UK Braces for Arctic Blast: Sub-Zero Temps and Snow Warnings

A yellow weather alert for cold conditions has been issued across large parts of the UK, effective from Friday through Monday. Temperatures are forecast to drop as low as -2C in some areas, with freezing weather anticipated in major cities like Manchester and Birmingham. Scotland faces multiple weather warnings for snow and ice across various regions, including Central, Tayside and Fife, and Highlands. An Arctic Maritime airmass is moving south, bringing a colder spell anticipated to be brief as Atlantic conditions are expected to dominate later in the weekend. Snowfall is possible on low ground by Friday morning, with accumulations of up to 10 cm expected on hills above 300 metres. This temperature drop will likely lead to ice forming on untreated surfaces. Currently, 87 flood warnings and 151 flood alerts are active in England, with three flood warnings and seven alerts in Scotland. Ongoing groundwater flooding is likely to affect Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and West Sussex over the next four days. River flooding is also expected along the River Trent and rivers in Somerset and Wiltshire. Forecasters predict heavy rain, with 15-25 mm widely expected and potentially 30-40 mm over high ground. Cornwall and County Down experienced their wettest January on record, and Northern Ireland had its wettest January in 149 years. Across the UK, 26 stations recorded new monthly rainfall records, with several daily records broken.