03 March 2024 , 12:39
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Parts of Britain will be colder than Iceland on Monday as brutally icy temperatures continue to plunge.
Weather forecasters say it'll be an Arctic -4C in some areas on Monday morning after a night of clear skies and a bitter south-westerly wind. Terry Scholey, forecaster with Netweather, wrote on the service's blog: "This'll allow mist, patchy fog and a frost to form once more, with lowest temperatures between about zero and -4C. Later in the night, cloud will increase across the far South West of England where a south-easterly breeze may freshen a little."
The frost and fog will persist throughout Monday, especially in north Wales, the Midlands and North East of England - despite the UK entering official springtime on Friday. Each of these areas will struggle to see temperatures rise significantly until noon at the earliest, which means Monday will be colder than Iceland for many.
The Met Office's website says, even in the early hours, the mercury will barely fall lower than 0C in Reykjavik - and it'll quickly shoot up to 3C by midday. However, while it'll be cold and frosty in the UK, it is unlikely to rain or snow on Monday, following a wet weekend.
More than 25mm of rain fell in Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, on Saturday. Heavy rain across the country has sparked to more than 150 flood alert and warnings to be issued, many of which are in the South West of England and Home Counties. Particular concern remains for Colne Brook at Iver in Buckinghamshire, Curry Moor and Hay Moor in Somerset and Middle Avon from Salisbury to Ringwood.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
A country lane in the Lake District is covered in ice (Getty Images)Writing on The Met Office's website, the service said: "Cloud and some rain still clipping North Sea coasts, and some showers in the southwest. Otherwise plenty of clear spells overnight and light winds allowing frost and fog to develop... A cold start (on Monday) with fog clearing readily. A largely dry and bright day for many though cloud increasing from the southwest."
It comes as bookies Coral slashed its odds to 6-4 (from 3-1) on this month ending as a record-cold March, as temperatures are set to drop over the next few days. The firm makes it 3-1 for the River Thames to freeze over this month, while they have suspended their betting on snowfall coming down in March.
Spokesman John Hill said: “We've just had the warmest February since records began, however, the unseasonal weather is unlikely to continue. We have slashed the odds in half on this month being the coldest March in history.”