Temperatures fall to -7.9C with snow warnings for weekend | Global News Avenue

Temperatures dropped to nearly -8C overnight as an Arctic blast hits the UK, with warnings that snow could cause “wreaking havoc” this weekend.

Amber cold weather health alerts warn of the risk of rising deaths across England, with a local NHS service urging people to avoid going out in the early morning hours when frost is thicker.

A yellow weather warning for ice and snow is in place across much of England, Wales and Scotland from Saturday to Monday.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Breakfast that “this is definitely a weekend where the heating needs to be on” after UK charity Age UK said the weather would take a toll on winter fuel bills “Significant relief.”

Benson in Oxfordshire recorded the UK’s lowest temperature of -7.9C overnight, with cold and frosty conditions hitting much of the UK on Friday morning.

Earlier on Thursday night, temperatures fell to -7.5C in Sharpe, Cumbria, and -6.4C in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway.

In Wales, the lowest temperature was -4.9°C in Usk, while in Northern Ireland, the lowest temperature was -5.7°C in Katebridge.

The Met Office yellow warning remains in place until 10:00 GMT on Friday in parts of west Wales, northwest England and parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with wintry showers expected at times throughout the day.

Snow showers will continue in northeast Scotland on Friday, with up to 10 centimeters of snow in the Highlands.

BBC Weather forecasts predict that 20 to 40 centimeters of snow could fall in northern England and southern Scotland from Saturday night into Monday, which could cause “serious damage”.

Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing in towns and cities across the UK on Friday into Saturday morning, with rural areas experiencing significant drops. There may be some freezing fog across the Midlands and East Anglia.

Snow is expected to fall in parts of southern England, Wales, central England and Northern Ireland on Saturday night.

Snow is expected to fall in parts of northern England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland on Sunday morning, particularly on higher ground, where it is expected to cause considerable damage.

Temperatures are expected to be milder in parts of the UK later on Sunday, with London reaching 13C while Aberdeen could see just 2C.

Weather alerts include:

• A yellow warning for ice and snow is in effect for northeast Scotland, including Orkney and Shetland, until 10:00 GMT on Friday
• A yellow warning for ice is in effect for parts of northwest England, western Scotland and Northern Ireland until 10:00 on Friday
• There is also a yellow snow and ice warning in place for west Wales until 10:00 on Friday.
• Saturday from noon to midnight, A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued covering all of England except the south west and the whole of Wales
• A separate yellow warning for snow is in effect across much of Scotland, with the exception of the Far North, from midnight on Sunday until 12:00 GMT on Monday.

The Amber Cold Health Alert covers all of England but has not yet been issued for the rest of the UK.

The UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) issues alerts when temperatures may affect people’s health, particularly older people or those with existing health problems.

These alerts provide early warning to health care providers and recommend actions, such as actively monitoring high-risk groups and checking for visitors or phone calls for those most at risk for cold-related illness.

Local NHS services have been issuing reminders to residents, with NHS Black Country’s Integrated Care Board telling people to “avoid going out early when frost is thick or late at night when it is dark”.

Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK, said the cold weather would bring “significant relief” to the government’s decision to limit winter fuel payments, adding that the charity had been contacted by people “concerned about what to do” .

She urged seniors to “do whatever it takes to stay warm,” including risking increased heating bills. Ms Abraham added that energy companies had a “duty to help” those struggling and local councils were also likely to offer support.

Asked about cold weather and winter fuel payment cuts, Streeting pointed to Chancellor Rachel Reeves as a target for “the poorest pensioners” – those receiving Pension Credit. A winter fuel subsidy is provided.

“Of course the triple lock on pensions is guaranteed, so the state pension is higher this weekend than last year and will be higher next year,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“I certainly agree that this weekend is one to layer up and turn on the heat.”

The Prime Minister has previously said it was important to protect pensioners who were most in need of subsidies, but many did not need them because they were “relatively well-off”. Cutting winter fuel bills aims to save £1.5bn a year.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said on Thursday that no new postcodes would be triggered for cold weather payments.

Eligible households will be paid £25 when the average temperature in an area is recorded or forecast to be 0C or below for seven consecutive days.