UK saw temperatures hit low of minus 13.9C overnight, but cold snap coming to an end

Runners at sunrise in Richmond Park, London. Much of the UK endured below freezing temperatures overnight as the cold spell across the UK continues. Picture date: Sunday January 12, 2025.
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Temperatures plummeted to a frigid minus 13.9C on Saturday night, signalling the end of the recent cold spell. Kinbrace in northern Scotland recorded the lowest overnight temperature at minus 13.9C, while Cavendish in Suffolk experienced minus 7.8C and Hawarden Airport in Wales saw temperatures drop to minus 2.2C, according to the Met Office.

Patches of freezing fog have settled over parts of southeast England and Northern Ireland, which are expected to linger into the morning and could lead to icy conditions, said Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst. This follows a dramatic dip in temperatures to minus 18.9C on Saturday morning in Altnaharra, Scotland, marking the coldest January night the UK has seen in 15 years.

Typically, the average low in northern Scotland at this time of year is around 0.3C, while England sees overnight lows averaging between 1.5C and 1.6C. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its cold weather health alert across all of England until Tuesday.

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Amber alerts are now in place until January 14, indicating an increased likelihood of deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions. On Sunday, temperatures may climb to 2C or 3C in the southeast, while the far west could experience milder conditions with highs of 6C-9C.

For most of the country, temperatures are expected to range from 5C to 7C, which Mr Dewhurst described as "generally on the chilly side".

By Sunday night, milder air is expected to sweep in across the UK, with temperatures reaching as high as 9C to 10C in Northern Ireland and western Scotland by dawn. Even most other regions will enjoy a slight respite from the bitter cold, with thermometers showing a less harsh minus 1C to 3C, a welcome change from the recent icy nights, according to forecasters.

Next week, Britain looks set to be a land of two halves temperature-wise – while Northern Ireland and the north can expect a cloudy outlook with occasional drizzly rain and temperatures lingering between 9C and 12C, those in the central and southern areas should experience drier conditions at a cooler 5C to 8C. Tuesday might bring similar weather patterns but with potentially less rain, and temperatures hovering around 11-12C up north and 8-9C down south.