FOUR INCHES OF SNOW ON WAY
It’s going to be even colder than the North Pole
PARTS of Britain are about to turn colder than the North Pole sparking a fresh raft of Government warnings.
With four inches of snow forecast temperatures are expected to plummet tomorrow night.
It will plunge the UK into the harshest winter weather for five years.
Daytime temperatures will fall below freezing with windchill from Siberian winds making it feel close to -15C (5F) in more remote parts.
South-east Britain will experience the worst of the icy blast and in parts during the daytime it will be colder than the
North Pole where temperatures have lifted above freezing for the first time in history.
International weather forecasting services reveal the Arctic region is turning milder just as the mercury in the UK nosedives from the blast from the east.
Met Office forecaster Martin Bowles said: “Minimum air temperatures on some days next week may be lower in south-east England than at the North Pole.
“The northern most weather station is at 1C at the moment because of exceptionally high temperatures at the North Pole and exceptionally low temperatures in south-east England.”
Public Health England last night issued a level-3 “Cold Weather Action” alert – one step below “National Emergency”.
Forecasters warned of heavy snow across the Midlands, London, Kent, East Anglia and eastern Scotland.
The most at risk regions in the East and Midlands face a 24-hour deluge between Monday afternoon and Tuesday night, the Met Office said.
Chaos
The severe weather threatens chaos on roads and transport networks with disruption to power supplies and phone signals likely.
Motoring experts have advised drivers to carry an emergency kit with food and blankets and ensure cars are winter-ready.
Overnight temperatures will widely fall to between -3C and -8C although numbing winds will make it feel even colder.
Isolated and exposed spots where snow has settled could fall to -10C, according to the Met Office.
Mr Bowles added: “We expect the very first snowfall on Sunday night, it is not until Monday afternoon when it really sets in, bands of heavy snowfall will bring five to 10 centimetres [four inches] which could lead to accumulations.
“Daytime temperatures through next week will widely stay at freezing and below, especially in the South-east.
“We expect it to stay cold through into next weekend and beyond, we are likely to issue more warnings with further snow expected through the week.”
Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said swathes of Britain are at risk of disruption through the start of next week.
He said: “Snow showers may become persistent from late Monday afternoon, continuing overnight and throughout Tuesday.
“There is the potential for travel delays on roads, stranding some vehicles and passengers, as well as delays or cancellations to rail and air travel. Some rural communities could become cut off.
“Power cuts may also occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected.”
Motoring groups urged drivers to take extra care on the roads with temperatures low enough to stop grit working.
Essential
The RAC said salt starts to become less effective when temperatures drop below freezing and is rendered useless at -10C.
Spokesman Rod Dennis said: “It’s essential to carry an emergency kit in the car in case you break down.
“Pack supplies of food and water, a hot drink in a Thermos flask plus blankets and a torch.
“Do not presume that a gritted road is necessarily free of ice, judge each road you drive on carefully, especially out in the countryside.”
Public Health England with the Met Office has warned of a 99 per cent probability of severe cold weather through the coming days.
A level-3 health alert currently in place until Thursday is likely to be extended through the rest of next week, it said.
Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Brent Walker said: “There is potential for this cold spell to be the coldest for several years in the South.”