A persistent cold spell has gripped the UK, with temperatures plummeting to a chilling minus 18°C in Altnaharra, a remote hamlet in northern Scotland. The freezing conditions were recorded on Friday night by the Met Office and continued into Saturday morning, making it the coldest overnight temperature in January since 2010.
The mercury in Altnaharra, located in the northernmost Highlands, dipped to minus 18°C at around 10 pm on Friday, and the frigid temperatures endured well into the early hours of Saturday. This marks the coldest night for the region since January 8, 2010, when the temperature plunged as low as minus 22.3°C.
While the Met Office had previously speculated that the temperature could drop as low as minus 19°C, the record-low in Altnaharra exceeded the expectations. However, other parts of the UK also felt the icy chill, with Shap, Cumbria, reaching minus 11°C, and Heathrow Airport recording minus 5°C. The average low for northern Scotland this time of year is around 0.3°C, while for England, it typically hovers between 1.5°C and 1.6°C.
Met Office meteorologist Zoe Hutin forecasted that the cold spell will continue through the weekend, particularly in eastern regions of England, northern and eastern Scotland, and parts of East Anglia, where temperatures are expected to drop below freezing once again.
“Saturday night will bring more cold conditions, especially for the eastern parts, but by Sunday and into Monday, we should see some recovery,” Hutin explained. “It will still be chilly, but not as extreme as the temperatures we’ve seen in the previous nights.”
Looking to next week, Hutin stated that while temperatures may rise slightly, the UK will remain well below average, although it will feel comparatively warmer than the current intense cold spell.
The extended cold spell, which has been progressively getting colder each night, is proving to be a rare event for the UK. “In previous years, we’ve only experienced a couple of days with such harsh conditions, but this year it’s been a particularly long cold spell,” said Hutin.
As the country continues to endure freezing temperatures, authorities are urging people to take precautions against the cold and to stay updated on weather warnings.
Sources By Agencies
