Brits face rolling power cuts & blackouts as officials blame ‘work-from-home’ Met Office for failing to forecast freeze

BRITS are facing rolling power cuts with the Met Office blamed for failing to give enough warning about the current sub-zero weather.

Insiders believe if experts had predicted the freezing temperatures early enough, officials could have stocked up with gas to meet demand.

Instead, Brits could be hit with rolling power cuts as National Grid struggles to cope, the reports.

Some Westminster sources have now questioned if the Met Office's work-from-home advice could be behind the failings.

One told the newspaper: "Is this another occasion where working from home has lowered the quality of public service?"

Temperatures dropped to -17.3C as the cold snap gripped Britain this week.

Sources claim forecasters "dramatically underestimated" the scale of the Arctic blast.

They claim experts told then-Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg there was "less than a one-in-ten chance" of temperatures falling as low as they have done.

The freezing weather saw National Grid trigger its back-up power plan amid fears energy supplies could run out.

It fired up its coal-fired units for the first time this winter after previously claiming they would only be deployed as a "last resort" to prevent blackouts.

Independent energy analyst Tony Jordan said: "The freezing conditions caught weather forecasters – and the National Grid that relies so heavily on them to plan our energy needs – off-guard.

"We are far from in the clear when it comes to avoiding shortages and potentially even blackouts."

Fears have been raised that three hour blackouts could hit parts of the UK this winter.

Government documents seen by The Sun in October revealed plans for the power cuts designed to conserve energy supplies.

Blackouts could be introduced in case of an emergency scenario where there is a massive shortage of gas, which is used to generate electricity.

Last week, the UK depleted a fifth of all its stored gas in just six days as temperatures plummeted.

But ministers today urged Brits to have "confidence" in the supplies.

Oliver Dowden said only a "very, very extreme, unforeseen scenario" would lead to a breakdown in the network.

The weather is set to improve from tomorrow, with the mercury likely to nudge 14C in some areas.

But Britain is first expected to be hit by freezing rain and snow today leading to chaos on the roads.

The Met Office said it had outlined a "likely scenario" of cold snaps with the threat of snow and ice in December, which "has largely been seen".

An Energy Department said: "As a responsible Government, we continually plan for a wide range of potential scenarios, working to prepare robust contingency plans so we minimise any potential impact.

"This is not a direct consequence of the current cold snap."