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Severe cold weather alert issued for England Severe cold weather alert issued for England
(about 2 hours later)
The Met Office has issued its more serious cold weather alert of the winter so far after overnight temperatures dropped to -9C in parts of the UK, with chilly conditions set to continue into the weekend and some snow forecast. The Met Office has issued its most serious cold weather alert of the winter so far after overnight temperatures dropped to -9C in parts of the UK, with chilly conditions set to continue into the weekend and some snow forecast.
The level three cold weather alert, the second-highest level in the four-stage system, has been imposed for all of England. Part of the government's cold weather planning the alert is passed to organisation such as Age UK, which work with older people during winter. The alert was issued as the current weather "could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services", a Met Office statement said. The level-three cold weather alert, the second-highest level in the four-stage system, has been imposed for all of England.
The final warning, level four, is only issued when the cold is sufficiently severe to also place at risk healthy people. As part of the government's cold weather planning, the alert is passed to organisations such as Age UK, which work with older people during winter. The alert was issued as the current weather "could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services", a Met Office statement said.
The ultimate warning, level four, is only issued when the cold is sufficiently severe to also place healthy people at risk .
Michelle Mitchell, director of Age UK, said: "It may have been relatively mild so far this year but the winter can be a dangerous time for older people.Michelle Mitchell, director of Age UK, said: "It may have been relatively mild so far this year but the winter can be a dangerous time for older people.
"Low temperatures raise blood pressure, which puts people at a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as increasing the likelihood and severity of flu and other respiratory problems.""Low temperatures raise blood pressure, which puts people at a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as increasing the likelihood and severity of flu and other respiratory problems."
Temperatures on Wednesday night fell to -9.2C at Shap in Cumbria, with -6.8C being recorded in Benson, Oxfordshire,. Daytime temperatures on Thursday will struggle to reach 2C, with some rural or higher-lying areas staying below freezing.Temperatures on Wednesday night fell to -9.2C at Shap in Cumbria, with -6.8C being recorded in Benson, Oxfordshire,. Daytime temperatures on Thursday will struggle to reach 2C, with some rural or higher-lying areas staying below freezing.
"It's going to be another cold night tonight, and the early hours of Friday could see minimum temperatures of -10C," a Met Office spokesman "Friday will stay cold, with lots of places seeing a maximum of only about 1C. But we have a warmer front pushing in from the west, which should arrive on Saturday. As it meets the cold weather we could see some snow but this is likely to turn to rain.""It's going to be another cold night tonight, and the early hours of Friday could see minimum temperatures of -10C," a Met Office spokesman "Friday will stay cold, with lots of places seeing a maximum of only about 1C. But we have a warmer front pushing in from the west, which should arrive on Saturday. As it meets the cold weather we could see some snow but this is likely to turn to rain."
During Saturday, the west and south of England could reach 4C, he added. The weather will continue warming into next week, with daytime peaks of up to 10C forecast for Monday. On Saturday, the west and south of England could reach 4C, he added. The weather will continue warming into next week, with daytime peaks of up to 10C forecast for Monday.
Conditions in the UK, however, remain fairly mild compared with those across the rest of Europe, where snow and freezing weather has caused significant disruption. In Italy, roads and rail services were hit by heavy snowfalls, while northern Greece reported temperatures of -16C. Even colder conditions further east has seen at least 80 cold-related deaths in Poland and Ukraine.Conditions in the UK, however, remain fairly mild compared with those across the rest of Europe, where snow and freezing weather has caused significant disruption. In Italy, roads and rail services were hit by heavy snowfalls, while northern Greece reported temperatures of -16C. Even colder conditions further east has seen at least 80 cold-related deaths in Poland and Ukraine.