It comes as the Met Office warns of the Arctic blast hitting the UK, which could see overnight temperatures as low as -10C by the end of the week. Drivers could face difficult road conditions, with train journeys taking longer than usual. Image: Rosslyn Chapel in Edinburgh The UK’s Health and Safety Executive has issued a level 3 cold weather warning – and says vulnerable people should heat their homes to at least 18C, wear extra clothing and eat hot food to protect themselves. However, around 710,000 households cannot afford to follow this advice because they cannot pay for warm clothes, heating and food, while another 2.5 million low-income families do not. The survey was carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and its senior economist Rachelle Earwaker said: “Dangerously cold weather on the horizon is cause for concern. Image: Friday’s weather warnings. Photo: Met Office Image: Saturday weather warnings. Photo: Met Office Image: Sunday’s weather warning. Photo: Met Office “People are forced to bet their financial health, and whether they can afford more debt, against their well-being without adequate heat, clothing or hot food.” The survey of 4,251 people in the bottom 40% of incomes showed that around 4.3 million have cut the amount they spend on heating. It also found that many families are already behind on their bills, owing more than £1,600 on average. And temperatures are likely to remain cold for quite some time to come. Read more: Families face tough choices after year of cost-of-living crisis Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 5:08 “I had to disconnect my throttle” ‘Arctic maritime airmass’: Snow and ice forecast The Met Office has extended weather warnings until Saturday, with one more in place for northern Scotland on Sunday. Large areas of western and northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be hit by snow and ice on Friday and Saturday, with weather warnings in place. At least five centimeters of snow was confirmed in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire and Althnaharra in the Highlands on Friday morning, with three centimeters falling in Dyce near Aberdeen. Schools were closed due to freezing conditions in parts of Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, while snow was seen on the ground as far south as Edinburgh. Image: Cobairdy near Huntly in Aberdeenshire Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington warned there was an “increasing risk of snow as the week progresses”. “As an Arctic sea air mass settles across the UK, temperatures will drop with widespread overnight frosts, severe in places, and daytime temperatures just a few degrees above freezing,” he said. “However, the cold air from the Arctic will also bring brighter conditions, with some dry, sunny spells, particularly away from the coast and where the winds are light, it could feel pleasant in the sun. Some freezing fog is also possible. “ Scotland’s senior mountain safety adviser, Ross Cadie, warned people in Scotland not to risk experiencing difficulties walking. “When winter hits the Scottish mountains, we need to make sure we do our homework before we go out,” he said. “Planning and preparation from trusted sources and matching your adventure to your skill level and conditions will help you get home safely.” Get the 5-day forecast for your stay here Be careful on slippery roads and sidewalks Roads, pavements and cycle paths can all be slippery, the Met Office said, and motorists have also been warned to keep blankets in their vehicles in case they break down. RAC spokesman Rod Dennis added: “Our advice is to be winter-ready – check that your tires are properly inflated and have good tread, while topping up your oil, coolant and screenwash levels if necessary. “Drivers with older batteries in their cars may also want to give their vehicle a 20-minute drive before colder conditions arrive to ensure the battery can handle sub-zero temperatures. “It’s also worth having a fully charged mobile phone and carrying a blanket in case of breakdown to keep warm.” Image: Around 2,000 homes in Sheffield have been without petrol for five days No gas for heating or cooking for five days Meanwhile, in the Sheffield area of Stannington, around 2,000 homes have been without gas for more than five days and some could be without power until the weekend. A water main burst on Friday night – sending hundreds of thousands of liters of water into the gas mains. Sheffield City Council leader Terry Fox said the authority had declared a serious incident so staff could be redeployed to the area. Click to subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts Asked about the looming cold snap, Mr Fox said: “We’re very worried… but what we’ve seen, to be brutally honest, is a real deep community spirit where people help people.” Sheffield Hallam Labor MP Olivia Blake said she had asked chancellor Jeremy Hunt for emergency funding for the council and raised the issue in the Commons on Wednesday, but said she had yet to receive a response. Cadent, the company that manages the gas network, says 150 people are working day and night to fix the problem and have started to reconnect gas to some homes.
