How will the cold snap affect the East of England?

Cold weather is forecast across most of England

As cold weather takes a hold of the country, many areas are preparing for icy conditions and even the possibility of snow. So what exactly is the East of England in for, can we expect major disruption and what is being done to prepare?

When will the cold weather hit?

Temperatures dropped on Thursday with the high reaching about 5C (41F) across the region, while overnight into Friday it was forecast to drop below freezing.

The cold weather is expected to continue through Friday and Saturday before it warms up slightly on Sunday.

Into next week, conditions are forecast to be slightly cooler than Sunday but warmer than this week.

How cold will it get?

Icy and cold conditions have already been captured in Harleston, Norfolk this week

Across the East on Friday it will be similar to Thursday with highs of between 3C (37F) and 4C (39F).

A widespread frost is expected on Friday morning, while areas of cloud will spread south, bringing showers mainly around coastal areas, according to the Met Office.

Some sunny spells are also expected to develop on Friday.

Overnight into Saturday, lows of between -3C (27F) and -1C (30F) are expected.

Throughout this day it will be a similar story - starting frosty with highs of about 4C (39F) and relatively cloudy.

Sunday will be much warmer with temperatures of about 12C (54F) and 13C (55F) predicted.

Is snow expected in our region?

The Met Office has warned the East to expect rain or snow on Saturday afternoon and into the evening.

Parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire could see some light snow while other parts of the region will mainly see sleet or rain.

A Met Office yellow weather warning of snow and ice has been put in force from 12:00 GMT on Saturday through to 23:59 on Sunday.

It covers the majority of the East of England, but excludes some coastal parts of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.

What does the weather warning mean?

The yellow weather warning covers the majority of England and all of Wales

The warning has a very low likelihood and a medium impact.

The Met Office said it had put in place a combined snow and ice warning to cater for the potential of freezing rain.

People are warned of a small chance of power cuts while some mobile phone coverage could be affected.

Those in rural communities could be cut off by snow, and with colder conditions comes the increased risk of slips and falls on icy surfaces.

There could be delays to road and rail journeys and passengers heading to airports could also see some disruption.

What disruption is expected to transport?

Council gritters will be out on the region's roads, spreading salt during the cold weather

Numerous councils have already spent the past few nights gritting the roads due to the sub-zero temperatures.

Bedford Borough Council's gritters, for example, began gritting primary roads and routes from 14:00 on Thursday into the night.

Similarly, Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council said their respective gritters would be out on local roads due to the cold weather.

David Jacklin, a gritting area manager for Norfolk County Council, told BBC Look East on Thursday the team had 13,000 tonnes of salt available for use on 2,200 miles (3,540km) of road.

"Last season, we used in the region of 8,700 tonnes for the whole of the season, so we've got lots of salt should we need it," he added.

Information on gritting routes can be found on your local council's websites.

On the railways, some providers including Great Northern have urged passengers to take care on station platforms which could be slippery despite them being gritted.

Operators, as well as airports including London Luton Airport and London Stansted Airport, urge customers to keep an eye on departure boards for the latest information.

Is anything being done to help rough sleepers?

Most councils have plans in place to help offer emergency accommodation for those considered rough sleepers.

West Northamptonshire Council said on Thursday it had activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (Swep) which would remain in place until 09:00 on Monday.

Norwich City Council said on social media it had done the same and its own Swep was in place until Sunday morning.

Councils with Sweps or other similar plans often urge those who know of rough sleepers to inform the council.

The protocols are usually activated when temperatures fall to 0C (32F) and below.

What do the hospitals and ambulance service say?

Neill Moloney urged communities to look after each other during the cold weather

On Thursday Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) urged residents to "take steps to stay well and be prepared" ahead of the expected cold snap.

It encouraged people to keep their houses warm, get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19, stay active and eat well, as well as being prepared against colds and other cold weather illnesses.

The NHS encourages everyone during the winter to look after vulnerable loved ones and check in with them.

Many accident and emergency departments across the region are facing high pressures.

Nick Hulme, who leads Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, encouraged anyone visiting to wear face masks to try to stop the spread of flu and ease the strain on the NHS.

On Tuesday East of England Ambulance Service, which covers the majority of the region, declared its highest alert level due to mounting winter pressure, and a spokesperson anticipated an increase in demand due to cold weather.

Neill Moloney, chief executive, told BBC Look East on Thursday it was receiving about 5,700 calls per day compared to its typical 3,900 figure and said extra ambulances were out on the roads this week.

Have any events been cancelled?

It is possible events planned for Friday and Saturday could be cancelled.

Some Parkruns scheduled for Saturday could be called off. Some in Oxfordshire, which borders Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, already have been.

It is recommended to keep checking events details online for any cancellation updates.

How can I stay safe?

People are encourage to look out for the elderly and vulnerable during the cold weather

The cold weather can pose a risk to our health.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issues alerts when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on people's well-being, in particular those who are elderly or have health conditions.

The agency has already issued an amber cold health alert for all English regions that remains in place until 12:00 on 8 January.

To stay safe, the UKHSA urges people to keep their home warm to at least 18C (64F), keeping windows closed and reducing draughts where possible.

Wearing several layers of thin clothing could also keep you warmer than one thicker layer.

Seeking financial support can also help those who may find it more difficult to heat their homes.

The Met Office also suggests anyone having to travel allows extra time, plans their route and makes sure they have essentials such as warm clothes, food, water, a blanket, torch and phone charger in their car.