Cold warning issued as freezing -5C conditions set to hammer Britain

A wave of milder conditions over the weekend are set to be swept away with temperatures likely to be below average, especially overnight.

Forecasters are estimating the cold snap to last well into next week.

A spokesperson from the Met Office said: “The rain or showers will then ease with many regions becoming fine and dry over the weekend as high pressure looks likely to become established either over the UK or just to the north of the country, marking a change in weather with a move to a colder, drier and settled period for most.

“It will become rather cold next week with lower-than-average temperatures across much of the country. Frost is likely overnight and, given the ground moisture, calm conditions, and long nights, there is also a risk of fog.

“UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather alert covering the whole of England valid from 9am on January 6 to 12 noon on January 9.

“Temperatures likely to be below average especially overnight with much more overnight frost than of late. Ice is likely to be an issue given the very wet ground in most areas.”

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It comes after Storm Henk has been causing chaos across the UK with widespread flooding causing travel delays.

This includes residents who had been cut off at Billing Aquadrome who had to be rescued in a dingy operated by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.

One resident, Julie Hodgett, who lives at the caravan park, said “it was touch and go” when water levels began to rise.

“The levels were getting higher and higher,” she said.

“I had to get my car off and two dogs out. I quickly packed a case, then we heard the sirens going and were told to evacuate because the flood breached.”

Meanwhile, a man in his 50s was driving near Kemble, Gloucestershire yesterday afternoon when a tree crushed his car.

Emergency services attended the scene at 3.15pm to reports of a “large fallen tree”.

However, sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.