People across Kent have awoken to frost-covered streets and freezing temperatures this morning (January 3) as a yellow weather warning for snow and ice looms. Set to come into effect from noon tomorrow (January 4), the warning will be in place for a total of 36-hours, ending at 11.59pm on Sunday (January 5).
It covers much of Kent including Maidstone, Medway, Dartford, Tunbridge Wells, Sittingbourne, Ashford and parts of Canterbury. Temperatures have already shown a notable drop, sinking below 0C across the county this morning – and more chilly conditions are on the way.
Current Met Office weather maps show the mercury dipping to lows of -2C in Kent around dawn on Saturday. And it is not looking to get much warmer as the day progresses, as temperatures struggle to exceed peaks of 5C during the afternoon before sinking back to around 1C or 2C overnight.
There is a chance for some snow to develop over the weekend, though for us in the south east, outbreaks of rain or sleet are perhaps looking more likely. Dan Holley, deputy chief forecaster for the Met Office, said: “An Atlantic frontal system is likely to move across parts of central and southern UK through the weekend.
“With milder, moisture-laden air engaging with the cold conditions already in place this may bring a spell of snow in some areas, before possibly turning back to rain in the south. At this stage there is a fair amount of uncertainty over exactly which areas will see disruptive snow, with parts of Wales, northern England and the Midlands most likely to see some impacts.”
The yellow weather warning for snow and ice covers most of the county between Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5
(Image: Met Office)
Due to the considerable drop in temperature, which is expected to persist for some time, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber cold health alert which covers Kent. The alert is due to remain in place until 12pm on Wednesday, January 8.
With the weekend’s yellow weather warning now right around the corner, KentLive has put together an hour-by-hour forecast for Saturday using data from the Met Office and BBC Weather. Full details for key areas including Medway, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, Ashford and Folkestone can be found below.
Hour-by-hour Kent weather forecasts for Saturday, January 4
Ashford
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
8am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 0C
9am – Light cloud, light winds, 1C
10am – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
11am – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
12pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
1pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
2pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
4pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
5pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 2C
6pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 2C
7pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
8pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
9pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
10pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
11pm – Sleet, moderate breeze, 1C
12am – Sleet, moderate breeze, 1C
Canterbury
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
8am – Sunny intervals, light winds, -1C
9am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 0C
10am – Light cloud, light winds, 1C
11am – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
12pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
1pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
2pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
4pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
5pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
6pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
7pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
8pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
9pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
10pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
11pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
12am – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
Dartford
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 0C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 0C
8am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 0C
9am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 1C
10am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 1C
11am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 2C
12pm – Sunny intervals, light winds, 3C
1pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
2pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
4pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
5pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
6pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
7pm – Light rain, gentle breeze, 3C
8pm – Light rain, gentle breeze, 3C
9pm – Light rain, gentle breeze, 3C
10pm – Light rain, gentle breeze, 2C
11pm – Heavy rain, gentle breeze, 2C
12am – Sleet, moderate breeze, 2C
Dover
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 0C
8am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 0C
9am – Light cloud, light winds, 1C
10am – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
11am – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
12pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
1pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
2pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
4pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
5pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
6pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 1C
7pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
8pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
9pm – Sleet, moderate breeze, 1C
10pm – Sleet, moderate breeze, 1C
11pm – Sleet, moderate breeze, 1C
12am – Sleet, moderate breeze, 1C
Folkestone
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 1C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 1C
8am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 2C
9am – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
10am – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 3C
11am – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 4C
12pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 4C
1pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 4C
2pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 3C
4pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 3C
5pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 3C
6pm – Light cloud, moderate breeze, 2C
7pm – Light rain, moderate breeze, 2C
8pm – Light rain, moderate breeze, 2C
9pm – Light rain, moderate breeze, 2C
10pm – Light rain, moderate breeze, 2C
11pm – Light rain, moderate breeze, 2C
12am – Heavy rain, moderate breeze, 2C
Medway
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 0C
8am – Partly cloudy, light winds, 0C
9am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 0C
10am – Light cloud, light winds, 1C
11am – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
12pm – Sunny intervals, light winds, 3C
1pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
2pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
4pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
5pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
6pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 2C
7pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
8pm – Light rain, gentle breeze, 2C
9pm – Light rain, gentle breeze, 2C
10pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
11pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
12am – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
Tunbridge Wells
6am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
7am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
8am – Partly cloudy, light winds, -1C
9am – Sunny intervals, light winds, 0C
10am – Light cloud, light winds, 1C
11am – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
12pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
1pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
2pm – Light cloud, light winds, 3C
3pm – Light cloud, light winds, 2C
4pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 2C
5pm – Light cloud, gentle breeze, 2C
6pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
7pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
8pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
9pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 2C
10pm – Sleet, gentle breeze, 1C
11pm – Sleet, moderate breeze, 2C
12am – Heavy rain, moderate breeze, 2C