Cash boost as ‘plunge of Arctic air’ produces sub-zero temperatures
Cold weather payments to vulnerable are confirmed
THOUSANDS of people were eligible for cold weather payments after temperatures plunged below zero in the latest cold snap.
The Government has confirmed that homes across Staffordshire are among those which will receive the £25 paid to vulnerable people, including pensioners, to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing (recorded or forecast) for seven successive days.
It follows days of cold weather across North Staffordshire, including snow, with temperatures hitting -2C.
Payments will also be made to homes across Cumbria, Oxfordshire,
Yorkshire, Northumberland, Norfolk and Powys in Wales.
It comes as the UK shivered through a succession of cold nights last week, with some areas approaching near record-low temperatures.
According to provisional recordings by the Met Office, the mercury fell to as low as -13C in Glen Ogle, central Scotland.
The last time temperatures dropped that low was in January 2010, when -22.3C was recorded.
Freezing temperatures continued as a ‘cold plunge of Arctic air’ moved south across the country, making it 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year, the Met Office said.
A spokeswoman said last week: “It’s due to the prolonged nature of this cold spell. A build-up of snow, as well, just allows for the temperatures
to get colder and colder and we don’t often see a cold spell last three to five days.
“The air is coming directly from the Arctic, so it is exceptionally cold air..”
The UK Health Security Agency issued a cold-health alert warning of possible impacts for the health and social care sector, while National Rail warned the wintry weather could affect train journeys.