Met Office says Arctic air means temperatures will drop close to or below freezing

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Winter is predicted to tighten its grip across the country with temperatures widely dropping close to or below freezing, ending a spell of unseasonably warm weather.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow showers, strong winds and icy conditions for much of the UK.

While the cold weather will be noticeable to most, the snow is not expected to accumulate, the Met Office said

Dan Suri, the Met Office’s chief meteorologist, said: “From Thursday colder Arctic air will have spread across the country, with temperatures struggling to reach above 5C [41F] or 6C for most of us. This is close to the average January temperature for the UK, but since it has been quite a mild winter so far, many will notice the difference by the end of the week.

“It’s going to feel very cold overnight with temperatures widely dipping close to or below freezing.”

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings across much of the UK. There could be ice on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, putting people at risk of slips and falls, and some commuters could experience longer journey times on the roads, and on buses and trains. Drivers have been told to take care travelling over the hills and in northern coastal areas.

Colder air will move across the UK on Wednesday followed by even colder air arriving from the Arctic on Thursday.

Widespread frost and icy stretches are expected from Wednesday night and will continue into the weekend, the Met Office said. Scotland, parts of the north, and eastern England could also see snow showers.

The drop in temperatures does not mean the return of the “beast from the east”, which brought heavy snowfall last year.

Marco Petagna, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “It has been so mild this winter that it will be a bit of a shock to the system even though temperatures will be average for this time of year or just below.”

Dr Emer O’Connell from Public Health England said: “Experience shows us that every winter thousands of people are seriously affected and even die from illnesses linked to the cold.”

She added: “All of us should be heating our homes to at least 18C, keeping up to date with weather forecasts and planning our days around them – simple steps can really help protect against the cold.”