The North East is set to see plunging temperatures from Sunday evening as a weather warning is issued across the country.
The UK Health Security Agency and The Met Office predict that a cold snap will hit England between 6pm on February 5 and 6pm on Tuesday, with widespread frost and temperatures set to plummet to around minus 3C in rural areas.
And pensioners and people with underlying health conditions are being urged to keep their heating on to at least 18C. Others are advised to keep warm too and to look out for those who are most vulnerable in cold conditions.
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Dr Agostinho Sousa, consultant in public health medicine at UKHSA, said: “Cold weather can have serious consequences for health, with older people and those with heart or lung conditions particularly at risk. It’s important to check in on family, friends and relatives who are more vulnerable to the cold weather.
"If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65, it is important to try and heat your home to at least 18C if you can.” Temperatures are set to plunge at night but are not expected to fall below mid-single figures in the daytime during the cold spell.
All regions of England are expected to be affected, with forecasters predicting the west Midlands and the Welsh Borders to suffer the most. David Oliver, a deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “From Sunday and into early next week an area of high pressure will dominate the UK’s weather.
"This will bring some cold nights with a widespread frost across the country." Day time temperatures are expected to recover to around "mid-single" figures as the sun comes out and to be near-normal or just below average for the time of year.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud added that a cold front is expected to sink south during the course of this Saturday, which will clear the clouds, and said: “It is going to allow overnight temperatures to dip below zero and we are likely to see an increasing risk of overnight frost as we move into the early part of next week.
“Wrap up warm and close your curtains in the evening to help keep in the heat. The UKHSA says if people can’t heat all the rooms they use, they should heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before going to sleep.
It advises people to wear several layers of thinner clothing rather than one thick jumper.
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