Cold health alert issued as Arctic air sweeps the UK
As Arctic air sweeps the region, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a yellow cold health warning for the majority of England.
The warning comes ahead of the Met Office's yellow warnings for snow and rain in areas of England and Wales, which will go into operation on Wednesday.
After temperatures plummeted as low as -7, forecasters have issued new warnings of ice and snow. On Monday, the Highlands at 2°C (19°F).
Despite earlier warnings of snow and ice on Tuesday morning, the Met Office cautioned commuters to remain vigilant due to the danger of black ice and slippery conditions.
The East Midlands, the East of England, the North East, the North West, the West Midlands', Yorkshire and the Humber are among the areas affected by the UKHSA's yellow cold health warning.
According to the UKHSA, the warning will be in place from 18:00 on Tuesday to 18:00 on Friday.
The weather is expected to have
minor impacts on health and social care services, including increased use of medical facilities and a greater risk of living among homeless people,
the department warns.
On Wednesday, a yellow weather warning for snow in the majority of Wales and parts of western England would go into place at 16:00 and will remain in force until 6:00 on Thursday.
Rain will be in place in a large area of the south of England from 06:00 on Wednesday until 6:00 on Thursday.
Blustery showers and a few brighter spells for a large area of the UK were present on Monday, with wintry rain pouring across Scotland and snow falling over higher ground.
By Monday night, colder Arcticair had migrated south, dropping snow levels across Scotland and increasing the possibility of ice and snow showers in certain regions.
Temperatures in England hit a low of -3 on Monday, with a high of 3.1 overnight. In Spadeadam, Cumbria, 9C, while Northern Ireland experienced temperatures of -4.3°C in Katesbridge, County Down.
Scotland, meanwhile, recorded lows of -7.2°C at Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands.
In Sennybridge, Powys, where the temperature hit -2, the lowest overnight temperature in Wales was recorded. 8C.
For those, Tuesday is expected to be mostly dry and sunny. However, with temperatures rising only to 6 degrees and a brisk northerly wind, it will get colder, particularly in eastern areas, where wind chill could make it feel close to freezing.
On Wednesday morning, temperatures are predicted to plummet for the majority of the United Kingdom.
Temperatures in areas of northern and northeastern Scotland could reach -8°C and -10°C. Further ice warnings may come into force.
Weather conditions will become more unstable on Wednesday as a band of rain comes in from the south and west. According to the Met Office, this could result in a mix of rain, sleet, and hill snow. With the possibility of more snow warnings, the forecaster said the device is being monitored closely.
Conditions are forecast to become drier and milder later this week.
Following a long stretch of dry weather, the Environment Agencyacross England released 64 flood warnings and 175 flood alerts on Tuesday, concentrated in the south and Midlands.
In Wales on Tuesday, two flood warnings were in place for the lower Severn catchment in Powys and south Pembrokeshire.
More than 24,000 homes and businesses have been secured, according to Jonathan Day, the Environment Agency's floodplain manager, but about 330 have been flooded.
With more heavy rain expected for southern England and South Wales on Wednesday, and the ground already saturated, more flood warnings or warnings could be sent.
On the BBC Weather website and app, an hour-by-hour forecast is available.
