Temperatures in Wales are set to be no higher than 5°C this week as the Arctic blast continues throughout the UK. BBC Wales weather presenter Derek Brockway has said that some weather models for Cardiff are showing that it will be milder by Sunday with 8°C, and 11°C by next Monday.
Before that. the Met Office says the UK will stay cold throughout the week with the risk of sleet and snow at times continuing, especially in coastal areas, with overnight frosts, severe at times.
A number of weather warnings are in place across the country for wintry hazards.
Read more: Live updates as temperatures plummet to -8C
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Steve Willington, said: “It is staying cold with daytime temperatures remaining only a few degrees above freezing in many places over the coming days and overnight temperatures dropping to -10°C or lower in isolated spots. Although below average, these temperatures are not that unusual for this time of year."
BBC weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas said it has been five years since the UK experienced such a prolonged period of cold weather so early in December.
Here is the Met Office forecast for Wales this week and the warnings that are in place.
Monday
The Met Office forecast for Wales says: "Freezing fog patches very slow to clear in the east. Otherwise most of Wales dry and quite sunny. Isolated wintry showers in the far northwest. Cold, especially where fog lingers. Maximum temperature 3 °C.
"Tonight, freezing fog patches very slow to clear in the east. Otherwise most of Wales dry and quite sunny. Isolated wintry showers in the far northwest. Cold, especially where fog lingers. Minimum temperature -5 °C."
There is a yellow warning for ice and fog in parts of Powys, Flintshire and Wrexham today: "Freezing fog is expected to become more extensive overnight and could produce significantly reduced visibility to 50-100 metres at times, as well as patchy ice on untreated surfaces. Additionally, snowfall that is now easing near and over the Cotswolds, as well as isolated showers elsewhere may lead to some ice developing on untreated surfaces. Although becoming less widespread and thick by lunchtime, some places may be affected by fog for the remainder of the day, particularly in Northern Ireland and northern England."
Tuesday
The are currently no weather warnings for Wales at the moment. The Met Office forecast for Wales says: "Staying generally dry with early freezing fog lifting into low cloud and then clearing in most places. Otherwise, bright with sunny spells for many by the afternoon. Feeling cold. Maximum temperature 5 °C."
BBC weather presenter Rhian Haf said it will be "cloudier" on Tuesday with any freezing fog will rise to low cloud and could "linger in some eastern areas."
She added: "A few brighter spells mainly in the north and west, and a small chance of an isolated shower over Pembrokeshire, otherwise dry again but feeling colder without that sunshine."
Wednesday
The Met Office forecast for Wales says: "Staying cold with sharp overnight frosts. Mainly dry with plenty of sunshine for many, but a few wintry showers are possible in coastal areas. Breezy at first, but winds easing."
Rhian Haf said: "By Wednesday there will be a strong northerly breeze picking up some very cold air from the Arctic, but there will be brighter, sunnier skies."
Thursday
BBC weather forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said on the Countryfile forecast: "It will be dry, but temperatures will remain below average but not quite as cold as it was at the start of the week."
Friday
Sarah Keith-Lucas said: "It looks like temperatures are set to gradually improve by the end of the week."
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