Colder than South Pole!

Arctic blast brings snow, sleet and ice in chilliest snap for four years

BRITAIN could be colder than the South Pole this weekend, as an Arctic blast sends temperatures plummeting to minus 15C in some areas.

Gales, sleet and heavy rain will batter the country over the next few days, causing chaos on the roads and bringing fresh misery to families still recovering from last year’s flooding.

Some exposed parts of northern England are set to dip to minus 15C (5F) over the weekend – two degrees colder than the South Pole.

It would make this the UK’s coldest spell since 2012, when February saw the mercury fall to minus 15.6 (4F) in Holbeach, Lin- colnshire. The Met Office has issued a number of yellow ‘ be aware’ warnings for snow in the North East and Yorkshire today, following an amber ‘be prepared’ warning for southern parts of Scotland and Orkney yesterday.

Last night some places were forecast to get 3-6cm (up to 2.4in) of snow, with mountainous areas seeing up to 10cm (4in). And many waking up to snow today can expect another cold night, with lows of minus 10C (14F). A Met Office spokesman said: ‘From Friday parts of Scotland may be as cold as minus 10C, going as low as minus 15C.

‘It’s going to be very, very cold. The mild weather is definitely moving away.’

East Anglia is also set to shiver, with gales of up to 50mph today and tomorrow.

Severe weather warnings have been issued across the South, with one predicting high rainfall. Last night flood warnings were in place in Kent and Sussex.

Matthew Martin, from Meteo- group, said: ‘An Arctic plunge is coming down from the Pole and it is going to bring a northerly airstream with wintry showers. And later high pressure is going to take control, bringing very cold nights and sharp frosts overnight.’

Although temperatures will thaw briefly today in the South, it will turn icy again on Friday as the new weather front moves in from the Arctic. Sunday will be dry and sunny but extremely cold, prompting health chiefs to warn the elderly to keep their homes warm.