Thermometers nudged the -8C (17.6F) mark last night with similar temperatures on the cards today. It comes after England shivered in the coldest night of autumn so far on Monday as the mercury sank to -7.5C (18.5F) in South Newington, Oxfordshire. Although it will turn slightly milder towards the end of the week the Arctic freeze will tighten its grip at the weekend, experts say.

GETTY Thermometers are due to nudge the -8C (17.6F)

The early winter blast has sparked warnings to the elderly and vulnerable to take extra care as cold weather can kill. The Met Office with Public Health England (PHE) has issued a level-2 cold weather alert warning of an increased health risk to some people until Friday afternoon. Dr Angie Bone, of PHE’s extreme events team, said: “Cold does kill, even in places where the temperatures aren’t at their lowest.

GETTY Thermometers are due to nudge the -8C (17.6F) mark tonight

“Now is the time to prepare for the cold weather forecast by the Met Office, and to think of those you know who are older, very young, or have pre-existing health conditions who are particularly vulnerable.” Thursday marks the official start to winter with some forecasters warning this year could be a cold one. Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples said the cold snap could last into next week thanks to high pressure wedged close to the UK. She said: “High pressure will probably be in control of the weather until this time next week, temperatures will be lower under clear skies in the south than in the north where it will be cloudier.

GETTY England shivered in the coldest night of autumn so far on Monday

“Later in the week the south and the southwest will still see widespread frosts while elsewhere they will be more patchy as cloud cover builds. “Although temperatures will clim a little by the end of this week they will drop off again by the weekend. “Tuesday night could beat Monday to be the coldest of autumn so far with Wednesday night looking like it will bring similar temperatures, maybe not quite as cold.” If temperatures dip much below -7C (19.4F) overnight into Thursday it will be the coldest start to winter since they hit -15.3C (4.46F) in 2010. The lowest overnight December 1 temperature since then was -7.2C (19.04F) at Livingston Mill, West Lothian, in 2012.

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