THE Met Office has issued a yellow warning of fog – which could cause hazardous driving conditions this weekend amid freezing temperatures that could drop as low as -5C.
Frost and fog is set to be a hazard for wide parts of the UK, specifically around the South East, central England and stretching up to Newcastle, where the fog may remain all day and temperatures not rise above zero.
Visibility could drop to between 50m and 100m in a few places, with possible delays for buses, trains and flights.
The Met Office urged everyone to "get the hot water bottles at the ready as it's set to be a cold and frosty night."
Read our weather live blog for the latest news and forecasts
- Milica Cosic
UK weather outlook for Monday and Tuesday
A fine day on Monday as it will be dry with long sunny spells but mist will be slow to clear. Areas of cloud will build into northern and western areas.
Tuesday will bring outbreaks of rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland however further south should remain largely dry with some sunny spells.
- Milica Cosic
Keeping that heat flowing tonight
Try to avoid putting furniture between your radiator and bed – it will block the warmth from reaching you.
To really make the most of the heat you’re paying for, you could get a smart meter to help track and manage your consumption.
To stop losing heat through your floors, consider buying a couple of cheap rugs to use in your cooler rooms. They will add that much needed layer of extra insulation, keeping it warmer and saving cash. It can also add an extra design pop to your interior – win-win!
- Louis Allwood
Need to defrost your car in the morning, don't do this
Nipping out to switch your engine on early may seem like a clever way to make your car comfy and defrost the windscreen.
But you can invalidate your insurance if you leave the motor running unattended.
That is because most brokers will refuse to pay out if drivers fail to live up to their “duty of care” — a common clause in contracts.
Michael Lloyd, the AA’s insurance director, said: “Every winter we get reports of members’ cars that have disappeared off drives.
“The fact is that the keys are the weakest link in the car security chain and leaving your car unattended, unlocked and with the keys in in it is simply inviting it to be stolen.
“If it is ticking over, warming up, it makes the thief’s job very easy.
“Every insurance policy carries with it a ‘duty of care’ which means that you should take reasonable steps to protect your property and not do anything that could avoidably lead to loss or damage.
“And leaving your car with the engine running falls squarely into that category.
“No insurance company will meet a claim where you have left your car open to be stolen.”
- Louis Allwood
January 30 – February 13 outlook
High pressure is expected to remain dominant across the UK.
This leads to generally settled conditions prevailing, resulting in an increased likelihood of overnight frost and fog which may linger in places, otherwise bright or sunny spells.
Into February outbreaks of rain and stronger winds are likely at times across the far north, whereas settled conditions are likely to persist in the south.
Temperatures are looking to be slightly above average, particularly in the north however some colder interludes remain likely, bringing a risk of occasional snow, most likely over northern hills.
- Louis Allwood
Forecast for January 27 – February 10
This period is likely to see a gradual transition to more unsettled conditions.
Heaviest precipitation is likely to occur across the northwest, particularly later in the period, whilst drier than average conditions are more likely to affect the southeast, particularly earlier in the period.
Spells of strong wind are likely, particularly in the north. Temperatures likely to be slightly above average overall.
Some colder interludes are still expected though, bringing a risk of occasional snow, most likely over northern hills.
- Louis Allwood
Sunday's 4cast
The Met Office have released tomorrow's 4cast and it's good news for most.
Tomorrow is expected to be sunnier day for many after a cloudy morning.
- Louis Allwood
London forecast for start of the week
Settled, but rather cold with overnight frost and patchy fog, the fog perhaps slow to lift by day given light winds.
Brightest on Monday, but probably cloudier by midweek.
- Louis Allwood
Crdiff weather tonight
Scattered light showers for some western areas this evening but staying dry in most places.
Cloud and patchy rain may reach North Wales later. Patchy frost, mainly in the south.
Minimum temperature -1 °C.
- Louis Allwood
Tsunami evacuation alert in California, Japan and Australia
It comes as waves of 2.7ft swept through the streets of the Pacific nation as locals scrambled to higher ground after the "violent" eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano.
The eruption was so intense it was heard as "loud thunder sounds" in Fiji more than 500 miles away, officials said.
Now other countrys have issued alerts to protect their citizens.
Japan's meteorological agency issued tsunami warnings in the early hours on Sunday and said waves as high as three metres were expected in the Amami islands in the south.
In a briefing, a Japan Meteorological Agency official urged people not to go near the sea until the tsunami advisory and more serious tsunami warnings had been lifted.
Meanwhile Residents in various California cities, including Santa Monica and Santa Cruz, have begun to experience minor flooding as a result of the tsunami.
- Louis Allwood
Could be a freezing night for those in London
On the cloudy side, but patchy frost and fog are possible in clearer spells, although fog will be less widespread than last night.
Dry for most, however a few light showers may make inroads from the west towards dawn.
Minimum temperature -1 °C.
- Louis Allwood
'Some strong winds on Sunday'
Meteorologist Claire Nasir said: "Through Saturday into Sunday we see a weather front gradually sink its way southwards bringing with it some clearer air but also some strong winds on Sunday across the far north and north east of Scotland, extending into the first part of next week.
"High pressure will exert itself from the south so yet again we'll see some quiet conditions, particularly across England and Wales, with the risk of fog and frost by night but some brighter skies coming through."
- Louis Allwood
Sunday outlook for the UK
Band of patchy rain edging southeastwards across England and Wales, fizzling; some brightness ahead of this.
Much of Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland becoming dry with sunny spells.
- Louis Allwood
UK forecast for this evening
A few showers will affect southwest and southern parts of England and Wales, else mostly dry with broken cloud and probably only fairly isolated frost and fog.
A band of rain moving southeastwards across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Milica Cosic
How do I apply for the cold weather payment?
You don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically to those who are eligible.
If you don’t receive a payment and believe you’re eligible then you can tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office, or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
If you go into hospital, this could affect your claim so make sure you tell someone using the contact details above.
Low income households can get up to £140 towards their electricity bills with the government's warm home discount scheme.
- Milica Cosic
Who is eligible for a cold weather payment?
You’re eligible for the cold weather payment scheme if you’re in receipt of one of the following benefits and meet certain criteria:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
Regardless of employment, Universal Credit claimants are eligible if they have a disabled child amount in their claim.
You can find out more about eligibility on the government's website.
- Milica Cosic
Keeping that heat flowing tonight
Try to avoid putting furniture between your radiator and bed – it will block the warmth from reaching you.
To really make the most of the heat you’re paying for, you could get a smart meter to help track and manage your consumption.
To stop losing heat through your floors, consider buying a couple of cheap rugs to use in your cooler rooms. They will add that much needed layer of extra insulation, keeping it warmer and saving cash. It can also add an extra design pop to your interior – win-win!
- Milica Cosic
Six ways to keep your house warm
Tonight is set to be very cold, and some people may be tempted to switch on the heating. However, there are a few things every householder can try first which may save them some cash over the winter months.
Energy experts at ElectricalDirect have shared six simple, but effective ways to keep your house warm without putting on the heating.
- Keep windows and doors shut
- Open curtains and blinds during the day to let heat in and shut them once the sun goes down. In the dark, curtains and blinds act as another layer of insulation to keep warmth inside the home.
- Close the chimney
- Use draught excluders
- Put down a rug
- Install window insulation film
- Milica Cosic
Get your hot water bottles ready for tonight
THE Met Office has issued a yellow warning of fog – which could cause hazardous driving conditions on Saturday amid freezing temperatures that could drop as low as -5C.
Frost and fog is set to be a hazard for wide parts of the UK on Saturday, specifically around the South East, central England and stretching up to Newcastle, where the fog may remain all day and temperatures not rise above zero.
Visibility could drop to between 50m and 100m in a few places, with possible delays for buses, trains and flights.
The Met Office urged everyone to "get the hot water bottles at the ready as it's set to be a cold and frosty night."
- Milica Cosic
Brace yourselves for cold weather throughout today
Temperatures will drop as low as -5C today as the Met Office issues a yellow warning for thick fog stretching from the south-east through central England towards Tyne and Wear.
BBC Breakfast weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker warned of "really dense fog" with visibility dropping to just 50mm in the worst-hit places.
"It is frosty today. There is a lot of fog around today too," he said.
"It is something we have had for a few days with high pressure.
"The fog really is very dense. Visibly is only 50 to 100mm in central and eastern England over the next few hours."
And meteorologist Aidan McGivern said "stubborn fog patches" could persist all day.
- Milica Cosic
Heavy snow before the end of January
HEAVY snow could blanket London before the end of January as winter bites back, forecasters say.
And before the month is out, millions will see snow amid a freezing Arctic blast, it's believed.
WX Charts predicts snow will fall in Scotland on Friday, January 28 before moving south, hitting Newcastle by 6pm that day.
The following day, wintry showers will graze East Anglia early in the morning.
Swathes of the country between Aberdeen and Hampshire – including the capital – will then see snow on Sunday, January 30, it's predicted.
- Milica Cosic
Temperatures below normal
Frank Saunders, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Temperatures in England are expected to continue below normal in the coming days, with overnight minimum temperatures possibly getting to -4°C in some rural areas again tonight, and perhaps approaching this value again on Sunday night.
"Freezing fog will also form again across some areas on Friday night and Saturday morning.
"Areas covered by the alert are likely to see highs remain in the mid-to-low single figures through the weekend, especially in places where any fog or low cloud lingers throughout the day."
- Milica Cosic
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday
Mostly dry with sunny spells and overnight frost and fog patches in the south.
More unsettled and windier in the north with some rain or showers at times.
- Milica Cosic
UK weather outlook for Monday and Tuesday
A fine day on Monday as it will be dry with long sunny spells but mist will be slow to clear. Areas of cloud will build into northern and western areas.
Tuesday will bring outbreaks of rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland however further south should remain largely dry with some sunny spells.
- Milica Cosic
Tomorrow's weather forecast
Cloud and spells of light rain and drizzle will slowly clear southwards during the day to reveal spells of sunshine.
Another area of cloud will then build into Northern Ireland and northern Scotland later in the day.
Gentle north-westerly winds strong westerly winds across northern Scotland.
- Milica Cosic
Tonight's weather
A mostly dry but overcast and cloudy evening with patches of mist and fog soon reforming.
Overnight will then be dry for most with large areas of cloud however some clear spells will develop.
Outbreaks of rain will spread into northern and western areas and will be heavy across western Scotland.
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