Friday night is set to bring the coldest temperatures of the winter across the UK, with London bracing for lows of -6°C and parts of the country facing an icy -20°C in the Scottish Highlands. The Met Office has issued weather warnings for ice across much of Wales, Northern Ireland, and eastern England, as Britain grapples with one of the coldest January nights in 15 years.
Chilling forecast for the capital
The capital is expected to endure a bitterly cold, dry day on Friday, with early freezing fog potentially lingering into the afternoon. Temperatures in London will barely rise above freezing, and overnight lows could plummet to -6°C.
Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick warned of widespread frost and ice forming overnight, saying:
“Anywhere across the UK is likely to see those temperatures dipping below freezing and likely to see quite severe frost and ice to form overnight tonight.”
Freezing fog is predicted to be particularly stubborn across southeast England and parts of Wales, potentially persisting through the day. Where the fog lifts, however, bright and sunny conditions may emerge.
Scottish highlands braced for -20°C
The cold snap is expected to be especially severe in the Scottish Highlands, where temperatures could plunge as low as -20°C on Friday night. Some areas of northern Scotland and the northeast of England may also see snow, though these conditions are unlikely to affect London.
Mr Eslick explained:
“Because that rain is falling on some pretty cold ground, it is likely to turn to icy conditions as well. We are telling people to take care if you are travelling around with these cold temperatures for tomorrow, but at least it’s quite settled and, away from that freezing fog, it will be nice, bright and sunny.”
Disruption to travel and daily life
The freezing weather has already caused significant disruption, with snow and icy conditions forcing the closure of rail lines and schools.
On Thursday morning, Manchester Airport was forced to close both runways due to heavy snowfall, though they were reopened later in the day. Transport for Wales also shut some rail lines following track damage caused by heavy wind, rain, and snow.
The icy weather has left hundreds of schools closed, with Scotland particularly hard hit, while 90 schools in Wales also shut their doors on Thursday.
Motorists have been advised to stick to major roads that are more likely to have been gritted. The RAC reported its busiest three-day period for vehicle rescues since December 2022, as drivers faced treacherous conditions.
Health warnings amid arctic chill
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts, initially set to end sooner, will now run until 12 January, indicating an increased risk of fatalities linked to the freezing conditions.
The UKHSA has urged vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, to stay warm and take precautions against the cold.
Relief on the horizon
While Friday night is expected to be the peak of the cold snap, relief is in sight as temperatures are forecast to rise early next week. Mr Eslick said:
“Sunday will still be a chilly one, but not as cold as what we’ve seen for today and for tomorrow. By Monday, we are expecting the temperatures to come back up to what we would expect for this time of year, which is around 7°C or 8°C.”
Despite this, motorists and commuters are advised to remain vigilant over the weekend, as icy conditions may continue to cause disruptions.
As the UK battles through this Arctic blast, people are urged to prioritise safety, whether on the roads, in their homes, or outdoors.
