BRITAIN will be hit by an Arctic blast this month – just days after Storm Wanda brings torrential downpours and a risk of flooding to the UK.
Forecasters predict a three day flurry of snow will move in from November 14 and will continue for 72 hours – with as much as 2.5cm of snow expected to fall per day.
But before the white stuff hits, the aftermath of ferocious tropical storm Wanda will see Britain under a washout from next Tuesday.
Met Office forecaster Dan Harris told the Mirror: "Tropical Storm Wanda is not too far from the UK – and may indirectly influence the forecast early next week."
The Met Office has already placed a yellow weather warning for wind across northern and eastern Scotland from 8pm last night until 5pm today.
Read our UK weather live blog below for the latest info & updates…
- Milica Cosic
Explained: How do I apply for a cold weather payment?
You don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically.
If you don’t receive a payment and believe you’re eligible then you can tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office, or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
If you go into hospital, this could affect your claim so make sure you tell someone using the contact details above.
Low income households can get up to £140 towards their electricity bills with the government’s warm home discount scheme.
- Milica Cosic
UK long range weather forecast
Tuesday 16 Nov – Thursday 25 Nov
Remaining changeable to the north through the start of this period as low-pressure systems slowly move away, bringing largely cloudy skies to many and further rain to the north.
Elsewhere while rain is possible at times, drier and clearer conditions are still possible in the far southeast, after the early fog clears.
Temperatures are likely to recover following a rather cold start. Into the second half of the period, the weather is likely to become drier and more settled, although occasional spells of rain remain likely in the north.
Temperatures are likely to trend down towards the end of the month. This would bring an increasing chance of some wintry conditions, mainly over the higher ground in the north, but with a slight risk to lower levels.
- Milica Cosic
Snow to fall 'for days' as deep freeze slams the UK
The Met Office has warned of cold, wintry weather in the coming days as now maps show where snow could fall.
The UK is set to be hit with a cold snap that will see temperatures plummet and heavy now blanket parts of the country "for days".
November is expected to be chilly with snow possible in some areas, reports claim.
Wednesday, November 17 is forecast to be the coldest day of the week, with an average temperature of just 4C in the south and 1C in the north.
- Milica Cosic
Winter is here this weekend
Brits elsewhere won't escape the freeze, as the cold weather front continues to move across the UK towards the end of the month and moving into December.
The Met Office also warned to expect "wintry conditions, especially across the north" in their long range forecast.
Forecasters suggested this Sunday will begin the bout of chillier weather, despite the milder temperatures this week.
Millions will see heavy rain and blustery winds thanks to the fall-out from a tropical storm.
- Milica Cosic
Temperatures expected to be below normal
AccuWeather's senior meteorologist, Tyler Ros, told the Express: "We do have to watch a cold snap that appears to move into eastern Europe early next week.
"If this bleeds westward towards the UK (with the core of the cold remaining in eastern Europe), then the temperatures will be near to slightly below normal during this stretch.
"This then would fire up some North Sea Sea Effect showers coming in from the east," the expert European forecaster warned.
- Milica Cosic
Scotland to be hit hardest by snow
Scotland is set to be the hardest hit, while meteorologists predict there is a 40 per cent chance of snowfall in the north.
Those in England, East Anglia, Wales and the south are also expected to wake up to snow outside their windows.
AccuWeather's senior meteorologist, Tyler Ros, told the Express: "The threat for snow between November 17-22 looks to be around normal for the time of the year, which is any accumulating snow is likely to occur in the higher elevations of northern England and Scotland."
- Milica Cosic
Exact date three days of snow will hit
THREE days of snow is set to hit the UK later this month, with forecasters warning Brits to brace for an icy plunge.
Temperatures are set to plummet below zero across the country, making way for the white stuff to fall in just a couple of weeks.
A cold front is expected to move in around November 20, before three days of snow take hold, according to the latest WXCharts.
The 72-hour flurry of snow could blanket the UK from November 21, seeing bookies slash the odds on this being the coldest November ever.
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Explained: Will my boss pay my heating bills?
If staff have been told to work from home because of severe weather conditions, however, employers are not bound by law to reimburse workers for costs such as heating, lighting and broadband.
However, you may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs if you have to work at home on a regular basis.
You can either claim tax relief on £6 a week from April 6, 2020, or the exact amount of the extra costs you’ve incurred above the weekly amount – but you’ll need evidence such as a receipt, bills or contracts.
Meanwhile, if bad weather stops you from getting to work, it is largely down to your contract of employment whether you will get paid.
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How to keep your baby warm this Winter
AS winter comes around once more – it’s inevitable that temperatures are set to drop.
Babies aren’t able to care for themselves or put on an extra layer in the same way adults can, so it’s important to keep an eye on them as the weather gets cooler.
Here are the experts’ top tips:
- Skip bath time
- Never wear a hat indoors
- Know the right time
- Feel your baby’s neck
- Avoid putting the heating on
- Check the cot
Read more here
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Government energy grants (continued)
Though there are currently no grants to support the initial outlay, the domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) pays a certain amount for each unit of renewable heat generated .
Exactly how much you can get depends on how much energy you generate.
Applications for this will close on March 31 next year and you can find out more from the Energy Saving Trust.
You can also sell back energy to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) from solar panels or wind turbines.
There are government schemes that can help you save money if you are struggling with energy bills.
You can read more about them in our guide.
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Government grants to reduce energy bills
The Energy Company Obligation Scheme offers grants for improving the energy efficiency of your home.
The ECO grants are given out by energy suppliers and can help you replace an old boiler, add cavity wall insulation or loft insulation.
The support ranges from covering some of the cost, to all of it, and can save you hundreds of pounds.
Which? notes that these can be quite complicated and are aimed mainly at low-income or vulnerable households.
The consumer website has a guide to what you can get ECO grants and you can see if your eligible for using the calculator at simpleenergyadvice.org.uk.
If you install a renewable heating system like a heat pump or wood boiler, you could get paid for the energy it produces.
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Winter warmer (continued)
Insulation was added to the outside of their four-bed home, which they bought in 2020, and rendered over the top, giving the home a fresh new finish.
It’s where Katie lives with partner Chris, 49, and their two children aged eight and 10.
The work took around three weeks to complete in total and was “quite simple” says Katie.
They funded the work through the government’s Green Homes Grant scheme and qualified for the maximum amount of £10,000 as Katie has arthritis and gets Personal Independence Payments, covering 100% of the cost of the work.
The scheme was launched last year at the same time the couple were renovating their home, and closed back in March.
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Winter warmer
Outside the temperature dips to just below 10°C – but instead of switching on the heating Katie Swann turns on her tumble dryer to warm up her home.
The 42-year-old mum of two says that is enough to keep her family warm for hours.
Ever since installing £10,000 worth of free insulation in her single brick bungalow in Wolverhampton this year the family has saved hundreds of pounds on energy bills.
“I’ve actually started timing when I do a load of washing so that I can have a tumble dryer on in the evening so I’m nice and warm,” she told The Sun.
“We have the tumble dryer on, or the oven, and it keeps our open plan kitchen, living and dining room warm for hours as the heat doesn’t escape.
“We got free external wall insulation, free under floor insulation and a reduced boiler all via government grants.”
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Its illegal not to de-ice your windshield
Colder weather can mean ice on the roads – and on the windscreen of your car.
You could be landed with a £60 fine and three penalty points for failing to scrape ice off your windscreen.
With 35% of motorists admitting to driving with their windscreen misted up or covered in ice, Brits are being warned not to take risks on the road this winter.
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Fighting the cold (continued)
Other methods being plumped by Brits include staying in well-ventilated areas, eating immune-boosting foods like oranges and spinach as well as drinking plenty of water.
The study also found that 88 per cent of people think that preventing catching a winter illness is important.
Of the 2,000 adults, 65 per cent said that the average cold will wipe them out for several days – and provoke at least three complaints per day.
There are plenty of other ways to stay healthy this winter.
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Fighting the cold
Brits have revealed their top secrets for battling winter illnesses during the cold weather – with almost half pledging to take better care of themselves.
More than half of UK adults believe their immune system has been weakened by months of isolation because of the pandemic.
Many believe that wiping down door handles, getting more sleep and eating a lot of spicy foods can keep the cold weather sniffles at bay.
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School shivers
A school is facing a backlash after asking students to wear extra layers so it can save money on rising heating costs.
Summerhill Infants in Bristol plans to limit heating during the day, turn down thermostats for hot water and turn off lights when not in use, according to an email sent to parents.
Staff explained the premises stands to get bills of more than £30,000 for heating and therefore would be forced to make some changes.
And it also asked parents to send their children into school wearing warmer clothes so it could limit bills as fuel costs skyrocket.
In response, one anonymous parent told the BBC she was concerned the decision could affect her child's asthma.
She said: "Being in the cold can really affect her, so I think that she can potentially get ill.
"If she starts getting ill I will take her out and because I can provide her heating at home, as much as that's expensive.
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How to stay warmer for less
With winter knocking on our doors and Jack Frost biting our noses each morning, chances are you’re tempted to turn up the heating to keep warm.
But rather than spend the money, a savvy man shares six easy tips to keep your house warm, and they’re all completely free.
Firstly, if you do have the heating on, the man says to bleed your radiators to keep them running properly.
You can also pop a sheet of tin foil behind it to deflect heat, and he suggests leaving a gap between the radiator and your furniture to allow the heat to travel further.
Read more tips here.
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Explained: How much is the energy price cap?
The current energy price cap is £1,277 a year.
If you divide that by 12, that’s £106.41 a month – so over the six months from mid-October to mid-April would be £638.50.
However, the figure is actually likely to be higher because households typically use the bulk of their energy in the winter months.
Direct debits spread the cost over the year so you’re technically paying for energy you don’t use in the summer, but you aren’t landed with a shock bill come winter.
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Top tips for driving through fog
The Met Office have release top 5 tips when driving in foggy conditions as it is expected that much of the UK will see fog tomorrow morning.
Tip 1 – Make sure you’re familiar with how to use your front and rear fog lights.
Tip 2 – Do not use full beam lights as the fog reflects the light back reducing visibility.
Tip 3 – Follow the ‘two-second rule’ to leave sufficient space between you and the car in front.
Tip 4 – Ensure the heater is set to windscreen de-misting and open up all vents.
Tip 5 – If visibility is very limited, wind down your windows at junctions and crossroads to allow you to listen for approaching traffic.
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Explained: Where can I get help with my bills?
There are schemes to support people who are struggling to pay for their electricity and gas bills.
When the temperature drops some households are eligible for cold weather payments.
Low income households can get up to £140 towards their electricity bills with the government’s warm home discount scheme.
The government has also announced a household support fund for this winter – contact your local council for more details on how to get a grant.
You can save money on your energy bill by turning off appliances – these are the seven worst to leave on standby and wearing a jumper could slash £400 a year from your energy bills.
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Explained: How to apply for a cold weather payment?
You don’t need to apply for the cold weather payment as it’s paid automatically.
If you don’t receive a payment and believe you’re eligible then you can tell your pension centre or Jobcentre Plus office, or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
If you’re getting Universal Credit, you can also sign in to your account and add a note to your journal.
If you go into hospital, this could affect your claim so make sure you tell someone using the contact details above.
Low income households can get up to £140 towards their electricity bills with the government’s warm home discount scheme.
- [email protected]
Explained: Am I eligible for a cold winter payment?
Those eligible to apply are:
- Pension credit
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Universal Credit
- Support for mortgage interest
Met Office forecast for Friday – Monday
Friday:
Outbreaks of rain moving eastwards across most parts, heavy in the north at first but light and patchy in the south. Windy for most, with coastal gales in the west.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Mostly dry, but often rather cloudy. Some sunny spells, especially in southeastern areas, with overnight fog. Occasional rain in the northwest, perhaps heavy for a time; showery& cooler here later.
Winter is coming
Brits elsewhere won't escape the freeze, as the cold weather front continues to move across the UK towards the end of the month and moving into December.
The Met Office also warned to expect "wintry conditions, especially across the north" in their long range forecast.
Forecasters suggested this Sunday will begin the bout of chillier weather, despite the milder temperatures this week.
Millions will see heavy rain and blustery winds thanks to the fall-out from a tropical storm.
Storm Wanda may influence the type of weather we'll see in the coming days and over the weekend.
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