The UK has been experiencing a significant cold spell (Image: Getty)
Britons can look forward to a break from the freezing temperatures as the comes to an end.
Milder conditions are set to arrive this weekend.
This is thanks to a high-pressure system moving east, which will bring warmer south-westerly winds to the country by early next week, according to .
Scotland and Northern Ireland will see the quickest improvements, with temperatures climbing above seasonal averages by Monday.
However, the melting could lead to , particularly near rivers and areas like the Pennines. Central and eastern England, while slower to warm, should feel the effects by Tuesday.
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A cold snap has hit several parts of the UK (Image: Getty)
The recent Arctic blast caused widespread challenges.
Heavy snow left vehicles stranded, forced school closures, and disrupted flights.
Hospitals, already overwhelmed by flu cases, saw a surge in weather-related injuries. Eastern Scotland experienced temperatures as low as -15°C to -18°C, with widespread frost persisting in central and eastern regions through the weekend.
The (UKHSA) also extended its amber Cold-Health Alert. It was originally ending on Sunday, 12 January, but will the alert will now remain in place until 9 am on Tuesday, 14 January.
Temperatures are expected to plummet as low as -20°C in some regions, accompanied by snow and icy conditions.
The UK’s frigid weather stemmed from a northerly airflow, driven by the jet stream positioned south of the country. This brought a consistent stream of Arctic air, resulting in snow and ice for much of the nation.
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Clear skies and long January nights amplified the cold, with snow on the ground acting as an additional cooling mechanism.
While cold spells like this are typical during mid-winter, recent years have seen fewer frost days overall due to climate change.
The notes that the past decade has had over two weeks fewer frost days compared to the 1961–1990 average.
This winter’s severe chill stands out after an unusually mild December, but the UK has experienced far colder spells in the past, with record lows like -27.2°C in Braemar, Scotland (1982).
As the thaw begins, residents are reminded to stay cautious of potential flooding while enjoying the long-awaited warmth.