Met Office warns of 'Arctic' blast in just days as cold temperatures continue

10 January 2024 , 06:25

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Met Office warns of 'Arctic' blast in just days as cold temperatures continue

Brits have been warned they will spend today shivering in below-average temperatures - with the big freeze set to continue the rest of the week.

The UK is currently under the influence of high pressure, which is bringing colder-than-average weather for the time of year as the mercury struggles to reach more than 1C. The Met Office has warned the freeze is to continue the rest of the week with more wintry weather coming later this month.

Today Brits have been told to expect it to remain dry with sunshine in the south, cloudy with light rain and drizzle for northern parts which will turn wintry over high ground. Staying cold throughout with temperatures below average.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “A cold front from the north towards the weekend will mark another change in the airmass for the UK, moving from something with a bit of an Atlantic influence to air that comes more directly from the Arctic. We start with a northerly airflow and snow showers, especially near the coasts in the north. But there will also be brighter skies for some. Then, from the middle of next week, low pressure tries to move in from the southwest, and the impact of this is still a bit uncertain at this range.

“Different models are saying different things in terms of the track of this low, but you have the ingredients for snow with cold air in place and additional moisture supplied from the Atlantic, which will bring rain, but on the boundary with the cold air, you could see some snow.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

Weather map for January 10 (Met Office)

“The weather front is going to progress southwards across the country as we begin the weekend opening the door to Arctic winds and those winds bringing a return into air that will be cold enough for snow. At first, we'll see rain, sleet and snow showers coming in from the north but eventually, the cold air pushes across all parts of the country by the end of the weekend and into the start of next week. [ There ] could be snow around but it's too early to give details on that."

It comes after parts of the UK were battered in snow on Monday, with areas as far as the south and parts of London and the South East, experiencing snow. A yellow warning for ice was also issued across southern England and South Wales, which was in place until 3am yesterday.

Antony Clements-Thrower