A road warning sign on the A82 through Glencoe, Scotland, last week. PA
A road warning sign on the A82 through Glencoe, Scotland, last week. PA
A road warning sign on the A82 through Glencoe, Scotland, last week. PA
A road warning sign on the A82 through Glencoe, Scotland, last week. PA

Cold weather payments kick in with areas of southern England to hit minus 9ºC


Soraya Ebrahimi
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With the cold snap set to last until the end of the week, parts of southern England will hit minus 9ºC in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Freezing fog has also been forecast in some areas for Tuesday morning, said the Meteorological Office.

The UK Health Security Agency extended a level-three cold weather alert until 9am on Friday, with people urged to keep warm and check in on family and friends who may be more vulnerable.

As temperatures plunged to minus 9.5ºC in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Sunday night, it was confirmed hundreds of households in England and Wales are eligible for cold weather payments.

They are made to vulnerable people, including pensioners, to help them pay for heating when the temperature dips below freezing.

It goes to those living in an area where the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0ºC or lower over seven consecutive days.

Payments will be made to homes across north-east England, Cumbria, west Wales and Oxfordshire.

Snow blankets the UK, with more wintry weather to come - in pictures

  • Snow has fallen across the UK. Trees and boats blanketed in Little Venice, London. AP
    Snow has fallen across the UK. Trees and boats blanketed in Little Venice, London. AP
  • Marine Park in South Shields, north-east England. PA
    Marine Park in South Shields, north-east England. PA
  • A car stranded on the hard shoulder of the M25 motorway near Epping. Bloomberg
    A car stranded on the hard shoulder of the M25 motorway near Epping. Bloomberg
  • A frozen lake in Richmond Park, south west London. AFP
    A frozen lake in Richmond Park, south west London. AFP
  • The Angel of the North in Gateshead. PA
    The Angel of the North in Gateshead. PA
  • Mjukuu the gorilla snacks on a snowman's broccoli hair at London Zoo. PA
    Mjukuu the gorilla snacks on a snowman's broccoli hair at London Zoo. PA
  • A car abandoned after crashing on a roundabout in Ashford, Kent. PA
    A car abandoned after crashing on a roundabout in Ashford, Kent. PA
  • Snow outside the Churchill Arms pub in west London. AP
    Snow outside the Churchill Arms pub in west London. AP
  • St Nicholas' Park in Warwick. AP
    St Nicholas' Park in Warwick. AP
  • A tractor clears snow from the runways at Manchester Airport. Reuters
    A tractor clears snow from the runways at Manchester Airport. Reuters
  • Hownsgill Viaduct in Durham. AP
    Hownsgill Viaduct in Durham. AP
  • The town of Consett in County Durham. AP
    The town of Consett in County Durham. AP
  • A frosty morning at Primrose Hill in north London. AFP
    A frosty morning at Primrose Hill in north London. AFP
  • More freezing weather at Primrose Hill. AFP
    More freezing weather at Primrose Hill. AFP
  • Camden, north London. AP
    Camden, north London. AP
  • Cold temperatures, freezing fog and wintry showers are expected throughout the week. AP
    Cold temperatures, freezing fog and wintry showers are expected throughout the week. AP
  • A park in south London. AP
    A park in south London. AP
  • The snow forced airports to close and left drivers struggling to get through. AP
    The snow forced airports to close and left drivers struggling to get through. AP

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has 34 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected and action to prevent it should take place.

“We’ve got rather cloudy, damp but mild weather across Northern Ireland, Scotland and far north-west areas of England on Tuesday,," Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said.

"Temperatures could get up to 12ºC or 13ºC across Aberdeenshire way.

“Further south across the rest of England and Wales we’re still under the colder conditions, so there could be some fog again which will be quite slow to clear, so a very similar start to Monday.

“When there is cloud it’s going to feel pretty cold, but in the sunshine, although it will be cold, the sun will help negate the cold a little bit. So all in all, a pretty similar day to Monday.

“Going into Wednesday, we do see a change as the day goes on.

"We’ve got a cold front coming down from the north so that will move across Scotland and Northern Ireland during the morning and then gradually move across England and Wales during the afternoon.

“There will be some rain with it, turning brighter after it moves in, and the front will then pass on Thursday.

“Tuesday morning will probably be the coldest, with some parts of southern England getting down to minus 9ºC, hovering around minus 7ºC in the early hours of Wednesday."

Cold weather in the UK – in pictures

  • Snow covered fields and rooftops in Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland. More snow is forecasted to fall in the UK on Thursday. PA
    Snow covered fields and rooftops in Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland. More snow is forecasted to fall in the UK on Thursday. PA
  • Daybreak on Thursday morning near Leyburn in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. PA
    Daybreak on Thursday morning near Leyburn in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. PA
  • A frosty morning run in Wansted Park in London. PA
    A frosty morning run in Wansted Park in London. PA
  • A morning jogger passes the Diana Fountain in Bushy Park in south-west London after a night of low temperatures in Britain's capital. PA
    A morning jogger passes the Diana Fountain in Bushy Park in south-west London after a night of low temperatures in Britain's capital. PA
  • A skier on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines. PA
    A skier on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines. PA
  • The A1101 in Welney on the Cambridgeshire-Norfolk border, where the River Delph and New Bedford River flooded the surrounding area. PA
    The A1101 in Welney on the Cambridgeshire-Norfolk border, where the River Delph and New Bedford River flooded the surrounding area. PA
  • New snow covers Beaufront Castle near Hexham in Northumberland. PA
    New snow covers Beaufront Castle near Hexham in Northumberland. PA
  • Waves break over the sea wall in strong winds at New Brighton. Reuters
    Waves break over the sea wall in strong winds at New Brighton. Reuters
  • A young trials rider takes on a snowy incline near Castleside, County Durham. PA
    A young trials rider takes on a snowy incline near Castleside, County Durham. PA
  • Snow covers a roundabout in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland. PA
    Snow covers a roundabout in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland. PA
  • A family take advantage of the weather to have some fun on sledges in Tow Law, County Durham. PA
    A family take advantage of the weather to have some fun on sledges in Tow Law, County Durham. PA
  • A man snowboarding at the volunteer ran Ski-Allenheads as the cold weather continues in Northumberland. Reuters
    A man snowboarding at the volunteer ran Ski-Allenheads as the cold weather continues in Northumberland. Reuters
  • Flooding near Faversham at high tide after Faversham Creek burst its bank. Getty Images
    Flooding near Faversham at high tide after Faversham Creek burst its bank. Getty Images

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also issued a high air pollution alert for the capital for Tuesday.

“We know how dangerous toxic air is for Londoners. That’s why I’m doing everything in my power to tackle it," Mr Khan said.

"On Tuesday, alongside the extreme cold temperatures we’ve been experiencing, we are also expecting high levels of air pollution.

“Following the latest forecast from Imperial College London, I am issuing a ‘high’ air pollution alert.

"This shows once again why it’s so vital that we expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone London-wide to reduce toxic air pollution in our city.

“We all need to be careful over the next few days. I’m urging Londoners to look after each other by choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport where possible, avoiding unnecessary car journeys, stopping engine idling and not burning garden waste, all of which contributes to high levels of pollution.

“This is particularly important in order to protect those who are more vulnerable to high pollution.”

Updated: January 24, 2023, 5:21 AM