With temperatures already beginning to plummet across the country, The Met Office has issued an urgent cold weather warning to the public, as the mercury looks set to plunge to as low as -10°C.
The cold snap, aptly titled the 'Troll of Trondheim' is largely due to a freezing storm from Norway sweeping in from the North and bringing with it a raft of icy winds, freezing temperatures and even a dusting of snow.
In response to the imminent freezing conditions, forecasters have issued a level 3, or amber, alert between 6pm on Wednesday and 9am on Monday December 12, with the Met Office urging social and healthcare services to take action to protect elderly and vulnerable people who may struggle in the severe cold.
Warning the public of what to expect, Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Rebekah Sherwin, said: “As the cold air pushes across the UK from the north temperatures will dip, with daytime temperatures struggling to get above freezing in many places from mid-week onwards.
“However, the cold air from the Arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells, particularly away from the coast.”
With the worst of the weather expected to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, yellow warnings have been issued for parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the east coast of the UK on both days, with forecasters even warning to expect snow and ice as the storm hits.
“Showers will turn more wintry as the week goes on with a risk of snow at times,” the forecaster warned.
“We can expect to see further snow and wintry showers as the week progresses, particularly in coastal areas or over higher ground. There will be widespread frosts with temperatures falling to as low as -10°C overnight in isolated spots by the end of the week.”
Alongside carrying a health risk, particularly for elderly and vulnerable residents, the Met Office also warned that the expected heavy frosts and freezing temperatures could pose a serious “disruption of services” to everything from public transport to the postal service, with roads also potentially affected too.
Urging residents to take precautions and to check in on their neighbours and loved ones, Dr Agostinho Sousa, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, and older people and those with heart or lung conditions can be particularly at risk."
“If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you. In rooms you mostly use such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18°C if you can. Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.”
A spokesman for the RAC, Rod Dennis, also urged drivers to be aware of the changing weather situation after such a mild Autumn, and urged them to take precautions before hitting the roads.
He said: “Our advice is to be winter ready – check tyres are properly inflated and with good tread, while topping up oil, coolant and screen wash levels if needed.
“Drivers with older batteries in their cars might also wish to give their vehicle a 20-minute drive before colder conditions arrive to ensure the battery can cope with sub-zero temperatures.”
He also added: “It’s also worth having a fully-charged mobile phone and carrying a blanket in case of a breakdown to keep warm.”
It’s currently unknown how long the incoming cold snap will actually last, but forecasters are confident it will last well into next week, with temperatures continuing to remain below the seasonal average.
With more snow predicted in the coming weeks, bookies are already slashing the odds on the likelihood of a ‘White Christmas’ with Ladbrookes, even reporting a fairly optimistic 11/10 for a dusting of snow to fall anywhere in the UK on December 25.
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