Arctic conditions expected to last for another week

Updated
Arctic conditions expected to last for another week
Arctic conditions expected to last for another week

Forecasters predict that the freezing weather will last until next weekend, with snow and ice expected to cause further travel disruption.

According to the Daily Mail, this winter has been one of the coldest in almost two decades. Met office figures show that 2012-13 is now bordering on being colder than 14 winters since 1995-96. The average temperature for December, January and February is expected to be around 3.2C, compared to last winter's average of 4.58C.

Yesterday, most of the country endured temperatures of just above freezing, making it as cold as Hammerfest in Arctic Norway, where it was 1C.

There has already been heavy snowfall in the north of England, and it's possible that there could be up to three inches more to come.

The Daily Express reports that 50mph winds mean that it will feel as cold as -10C in some areas. Although snowfall is expected to be confined to the north, people in the east and south east are expected to suffer the coldest temperatures, thanks to a bitter north, north-easterly wind.

The freezing conditions are expected to claim the lives of more than 26,000 older people this year. As a result, the Daily Star claims that we are in the grip of a 'killer winter'.

National Federation of Occupational Pensioners chief executive Malcolm Booth told the Daily Star: "There is a define risk of the highest national winter mortality figures since 2008-9." In that year, 36,450 died as flu rates soared.

Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said: "This winter has been harsh, with long, cold periods, more snow than last winter and more cold weather to finish."

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