Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK records coldest January night in 15 years at -17.3 degrees Celsius

Snow is expected in Dartmoor, Exmoor, northern Scotland, and possibly the north-east of England.

uk-snow-getty

People drive their cars past a landscape covered in snow and along the Snake pass road, in the Peak district, northern England. (Photo: Getty Images)

THE UK recorded its coldest January night in 15 years as temperatures dropped to -17.3 degrees Celsius in Altnaharra, Sutherland, by 9 pm on Friday.

This is the lowest January temperature since 2010, when Altnaharra hit -22.3 degrees Celsius on 8 January, The Guardian reported.


The UK Health Security Agency extended its England-wide amber health alert to Tuesday, warning that the cold could impact vulnerable groups, including those over 65 and people with pre-existing health conditions.

The agency urged people to check on family, friends, and neighbours at risk of heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections due to the freezing conditions.

The Met Office issued yellow ice warnings for the south-west, Wales, Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, and the east coast of England from Northumberland to Essex.

Snow is expected in Dartmoor, Exmoor, northern Scotland, and possibly the north-east of England.

Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said temperatures across the UK are likely to fall below freezing, with severe frost and ice overnight, The Guardian reported.

He advised caution for travellers due to icy conditions but noted clearer weather away from freezing fog. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly by Monday, though Saturday remains cold.

The cold snap has caused travel disruptions, with rail line closures and hundreds of school shutdowns in Scotland and Wales.

The RAC reported its highest rescue demand since December 2022. Meanwhile, ice skaters took advantage of frozen fields in the Cambridgeshire Fens.'

UK has enough gas'

The UK has sufficient gas to meet winter demand, according to the network operator, despite a warning from British Gas owner Centrica about "concerningly low" storage levels.

Centrica, which operates the UK’s largest gas storage facility, stated that the country had "less than a week of gas demand in store" due to colder-than-usual weather, BBC reported.

However, National Gas, which manages the UK gas network, assured that the UK sources gas from "a diverse range of sources" and that storage levels "remain healthy."

More For You

Vinay Narwal

Lieutenant Vinay Narwal of the Indian Navy, 26, from Haryana, was among those killed in the attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Photo: X/@indiannavy

Navy officer on honeymoon, grandfather vacationing with grandkids among 26 killed in Kashmir attack

LIEUTENANT Vinay Narwal of the Indian Navy had been married just six days earlier. He was on his honeymoon in Pahalgam when he was shot in the head by a terrorist while eating bhelpuri with his wife.

Manjunatha, a tourist from Karnataka, was asked if he was Hindu or Muslim before being shot dead.

Keep ReadingShow less
Comment: ‘Time to move English pride beyond the football pitch’

A St George’s Day parade in Gravesend

Comment: ‘Time to move English pride beyond the football pitch’

ST GEORGE’S DAY – England’s national day on Wednesday (23) – raises the question of whether we could celebrate England more.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will mark the occasion with a reception in Downing Street. He told his candidates not to “flinch” from flying the St George’s flag last year, though Labour tends to place more emphasis on the Union Jack in England.

Keep ReadingShow less
kashmir attack

Indian security forces personnel escort an ambulance carrying the bodies of tourists who were killed in the attack near Pahalgam, outside the police control room in Srinagar.

Reuters

India hunts gunmen as world condemns deadly Kashmir attack

INDIAN security forces launched a major search operation on Wednesday, a day after gunmen opened fire on tourists in Kashmir, killing 26 people. The attack was the deadliest on civilians in the region since 2000.

Prime minister Narendra Modi, who returned early from a state visit to Saudi Arabia, condemned the attack and said the attackers “will be brought to justice.”

Keep ReadingShow less
pope-francis-funeral-getty

Cardinals pay their respects as the body of Pope Francis lies in state at the Basilica St Peter on April 23, 2025 in Vatican City.

Getty Images

Pope Francis’s body lies in state ahead of Saturday funeral

POPE FRANCIS's coffin was moved to St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday as he began lying in state, with thousands of people arriving to pay their respects ahead of Saturday’s funeral.

Crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square from early morning to see the Argentine pope, who died on Monday aged 88. Public viewing inside the basilica began at 11:00 am (0900 GMT).

Keep ReadingShow less