The Met Office has issued a number of weather warnings across the UK
10:35, 08 Jan 2025Updated 10:35, 08 Jan 2025
People enjoying a walk in wintry weather in Sefton Park(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The UK is braced for an icy blast, with temperatures set to plummet as low as minus 15C, the coldest of the winter so far. Parts of England were still subject to ice and snow warnings on Wednesday morning, and the Met Office said further alerts are likely to be issued as the week goes on.
Merseyside has faced a cold few days following snowfall. On Tuesday, January 7 many people woke up to a blanket of snow and freezing temperatures.
The snowfall caused disruption on the region’s roads, train services and also flights. A yellow weather warning for ice still remains in place and covers the majority of Merseyside, excluding the waterfront areas such as Hoylake, Formby and Southport.
A new yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland and Northern Ireland from noon on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday as sleet and snow showers are set to continue for the rest of Wednesday and much of Thursday.
READ MORE: Schools close due to ‘unsafe’ ice after snow hit MerseysideREAD MORE: Merseyrail live travel updates as trains cancelled and delayed across network
The mercury is set to drop sharply, with lows of minus 15C possible in Scotland and northern England overnight on Thursday and sub-zero temperatures expected across the country.
A temperature of minus 14C would equal the lowest seen in this month last year, recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands on January 17 2024.
But a temperature of minus 16C would be the lowest recorded in January in the UK for 15 years, since minus 22.3C was logged in Altnaharra in the Highlands on January 8 2010, according to Met Office data.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday. Amber alerts issued on Thursday have been extended and will now run until January 12, meaning a rise in deaths is likely, the agency said.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “We are extending the duration of our Cold-Health Alert, since the Met Office are forecasting that the low temperatures we are seeing will continue further into this week, with snow and icy conditions likely to persist.
The Wintry looking scene in Sefton park,with Gulls on the iced over lake.(Pic Andrew Teebay).(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
“This weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital that we continue to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.
“These people could be more at risk of heart attacks, stroke and chest infections as a result of cold temperatures.” Scores of flood warnings and alerts remain in place for England but more than 200 have been removed in the last 24 hours and the weather is set to be drier over the next few days.
One flood warning is in place for the River Wye at Monmouth and four flood alerts are in place for the rest of Wales on Wednesday, Natural Resources Wales said.
In Liverpool, it is set to be cold but largely dry day with bright or sunny spells. There is forecast to be a few showers along the coast during the early hours of this evening, but elsewhere it is set to be “very cold under the clear skies with a severe frost”. Below is an hour by hour forecast for today.
Tonight temperatures are set to drop to as low as -3C in Merseyside from 11pm tonight and minus temperatures will continue into Thursday up until 11am, after which the Celsius will rise to 0C with highs of only 4C.