London to shiver through Blue Monday with temperature set to plunge to -3C tonight

Temperatures set to plunge to -3C in London and -10C in Scotland on coldest night of year
Miriam Burrell15 January 2024

Londoners are experiencing a Blue Monday — with the coldest night of the year on the cards.

Despite bright sunshine, daytime highs of just 3C were expected in London but a strong northerly wind meant it would feel more like -2C.

Temperatures in Greater London were set to dip to -3C on Monday night, with the mercury plunging to -10C in parts of Scotland.

A snow warning will be in place from midnight on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday across Northern Ireland, northern and western Scotland, parts of northern England and Wales.

Drivers were warned they risk being stranded and advised to plan ahead.

Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said that temperatures would be about 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year.

The weather warning comes on Blue Monday, supposedly the most miserable day of the year when happiness levels fall to their lowest levels.

Mr Eslick said: “Especially towards the North where we do have these warnings, we’re likely to see some travel disruption.

“So we would recommend people stick to the main roads and avoid country lanes where possible.

“These are the places that aren’t going to see any gritting or any road clearances for the next couple of days. So we recommend people take their time, make sure they have time to do their cars in the mornings, and go steady.”

He added: “So essentially we’re looking at a strong northerly wind which

is bringing in Arctic air mass which is cold, which is bringing in these wintry showers.”

The cold weather is set to remain in London all week, although the weekend is predicted to be slightly warmer — with a high of 7C for Saturday.

The third Monday of January got its nickname supposedly due to the combination of cold weather, festive debt and the extended gap between paydays.

It was first coined in 2004 after a holiday company asked a pyschologist for a “scientific formula” for the January blues.

The aim of the advertising campaign was to boost holiday bookings, and lift winter spirits.

Experts have since dismissed the formula, saying the day is no more miserable than other winter days.

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