Weather warnings remain in force across Lancashire as the region is braced for mercury levels to plummet as low as minus -10C.
Overnight into Friday (January 10), temperatures are set to drop sharply, with bone-chilling sub-zero conditions expected. The Met Office warned that it will even ‘feel like’ -15C in eastern areas such as Rossendale and Pendle with another day of school closures and traffic disruption expected.
Elsewhere in the UK, minimum temperatures of -16C could be reached on Thursday night with Oli Claydon, a Met Office spokesperson, saying it will be “bitterly cold” on Thursday night. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its amber cold weather health alert for all of England until Sunday (January 12) following days of bitterly cold weather and means a rise in deaths is likely.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the 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. 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.”
Here are the exact times it will be the coldest in every Greater Manchester borough tonight:
Blackburn with Darwen
Temperatures are expected to hit as low as -5C in Blackburn overnight. According to the Met Office, it will remain at -5C until around 2am, however it will feel like -7C until around 8am meaning another cold and icy start on Friday.
Blackpool
It will plummet to -3C overnight on Thursday in Blackpool. The Met Office says temperatures will drop to -3C at around 1am. It will remain that low until 9am but will feel like -6C between 4am and 8am.
Burnley
Met Office forecasters predict lows of -5C in Burnley overnight. The time it is meant to hit the chilly temperature is at around midnight and lasting until 3am, when it will rise by just one degree, to -4C. However it will feel like -7C from 11pm on Thursday to 6am on Friday.
Chorley
In the borough of Chorley, the Met Office says temperatures will drop to -4C at around 1am on Friday. Sub-zero temperatures will remain until midday and it will feel like -6C throughout the night.
Fylde
Temperatures are expected to hit as low as -5C in Kirkham overnight. According to the Met Office, it will hit the coldest temperature at around 4am on Friday but will feel like -8C between 4am and 7am.
Hyndburn
In Hyndburn, it will be at its coldest at around 1am on Friday. Temperatures will remain at around -5C until 2am, when it will rise to -4C. However it will again feel colder at -7C between midnight and 6am.
Lancaster
It will be slightly warmer in Lancaster – but only by a degree. Temperatures will remain at -4C from 8pm on Thursday until 9am on Friday, when it will rise to -3C. However it will feel like -7C between 2am and 6am.
Pendle
Met Office forecasters have said that in Pendle, temperatures will plummet to -7C overnight. The coldest temperatures are predicted from 1am to 4am, however it will feel like -10C.
Preston
In Preston, temperatures will drop to -5C overnight. From midnight, the coldest temperature overnight will remain until around 1am on Friday before rising to -4C until 10am. It will feel like -8C between 4am and 6am.
Ribble Valley
Forecasters predict lows of -6C in the Ribble Valley overnight. The time it is meant to hit the chilly temperature is at around midnight and lasting until 5am, when it will rise by just one degree, to -5C. However it will feel like -9C between midnight and 6am.
Rossendale
The coldest temperatures are set to be felt in Rossendale with lows of -11C at around 2am on Friday. However it will feel like -15C. Temperatures will rise to -9C at 3am and then -7C at 5am.
South Ribble
In the borough of South Ribble, the Met Office says temperatures will drop to -4C at around 11pm on Thursday. This will continue until 8am on Friday. It will feel like -7C between 4am and 7am.
West Lancashire
Temperatures are expected to hit as low as -3C in West Lancashire overnight. According to the Met Office, it will hit the coldest temperature at around 4am on Friday. It will feel like -6C from 5am to 8am.
Wyre
In Wyre, temperatures will drop to -3C at around 1am on Friday. This will continue until 9am when it rises slightly to -2C. However, it will feel like -7C between 2am and 8am.
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