Overnight, temperatures across the United Kingdom dropped, with the Scottish Highlands reaching a low of -9.1 degrees Celsius.
In some regions, the weather prompted the government to offer cold weather subsidies to individuals with the lowest incomes, as millions of people struggle to heat their homes.
A cold weather alert issued by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will last until Monday, December 12 at 9:00 GMT.
It is issued when the weather is chilly enough to affect the health of individuals.
The government has activated Cold Weather Payments of £25 for eligible individuals in over 300 postcode regions. It is paid every week.
In Scotland, the Winter Heating Payment is available to persons with low incomes and benefits, regardless of how cold it gets.
People in portions of Cumbria, North East and North West England, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Birmingham, Coventry, Staffordshire, and Brecon are eligible for Cold Weather Payments.
Current projections indicate unseasonable temperatures – significantly below average for the time of year – in several locations, with the cold weather persisting into the next week.
There have been reports of vehicles becoming stranded on some routes as a result of heavy snowfall throughout the northeast of Scotland.
In addition to causing flight delays at Aberdeen Airport, the snowy weather also disrupted bus service.
The Met Office has issued several severe weather warnings, including for the western and eastern coasts of England and Wales, parts of Northern Ireland, and northern Scotland, as temperatures plummeted to between -6°C and -7°C across the majority of the United Kingdom between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
The UK saw the coldest night of the season so far on Wednesday, according to Carol Kirkwood.
She warned that Thursday will be “dry, bright, and cold with a few wintry showers, primarily on the hills,” with snow moving south over Scotland and into north-eastern England later.
The Met Office has issued the following weather warnings:
- Until Sunday afternoon, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in effect for northern Scotland
- Until Thursday at 18:00 UTC, a yellow warning for ice also applies to Wales, north-west England, south-west England, the West Midlands, and the majority of Northern Ireland
- Friday at noon, a yellow ice warning is in effect for the East Midlands, East of England, north-east England, south-west Scotland and the Lothian borders, and Yorkshire and Humber
- A yellow ice warning for the East Midlands, East of England, north-east England, north-west England, south-west Scotland, the Lothian borders, and Yorkshire and Humber until Friday at noon
- Temperatures could drop to -10 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, posing a risk of icy surfaces due to the rapid temperature decrease
He stated, “It will be a very cold day, with temperatures below freezing in parts of Scotland and the northeast of England.”
The Met Office has issued a precautionary ice warning, as injuries and slips are more likely to occur on icy surfaces on Thursday morning.
The UKHSA has repeated it’s long-standing advice for those who are unable to heat every room, which is to heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before bed, ideally to at least 18 degrees Celsius.
Dr. Agostinho Sousa of the UKHSA stated, “Cold weather can have severe health repercussions, especially for the elderly and those with heart or lung issues.
If you have a preexisting medical condition, you should maintain a suitable temperature in your house.
A coal fire warms Natalie McNab’s living room in County Durham, but the rest of the home is chilly.
The mother of three stated that the central heating “just isn’t working.” Instead, she keeps one room warm for her family during the day and puts on oil heaters overnight for the children.
She stated that since she and her husband are both employed and not on benefits, they are ineligible for the majority of the potential additional assistance.
The cold weather notice for England also compels healthcare providers to activate additional measures, such as organizing gritting services to ensure access to essential services and pedestrian hotspots.
However, many local authorities in England and Wales, which have amassed a total of 1,400,000 tonnes of salt for this winter, have expressed difficulty attracting and retaining gritter drivers.
It is recommended that motorists keep warm clothing, blankets, and tea flasks in their automobiles. People traveling in frosty, icy conditions should be prepared to stay warm in the case of a breakdown, which is predicted to increase this week, according to the RAC.
The City Council of Sheffield has declared a serious incident as hundreds of households await the restoration of their gas supply following a water leak.
Residents have been instructed to stagger the use of tumble dryers, ovens, dishwashers, and other energy-intensive appliances until the leak is repaired.
In addition, an emergency protocol has been implemented in London to provide additional housing for rough sleepers.
