Britain set to be colder than the South Pole

BRITAIN is set to be colder than parts of the South Pole as forecasters expect the big freeze to continue until the end of the month. According to yesterday's reports, temperatures are predicted to drop to as low as -6C yesterday and on Thursday, plunging to -10C at night by the end of the week. However, bitterly cold winds will make it feel at least three degrees lower. Snow flurries reached Westminster in central London yesterday, while falls up to 5cm have covered Dartmoor and Exmoor. Snow also settled in South Wales, and on Salisbury Plain. Severe weather warnings were issued for ice across east and south-west England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and south Wales and these warnings remain in place. According to a Met Office spokesman "It seems like we are edging toward a scenario where lower temperatures last for the next four weeks. It is going to be a contrast to the milder weather we have had this winter. Widespread frosts and snow could affect large areas."

He said the wintry onslaught was a result of a cold air mass moving across from Siberia and western Russia, pushing raw, easterly winds towards the UK, meaning this will be the longest spell of cold weather so far this winter. Scattered snow showers and freezing temperatures could cause icy conditions on roads in parts of the UK, forecasters have warned. The Met Office has upgraded its cold weather alert to Level 3, stating that there was a 100% probability of "severe" conditions across most of England this week. The warning means there is expected to be an impact on people’s health and on health services, with a surge in demand for care.

Meanwhile heavy snow and a severe cold snap have killed at least 36 people across Eastern Europe and many areas were under emergency measures as schools closed, roads became impassable and power supplies were cut off. Ukraine’s Emergency Situations Ministry said 18 people died of hypothermia and nearly 500 people sought medical help for frostbite and hypothermia in just three days last week.