Winter has arrived early in the way it often does in Britain, with a cold Arctic air mass settling over the land and laying frost and a thin, treacherous fog across the fields and streets. For a weekend, the cold holds its grip, then gives way to the softer, wetter weather that the Atlantic brings in its turn. It is a familiar rhythm of the island's seasons, and it offers a reminder that even a bright, still morning can carry a hidden hazard underfoot. The rain arriving on Sunday, welcome to parched ground, quietly returns the land to its ordinary humidity.
Freezing fog and frost grip England and Wales Saturday, before rain and milder air arrive Sunday
Untreated pavements become instant ice rinks
Mark
Why is freezing fog singled out when the frost is the bigger headline?
Mimi
Because of how it behaves. The droplets are super-cooled, so they freeze on impact and can turn untreated pavements into instant ice rinks, while also cutting visibility.
Mark
Where is that risk highest?
Mimi
Southern and eastern England, with patchy fog in the south and south-east.
Luke
Worth noting it's described as patchy. Not everyone there will see it, and the source doesn't say how widespread it will be.
Mark
And the cold health alerts?
Mimi
Yellow alerts from the UKHSA cover the West Midlands and north-west England until noon Saturday.
Luke
Which means they expire as the day warms. The source doesn't say whether they'll be extended.
Mark
Does Sunday's rain help the drought?
Mimi
Generally yes, for places in drought or severe drought. But parts of eastern England may avoid most of it.
Luke
So that's a general benefit, not a guarantee. No rainfall totals are given, so we can't say how much relief to expect.
Il Polso
- Arctic air grips England and Wales, with overnight lows falling to -5C in the countryside and freezing fog threatening slick pavements in the south and east.
- Yellow cold health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency are in force, pressing councils and residents to take the chill seriously.
- Once the fog burns off, Saturday turns bright and mostly dry, with afternoon temperatures climbing to 12C in south-west England.
- Atlantic low pressure rolls in for Sunday, bringing brisk, showery rain heaviest over Scotland, Northern Ireland and the south and west of England and Wales.
- The incoming rain is set to ease drought conditions, though parts of eastern England may be left largely dry.
Winter has arrived early in the way it often does in Britain, with a cold Arctic air mass settling over the land and laying frost and a thin, treacherous fog across the fields and streets. For a weekend, the cold holds its grip, then gives way to the softer, wetter weather that the Atlantic brings in its turn. It is a familiar rhythm of the island's seasons, and it offers a reminder that even a bright, still morning can carry a hidden hazard underfoot. The rain arriving on Sunday, welcome to parched ground, quietly returns the land to its ordinary humidity.
Saturday begins under a hard white frost across much of England and Wales. In the south and south-east, freezing fog hangs in the air, its droplets turning to ice the moment they touch a surface. Towns may dip to -2 or -3C, while the open countryside could fall to around -5C. The UK Health Security Agency has yellow cold health alerts in force, especially for the West Midlands and north-west England, until midday.
The fog is the most practical danger. Untreated pavements can become sheets of ice, so anyone heading out early is urged to take care. Further north, a stronger breeze keeps most places a few degrees above freezing.
By the afternoon the frost and fog have lifted, and the day turns bright and mostly dry. Temperatures climb from around 7C in the Highlands to 12C in south-west England, and much of England and Wales enjoys long spells of sunshine. Northern Ireland clouds over by evening, and Scotland stays breezy with a few showers.
Sunday brings a change. Low pressure from the Atlantic moves in with showery rain and brisk winds, drifting from west to east. Most areas wake to a frost-free start. The heaviest rain falls in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the south and west of England and Wales, bringing welcome relief to places still in drought, though parts of eastern England may miss most of it.
Saturday morning begins with frost across much of England and Wales, and in the south and south-east, patches of freezing fog. Arctic air is holding on over the UK as the weekend starts, and cold health alerts remain in force for a large part of England.
The cold will be sharpest in England and Wales. Towns and cities are expected to dip to -2 or -3C, while the countryside could reach -5C. Further north, a stronger breeze means most places will sit a few degrees above freezing.
The fog is the more practical hazard. Freezing fog forms in air that is already below freezing, so its super-cooled water droplets hang in the air and then freeze on contact. That can reduce visibility and turn untreated pavements into sheets of ice. The risk is greatest in southern and eastern England.
The UK Health Security Agency has yellow cold health alerts in force for the West Midlands and north-west England until 12:00 on Saturday.
Once the frost and fog lift, the day turns bright and mostly dry. Afternoon temperatures climb across the UK, from 7C in parts of the Highlands to 12C in south-west England. England and Wales should see long spells of sunshine, apart from an odd early shower in the far north-west. Northern Ireland gets some bright spells in the morning, then thickening cloud in the afternoon and rain by evening. Scotland will be breezy with a few showers, and the wind will make it feel colder.
Sunday changes the picture. Low pressure moving in from the Atlantic brings showery rain drifting from west to east across much of the country, with brisk winds. Most areas should wake to a frost-free start. The heaviest rain is likely in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in southern and western parts of England and Wales.
The rain is generally welcome news for places still suffering drought or severe drought, though parts of eastern England may miss most of it. Local forecasts are available on BBC Weather online and on the app.
Citazioni salienti
Freezing fog can freeze on impact, turning untreated pavements into instant ice rinks.— BBC Weather forecast
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