The UK faces the “worst day” of winter in a brutal weather shift amid -20C lows overnight. The Met Office has warned -20C temperatures could hit overnight between Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, as the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) amber alert is extended until January 12.
BBCweather forecaster Chris Fawkes said: ” Overnight we are looking at a really widespread frost, where most people live in towns and cities you probably won’t notice much change in the temperatures, -4C to -7C, but it is across snow covered valleys in Scotland we could see temperatures plummet down to somewhere between -18C and -20C.
“A sharp frost, icy conditions to start the day for Friday.” The Met Office forecast for Friday explains: ” A cold start to Friday with frost and patchy freezing fog. Sunny spells and the odd wintry shower in the north and east. Rain, sleet and some hill snow move into the southwest, leading to some icy stretches.
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“Cloud and patchy rain or hill snow remains in the southwest. Dry with light winds and clear spells elsewhere allowing frost and freezing fog to form. Cold again for most.” Looking ahead to Saturday (January 11), the forecast from the Met Office goes on to say: “Cloudy with a little patchy light rain and hill snow in the west. Dry, cold with light winds and sunny spells elsewhere.
“Early fog slow to clear for some.” The o utlook for Sunday to Tuesday, spanning January 12 to January 14, adds: ” Turning less cold into the new week. Mostly dry and settled in the south, although rather cloudy. Windier in the northwest with some rain at times. Still some chilly nights.”
The Met Office headline also goes on and warns: “Cold with sunny spells. Some rain in the south west.”