Britain set to endure the coldest start to a year EVER – and even the animals make the most of it at Paignton Zoo – as temperatures plunge to -15C with snow, ice and freezing fog on the way
Sub-zero temperatures will again grip the nation tonight, plummeting as low as -4C to -6C
BRITS are set to endure the coldest January EVER with temperatures predicted to plunge to -15C with snow, ice and freezing fog all on the way.
This morning commuters were warned of hazardous conditions as icy roads and freezing fog created treacherous conditions after temperatures plunged to -6C overnight.
An African gorilla looks like he's ready to pack up and go home. His chilly stroll - for corn cobs at Paignton Zoo, Devon - was mirrored at Richmond Park, South London.
The cold snap is due to continue, before turning milder, but wetter, on Friday.
The Met Office has issued a "yellow" weather alert for ice across parts of southern England today, warning some roads could be dangerous.
Sub-zero temperatures will again grip the nation tonight, plummeting as low as -4C to -6C in central and southern England.
In its warning today the Met Office said: "Please be aware that untreated surfaces, such as pavements and some minor roads, are likely to turn very slippery later Monday night and on Tuesday morning. A few freezing fog patches are also possible.
"A very cold night is in store and as moister air comes in contact with cold surfaces later, the potential is for a lot of frost to form, rendering some surfaces hazardous."
The freezing weather looks set to continue with some predicting this could be the coldest January on record.
The coldest January day recorded was seen in Braemar, Scotland, in 1982 when temperatures dropped to -26.2C.
Sun Bets is offering odds of 16/1 that the coldest January day ever recorded will fall in 2017 and 25/1 on the month being the wettest start to the year on record.
It's also given odds of 10/1 that temperatures in London will fall below 10/1.
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Commenting on the forecast for the next few days, Frank Saunders added: “During the next week, we are likely to see a lot of dry weather. There’ll be cloudy, slightly milder conditions alternating with clearer, frosty spells across most areas.
"However, Friday does look a little wetter for some though.”
The Met Office is forecasting colder than normal conditions across the UK towards the second half of January, bringing chances of snow.
But, it says this will be broken by brief periods of milder conditions.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis offered the following advice for driving over winter: “Drivers are facing a mix of hazards – notably much colder conditions.
"Any lingering fog calls for drivers to adjust their speed and maintain longer stopping distances and to use dipped headlights. Only use your car’s fog lights if visibility is badly reduced, as using them when it’s not, means you risk dazzling other drivers.
"Motorists should remember that if their car thermometer records a temperature of 4 degrees or lower, there is a good chance the road temperature is near or even below freezing, meaning a very real risk of ice and slippery roads.
"Keep listening to traffic reports before you start your trip and if conditions are bad, aim to stick to major routes which are much more likely to be gritted."
Forecast ahead
Thursday - NORTH: Cold but sunny. SOUTH: Frost then sun.
Friday - NORTH: Windy and wet. SOUTH: Warmer, rain.
The AA has warned that today is expected to be the busiest for car breakdowns, with the motoring association predicting that they will be called out to more than 14,000 call outs.
John Snowling, of the AA, says: “The first working day back in January is one of the busiest days of the year for breakdowns, with flat batteries and flat tyres the main culprits."
Humberside Police said on Monday emergency services were "stretched" after more than 30 collisions on roads across the force area.
Urging people to drive to the conditions, the force sent a series of tweets about the icy roads in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
A spokesman tweeted: "Motorists please take extra care. The freezing overnight temperatures have left us with very icy roads and they still haven't thawed.
"More than 30 collisions across the force area this morning. Emergency services are stretched. Please drive to the conditions.
"Rural areas across North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire are especially icy. What look like puddles on the road are actually black ice."
Last week treacherous conditions caused several collisions including a 20-car pile-up on the A40, in which a woman died.
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