UKHSA Warns of Likely Deaths as Coldest Night Hits UK in 15 Years
The UK faces extreme cold with temperatures plunging to record lows, prompting health warnings from UKHSA about potential fatalities.
UK, Altnaharra, Cold Weather, UKHSA, Deaths, Temperatures
Altnaharra: Wow, it’s been freezing in the UK! We just hit the coldest January night in 15 years, with temperatures dropping to a bone-chilling minus 18.7C. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is warning that this extreme cold could lead to deaths, especially among vulnerable folks.
This is the coldest it’s been since 2010, when we saw some seriously low temps. Back then, Altnaharra even hit minus 22.3C! It’s not just there, though; places like Shap in Cumbria and Heathrow are also feeling the chill, with temps dipping below freezing.
Usually, northern Scotland is around 0.3C this time of year, while England sits at about 1.5C to 1.6C. The UKHSA has extended its cold weather alert for all of England until Tuesday, so everyone needs to stay warm.
They’ve issued amber alerts, warning that the risk of deaths, especially for those over 65 or with health issues, is on the rise. Met Office meteorologist Zoe Hutin mentioned that Saturday will be just as cold, with more freezing temps expected overnight in the east.
She said we can expect another chilly night, but things might start to warm up a bit by Sunday and Monday. It won’t be as dramatic as tonight, but we might still see some near-freezing temps.
Looking ahead, Zoe said it’s going to feel milder next week, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be warm. It’ll just be a bit more pleasant compared to this week’s deep freeze. She noted that this cold spell has been particularly long, getting colder each night, unlike previous years where we’d only have a few cold days.