10:43am Monday 14th December 2009
By Will Carson
HAMPSHIRE could be set for snow in the run up to Christmas as a cold snap pushes temperatures to -5 degrees.
Forecasters predict the county could be plunged into Arctic weather conditions as it’s hit by a cold front towards the end of this week.
Scenes from last February
Temperatures are due to plummet to as little as -5C, colder than Stockholm in Sweden, Reykjavik in Iceland and Anchorage in Alaska, when the weather front sweeps across the county on Thursday.
A Met Office forecaster said: “It’s going to get quite a lot colder towards the end of the week.
“It looks like there will be a noticeable drop in temperature on Thursday as the cold front moves in from the east.
“Temperatures will drop to about 2C but the wind is going to be about 20-25mph so it will feel like -5C.
“Whether it will snow or not is a little uncertain but it will definitely be cold enough so there is a good chance it will.
“It will really feel like winter has arrived.”
Snow brought chaos to the south at the end of January when it forced the closure of roads and schools across Hampshire The forecast has prompted charities Age Concern and Help the Aged to issue advice to the elderly.
Andrew Harrop of Age Concern said: “We are urging vulnerable older people‚ who are more susceptible to the cold‚ to take extra precautions to stay warm and keep active.
“For older people‚ protection against the cold is vital. Last winter’s cold snap sent excess winter mortality to a ten-year high‚ with around three quarters of excess winter deaths recorded among people aged 75 or over.
“With around 2.5 million older households living in fuel poverty‚ many pensioners will be struggling with high energy bills this winter.
“At this time of year‚ it is vital for them to check they are claiming all their entitlements. This is particularly important in case a prolonged cold snap triggers one-off cold weather payments worth £251.
“Up to 1.8 million eligible pensioners not currently claiming pension credit would miss out on these payments.
“Anyone who is cutting back on basics such as food and heating because they’re concerned about high energy bills should call our free helpline on 0800 00 99 66 or contact their local Age Concern to find out what extra benefits they may be entitled to.”
November was the wettest on record – but also the warmest since 1998.
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