How long will this cold snap last?
After temperatures plummeted to -13.6 °C at Loch Glascarnoch in Scotland overnight, the Met Office has confirmed that Wednesday 30th January was the coldest night of winter so far. With a band of rain, sleet and snow forecast to move across parts of England and Wales through Thursday and Friday, yellow weather warnings remain place for much of the country.
As further wintry showers expected next week, it looks like the cold snap is set to continue into early February.
#Cold this morning? Last night was the UK's and also all four of the home nations' coldest night of the winter so far; -13.6 °C at Loch Glascarnoch was the lowest temperature recorded 🧤🧥🧣 pic.twitter.com/HchpBfl1Nx
- Met Office (@metoffice) January 31, 2019
The Met Office's outlook for Monday 4th - Wednesday 13th February states that "rain and hill snow will clear later on Monday, however further rain, sleet and snow will possibly arrive from the west on Tuesday. It will stay mostly cold, with frost and ice likely overnight. Thereafter, it is likely to stay changeable, with further spells of rain, sleet and snow interspersed by sunshine and showers."
And we could be needing our cosy winter wear for a little while longer. According to the Met Office, overnight frosts are likely to be "widespread" towards the middle of the month, when there is a "greater chance of it becoming even colder."
It's expected to warm up a little by the end of February, though. The outlook for the second half of the month adds: "The weather is likely to be a mixture of cold wintry, showery days and more mobile days with Atlantic fronts bringing rain across the UK, and occasional milder interludes remain possible."
Icy Arctic air has already brought widespread frost and some snow to parts of the U.K this month, with Scotland and the north east of England seeing the worst of the wintry conditions during the last week of January.
With more freezing temperatures on the way, it's wise to keep an eye on the forecast where you are. And don't miss these tips for driving safely on country lanes in winter.
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