The With office has advised people to let their families and friends know where they are going and when they will be back as Britain faces freezing temperatures and brutal winds.
Temperatures will drop to -10C this week due to a blast of Arctic air headed for the UK – dubbed the ‘Troll from Trondheim– will bring heavy frosts, ice and snow showers.
Forecasters have issued a Level 3 or amber cold weather warning for severe conditions across England from 6pm tomorrow to 9am Monday 12 December.
The alert will be activated when the country faces extremely cold weather that could increase health risks for vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.
Below level 3, social and health services must take action to protect risk groups.
The public is advised to monitor the vulnerable, keep the phone charged at all times and alert the emergency services if anyone’s health is in danger.
Despite concerns about energy costs, people are also urged to turn on the heating and wear extra layers.
The Met Office has activated a Level 3 orange cold weather warning for severe conditions in England from 6pm tomorrow morning until 9am Monday 12 December. The warning means the cold weather could increase health risks for vulnerable people and prompt social and health services to take measures to protect at-risk groups.
A walker braves a snowstorm in Nenthead, Cumbria, on Sunday as Britain braces for an arctic spell and plummeting temperatures this week
Dr. Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said older people and those with heart or lung conditions are particularly at risk from the cold weather, adding: “If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you should you can heat your home to a temperature that is comfortable for you.
‘In rooms that you use most, such as the living room or bedroom, try to heat them to at least 18C if possible. Keep your bedroom windows closed at night. Wearing several layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thicker layer.’
The Met Office added: ‘If you have to go out, make sure you dress warmly and wear non-slip shoes. Also tell someone where you are going and let them know when you get back. If you have a mobile phone, keep it charged and with you at all times.”
Frost will hit areas this evening, with snow predicted in parts of Scotland, forecasters say.
Snow will fall in the northeast tomorrow, with temperatures as low as -6C by Thursday.
A warning has been issued in the Scottish Highlands for up to two inches of snow at low levels and four inches in areas at least 200 meters above sea level.
The Met Office said over the weekend there is a high chance that temperatures in the north and west of the country could drop to minus double digits.
The current England record this season is -5.4C at Redesdale Camp, Northumberland, on 30 November.
In Wales, the coldest temperature of the season was -2.8C on December 2 in Libanus, Powys.
The National Grid says not to expect any blackouts this weekend as temperatures plummet and millions of Britons stay home or flock to pubs to watch England’s quarter-final against France in Qatar.
It comes after insiders said fears of blackouts last week were fueled by low winds, not the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Downing Street said yesterday it was confident the UK has enough energy supplies to weather the cold snap.
And energy experts told MailOnline that the risk of power cuts on Saturday or Sunday was “vanishingly small,” but power supplies could be “tighter than usual” on Thursday. They added that January could be even tighter as temperatures continue to drop.
Rebekah Sherwin, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said: ‘Temperatures will begin to drop this week, with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above freezing in many places from the middle of the week.
“However, the cold air from the Arctic is also bringing clearer conditions, with some dry, sunny spells in many areas, especially offshore.
The showers will become more wintery during the week, sometimes with a chance of snow.
A yellow National Severe Weather Warning for snow has been issued for northern Scotland for tomorrow.
“We can expect some snow and wintry showers as the week progresses, especially in coastal areas or on higher elevations. There will be a widespread frost spell in isolated areas by the end of the week with temperatures dropping to -10C at night.”
The RAC has advised motorists to check that their vehicles are ‘winterised’ with properly inflated tires with good tread.
Rod Dennis, RAC spokesman, said: “With temperatures plummeting this week, many drivers could be surprised by the cold after an exceptionally mild autumn.
“Drivers with older batteries in their cars may also want to run their vehicle for 20 minutes before colder conditions arrive, to make sure the battery can withstand freezing temperatures.”
The Met Office expects temperatures to dip Thursday (left) and Friday (right).
High pressure means sunny spells will dominate by the middle of the week, but clear skies will mean a hard frost with temperatures likely to drop to -6C in the Pennines on Thursday night
A car drives through snow near the town of Nentheadon in Cumbria on Sunday
The Met Office’s cold weather warning system operates in England from 1 November to 31 March each year, in conjunction with the UKHSA.
The system includes five levels of response based on cold weather thresholds, designed to trigger an alert when severe cold weather is likely to significantly affect people’s health.
A Met Office spokesman said: ‘It will be getting colder tomorrow and Thursday with snow showers in northern Scotland and perhaps parts of Northern Ireland and North East England.’
Elsewhere, high pressure means sunny spells will dominate mid-week, but clear skies mean a hard frost, with temperatures dropping to -6C in the Pennines on Thursday night.
In rural areas of Wales and southern England, -4C or -5C is possible.
During the day, even London and South East England could see temperatures as low as 2-3°C tomorrow and Thursday, barely rising above 0°C on Friday.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “Right now it’s overcast, which means there won’t be any big differences between daily highs and overnight lows, but as we go through this week we’ll get that cold northerly current with a brighter sky. so sunny and clear during the day, but even colder at night.’
“It’s getting colder and feels even colder with temperatures well below average for the time of year, both day and night.
“Across much of England, including the South West, we could see temperatures of -5C or -6C, which is exceptionally cold.”
He said temperatures would fall to -7C or -8C – or even colder – tonight on Thursday.
“It looks like the cold will be very widespread, maybe Northern Ireland and East Anglia won’t be that cold, maybe just a degree or two below freezing, otherwise we’re talking several degrees below freezing in Scotland, Wales ,’ he added.
“We have a snow warning for tomorrow in the northern half of Scotland and that is when the snow showers coming in from the north will have the most impact. They will probably start on Tuesday and we will see a lot of snow in the north.’
Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: ‘We will see quite cold conditions in the UK over the next few days.
“Yes, there will be some sunshine, but also quite a bit of showers and an increase in the chance of snow, especially in the north of the UK as we go through the next week as those winds start to turn in a cold northerly direction.”
Mr Burkill warned that the cold spell ‘could last for a week’ but that there is unlikely to be any major snowfall for England and Wales.
He said: ‘The northerly current will stay with us, it won’t be particularly restless so there will be some showers, it will be mostly dry but cold.
“From the middle of next week there are some signs that we will see some more unsettled weather with milder weather coming in from the south, but right now it’s a long way off.”