards bringing ice and snow to many parts of the country but the lowest temperatures are still set to come
Brits have been warned to brace for more ice and snow with new Met Office warnings as temperatures are set to plummet as low as -16C.
Arctic air continues to move downwards and mixing with moisture from low pressure systems bringing snow and freezing rain to many parts of the country. The Met Office said that new ice and snow warnings were likely to be issued and there have been updates as the week goes on with now Thursday set to be the coldest day of the week.
Oli Claydon, of the Met Office said the lowest temperatures will be in rural Scotland and rural northern England where there is lying snow, cloudless skies and very cold airflow. A temperature of -16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since -22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands on January 8, 2010.
The UK Health Security Agency has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Dr Agostinho Sousa, its head of extreme events said: “This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people.” He added that some “could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures”.
A rare ‘danger to life’ amber warning for snow has been in place in the south west of England until 9pm tonight and fresh flurries of snow has caused disruption across Devon and Cornwall with the possibility of up to 4in (10cm) falling on higher ground. A further yellow warning for snow and ice impacting Cornwall, much of Wales and parts of North West England has also been issued until 11am on Thursday.
It states: “Showers, mostly of rain and sleet at low levels and near coasts, but of snow inland and over higher ground, are expected to affect the area later Wednesday night and on Thursday morning. Additionally roads are wet and cold across Cornwall following earlier rain and snow. With many surfaces falling below freezing, this will lead to some icy stretches on untreated surfaces, while a few cm of fresh snow could affect some areas, mainly places above about 100 metres.”
Scores of flood warnings and alerts remain in place for England but more than 200 have been removed in the last 24 hours and the weather is set to be drier over the next few days. Deena Ingham, who lives on a canal boat in Barrow upon Soar, in Leicestershire, says she and her husband have not been able to leave their boat since Monday evening due to floods.
Guests stuck the Tan Hill Inn, in Richmond, North Yorks – Britain’s highest pub – since Saturday have been rescued by two farmers. Meanwhile, a gritter in Sheffield has been named after former Olympic champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill. Pictured with the vehicle, called Jessica Ennis-Chill, she said: “I’m really touched that people thought of me – and it’s great fun.”
