Record-breaking 'extreme freeze' set to end as warmer weather creeps in

13 February 2021, 13:03

Warmer weather is set to replace the freezing temperatures seen in the UK for the past week
Warmer weather is set to replace the freezing temperatures seen in the UK for the past week. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Temperatures are set to hit double figures next week after Britain endured a record-breaking "extreme freeze" cold snap.

Despite milder conditions sweeping in from Monday, the wintry weather will stick around for the rest of the weekend.

Forecasters have predicted that the mercury will soar as high as 12C next week, just days after numerous records were broken across the UK when thermometers plummeted into the minus 20s in some parts.

Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice will remain in place across most of Scotland, parts of northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Saturday and Sunday.

Blizzards are expected to blast Northern Ireland on Saturday, with bitter gusts reaching 40mph in coastal areas.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: "Blizzard conditions will really significantly reduce visibility when driving. We have gusts in the region of 35mph to 40mph on the coast and nearly 30mph inland."

Read more: 'Extreme freeze' as temperatures plummet to -22.9C

Read more: Record cold snap continued on Friday with new lows across UK

Blizzards in Scotland causes chaos on slippy roads

On Friday night, Loch Glascarnoch, near Garve in northern Scotland, recorded the lowest temperature in the UK at -6.5C

The mercury dropped to -5.8C overnight at Pennerley in Shropshire, -5.6C at Parc Bryn Bach in Tredegar, South Wales, and -1.7C in Killylane, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Chief meteorologist at the Met Office, Neil Armstrong, said: "For the past week the UK has been in a very cold airmass with temperatures well below average, this will change through the weekend as milder air moves in from the Atlantic and pushes that cold air mass out into the North Sea.

"Where temperatures were close to freezing in many places last week, we could expect to see 11C or 12C next week.

"There are still some wintry hazards to get through over the next few days, with low temperatures, strong winds and further snow especially in Northern Ireland."

Read more: UK lion cub freezes to death after crawling into sub-zero temperatures

Read more: Several vaccine centres closed as Storm Darcy brings -17C freeze

Trafalgar Square's fountains froze over this week due to London's freezing temperatures
Trafalgar Square's fountains froze over this week due to London's freezing temperatures. Picture: PA

He added: "On Sunday there is a risk of freezing rain over the high ground in Scotland and northern England, with further snow in the Scottish hills, before turning to rain as the warm air takes hold."

On Wednesday night, the UK recorded its coldest temperature for 65 years at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, when the mercury dropped down to -23C during the "extreme freeze".

A record low 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.

Parts of the Thames also froze over in south London, with the RNLI sharing an image of the ice in Teddington.

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."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Anneliese Dodds said Labour would make sure local people have 'skin in the game' with tackling inequality

'Rebuild has to start from ground up,' Labour's Anneliese Dodds says, and 'local people must have skin in the game'

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million awarded knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing experience of growing up with his alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike