Freezing temperatures to ease as milder weather and some showers forecast

Detailed summary

Cold health alerts were issued earlier this week for the West Midlands and the North West, and will remain in place until 12pm on Saturday.

Britons can expect a milder weekend after cold health alerts were issued and temperatures plummeted overnight, forecasters have said.

After the frost clears on Saturday morning, most of the UK should enjoy a “fine day” with some sunshine, the Met Office said.

However, heavy rain and showers are set to move in from the west and bring patchy rain and a brisk breeze across the north and far west.

There is also potential for snow in north-west Scotland, the forecaster said.

Temperatures on Saturday morning are expected to vary between 5C in Norwich and Manchester, and 11C in Plymouth.

It comes after temperatures on Friday night plunged as low as minus 6.6C in Sennybridge, near Brecon in south Wales, and minus 6.5C in Shap, a village near Penrith in Cumbria.

The first yellow cold health alerts of the season were issued this week by the UK Health Security Agency for the West Midlands and the North West, and will remain in place until 12pm on Saturday.

These alerts mean the weather is “likely to have minor impacts on health and social care services”, including an increased use of healthcare services and a greater risk to life to vulnerable people, the agency said.

Saturday night should remain dry across central and eastern parts of England, with clear spells and some frost.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Evening Standard. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.