UK weather: advice given for those struggling with costs as cold snap hits the UK
The public is being advised to heat living rooms during the day and bedrooms before going to sleep as a cold snap hits the UK.
Health officials say people who cannot heat every room or are struggling with bills should follow this advice to stay healthy and keep costs lower.
Temperatures are predicted to hit -10C in northern Scotland in overnight lows, with snow and ice warnings being issued there, in Wales, Northern Ireland and the east coast.
England’s level three cold weather alert begins at 18:00 GMT.
It will run until 09:00 on 12 December but could be extended further if forecasts predict continued colder temperatures.
The alert is issued when severe cold weather is likely to affect people’s health – especially those with underlying health conditions.
Alerts issued as cold snap hits
Northern Scotland has a yellow weather warning for snow and ice – in place from midnight on Wednesday until noon on Thursday.
England’s east coast has a yellow warning too – for ice, from 18:00 GMT until 12:00 GMT on Thursday – with temperatures looking set to drop as low as -3C.
Yellow warnings have also been issued for Wales and most of Northern Ireland from midnight until 18:00 on Thursday.
Arctic blast for Scotland, protocol activated in London for homeless
It’s not uncommon for parts of northern Scotland in winter to experience sub-zero temperatures. But readings of -6C are predicted for parts of England from Thursday – which is uncommon.
Large parts of Scotland are set to experience a long “Arctic blast” with freezing temperatures, snow and ice forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.
In London, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol has been activated for the first time this winter – meaning homeless people will be given access to shelter.
UK weather – ‘Frequent showers will turn to snow overnight’
BBC Weather’s Chris Fawkes said: “Frequent showers will turn to snow overnight and, during Wednesday in north Scotland, bringing the first snow of winter.
“Over coming days, cold weather will move south with daytime temperatures around 5C below the December average – and probably not getting above freezing in places.
“Overnight frosts will be widespread and sharp, -2C to -6C commonly, but with much lower temperatures over snow cover in Scotland. Showers will increasingly turn to sleet and snow in parts of Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
“This abrupt change to cold winter weather will come as more of a shock to the system, given that this autumn has provisionally been the third warmest on record in the UK, in which frosts have been very rare.”
