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FORECASTS have warned of dangerous icy conditions today as millions of Britons prepare to return to work.
Met Office officials say it will remain bitter throughout Monday after bookies cut the odds that this winter will be the coldest since records began.
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There is a yellow weather warning between Northeast Scotland and Nottingham until 11am, and the ice creates difficult conditions for travelers.
Temperatures will not rise above 5 ° C anywhere in the country amid the Arctic explosion.
Yesterday, Loch Glascanoch in the Scottish Highlands was the coldest place in the UK, with the mercury dropping to a Baltic -9.1C.
But much of the country was hit by heavy snowfall like the Great Shiver.
An army of 2,000 gritters was stirred as temperatures plummeted below freezing, while “ghost trains” raced through the night clearing the ice in an attempt to keep the country’s rail network open.
With Siberian winds pushing from the east, stinging weather, including snow, is forecast for the entire week.
And Britons who wake up to frost on their windows will face ‘dead battery Monday’ when they try to get to work by car for the first time in weeks.
Halfords says many will face trouble starting their cars after the Christmas holidays and Covid shutdowns, and any problems will be compounded by cold weather.
Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds that this winter will end as the coldest since UK records began to 1-2, from 4-6.
“With temperatures continuing to drop, we could be approaching the coldest winter since UK records began,” said Coral’s John Hill.
“It has been a cold start to the month and as a result, this is now likely to be the coldest January in history in this country.”
And it is feared that a “sudden stratosphere warning” (SSW), the conditions that led to the Beast hitting Britain in 2018, could cause chaos this month.
The meteorological event occurs when the temperature in the stratosphere rises by 50 ° C, which reverses Britain’s wind pattern, triggering icy gusts from Siberia.
Forecasters warn that an SSW could be activated next week.
But they say the results are still unclear and they have yet to make firm predictions.
The general outlook for the New Years period and the second week of January is for cold conditions to persist, with snow, frost and icy fog.
Snow fell in England this weekend and Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Northumberland and Darlington left with a blanket of white material.
Sleds made the most of the winter conditions, while others struggled to clear their paths before hitting the icy roads.
Parts of northern England, the Midlands and Wales also received a layer of snow yesterday, and difficult travel conditions are expected.
The Met Office predicted at least 5 centimeters of snow in the worst affected areas, and said temperatures could drop to -12 ° C in the northern reaches.
Drivers were told to expect difficult driving conditions where snow falls, while sidewalks can also be slippery.
Forecasters have predicted that the first week of January will see Britain trapped by “hard frosts” and very cold icy conditions.
Conditions are reported to get worse, with some claiming that we could end up with 30 inches of snow falling in just one day for half the month.
Next week, chilly easterly winds will develop, bringing winter rains, particularly around eastern parts, while dangerous hazards of freezing fog, frost and ice will continue, the Met Office said.
Meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “It’s obviously very cold and it’s going to stay cold this week.
“While there will be some winter hazards, it’s really not until the end of the week that we see significant snow.”
On potential road hazards, RAC Breakdown spokesperson Simon Williams cautioned: “The message for those who have to drive is to adjust speed according to conditions and allow extra stopping distance so that 2021 doesn’t start with a junk pothole and insurance. ” Claim.
“Snow and ice are by far the harshest driving conditions, so if they can be avoided, it’s probably the best policy.”
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