UK Braces for Freezing Fog and Sharp Frost as Cold Health Alerts Persist

Arctic air will continue to grip the United Kingdom this weekend, with cold health alerts remaining active across large parts of England. Saturday is set to begin with another harsh and widespread frost, with the coldest conditions expected in England and Wales.

Freezing Fog and Slippery Surfaces

Forecasters are also warning of patchy freezing fog, particularly across southern and eastern England, which could reduce visibility and create dangerously slippery surfaces. Super-cooled water droplets suspended in sub-zero air can freeze instantly on impact, turning untreated pavements and roads into hazardous ice rinks.

Temperatures in towns and cities are expected to drop to between -2C and -3C, while rural areas could see lows of -5C. Yellow cold health alerts issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) remain in force for the West Midlands and north-west England until midday on Saturday.

Further north, a breeze will keep most places a few degrees above freezing, though wind chill will make it feel colder in Scotland.

A Brighter Afternoon

Once the fog and frost clear, Saturday will largely become a bright and dry day. By the afternoon, temperatures will rise across the country, ranging from 7C in parts of the Highlands to a milder 12C in south-west England. England and Wales are forecast to enjoy long spells of sunshine, away from the odd shower in the far north-west early on.

Northern Ireland will see some bright spells in the morning, with cloud thickening in the afternoon and rain arriving by evening. Showers are expected in parts of Scotland, where it will also be breezy.

Sunday Brings a Change

The chilly but mainly dry spell will give way to more unsettled conditions on Sunday as low pressure sweeps in from the Atlantic. Showery rain will drift from west to east across much of the UK, with the heaviest downpours likely in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and southern and western parts of England and Wales.

The rain will be welcome news for areas still suffering from drought or severe drought, although parts of eastern England may miss most of it. Rainfall totals this weekend are expected to be highest in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Residents are advised to check local forecasts and take care on untreated surfaces during Saturday morning's frost and fog.