UK weather: Highlands warmer than South East as unusual temperatures ‘flip the norm’
Unusual weather has “flipped the norm” in the UK, with parts of the Highlands recording 10.6C in comparison to southern England’s -9C this morning.
Some places saw freezing fog earlier – and the UK Health Security Agency has now extended a level three cold weather alert until 9am on Friday.
Temperatures hit lows of -9.8C (14F) in the West Suffolk village of Santon Downham on Monday – East Anglia’s coldest night in 10 years – but not everywhere is shivering through January.
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A change in wind direction means it is pretty mild in Scotland. The Highland area of Altnaharra reached 10.6C (51F), and temperatures as high as 12C or 13C (53.6F to 55.4F) could be recorded in Aberdeenshire later today.
Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said this weather is “relatively unusual”.
“We obviously expect it to be the other way around, especially at this time of year, but, due to the position of high and low pressure around the UK, it’s flipped the norm,” he said.
While the current Arctic blast will give way to warmer air from the Atlantic, it will take longer to reach the south – and the rest of the week is set to turn a little damp.
According to Mr Claydon, temperatures will “start to even out” by Wednesday, but there will still be a “little bit of disparity” with it likely to remain a “bit colder in the south”.
More freezing fog over parts of southern England is anticipated on Wednesday morning, with early cloud and rain over Scotland drifting southwards to reach southern England later in the day.
Mr Claydon expects “more uniformity” by Thursday, with temperatures of about 7C (44F) or 8C (46F) expected “across the board”.
The forecaster’s provisional outlook for Thursday to Saturday is “mostly dry through this period, away from western Scotland”, with “some frost and fog patches overnight into Thursday and Friday, but less so by Saturday”.
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The UKHSA’s cold weather alert means people are being urged to keep warm and check in on family and friends who may be vulnerable.
Vulnerable people in areas where average temperatures are recorded as – or forecast to be – below 0C for seven consecutive days are now eligible to receive cold weather payments to help with heating bills.
The government says payments will be made to homes across North East England, Cumbria, west Wales and Oxfordshire.
The Environment Agency currently has 30 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected and action to prevent it should take place.
In London, mayor Sadiq Khan has issued a high air pollution alert – with commuters urged to avoid making unnecessary car journeys and use public transport or cycle if possible.