Record Freeze Hits England, Wales, N. Ireland

Severe weather action alert issued for large portion of the UK

The UK Met Office has issued a severe weather (“amber”) alert for large portion of England, warning of “a 90% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow” through December 31, which may “increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.”

The country recorded its coldest temperature of 2014 so far at -9C in Cromdale, Moray, on Saturday.

“The record lows come as parts of the UK have already been hit by sub-zero temperatures and forecasters warned of further plunging temperatures over the next three days,” said a report.

The amber (level three) alert is one below a national emergency (“red” alert) and is triggered by the Met Office when weather breaches any of the thresholds that “require social and healthcare services to target specific actions at high-risk groups.”