A seven-day cold weather warning has been put in place for the North East, as temperatures of minus three could be coming to the region over the next five days. 

Cold and largely dry conditions will continue, with the likelihood of much colder air by the end of the weekend and an increasing chance of wintry hazards next week, according to the Met Office.

The UK is under the influence of high pressure, which is bringing colder-than-average weather for the time of year, and a marked reduction in rainfall amounts following a wet start to January.  

These cold and largely dry conditions will persist through much of this week, with areas to the south particularly cold compared to average.

However, by the time we reach Sunday a northerly airflow develops, which could increase the chances of wintry hazards for some.

UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow cold weather alert covering the whole of England which means significant impacts are probable across the health and social care sector.

The weather alert is in place from 12pm on Thursday (January 11) until 12pm on January 18. 

Met Office Head of Situational Awareness Will Lang said: “There will be a resurgence in the really cold weather through the weekend and that spreads across the whole of the UK during the early part of next week. Initially, this means there will be more in the way of showers around the coasts, turning increasingly to snow for many areas, especially further north.”

Tony Wardle is a Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster.

He added: “There is the potential for some disruptive snow through the middle to latter part of next week as warmer Atlantic air attempts to push in from the southwest. As this occurs, some substantial snow could fall in some places, but the details of that are uncertain at the moment.”

Cold temperatures of minus two could be coming to the region on Sunday (January 14), while lows of minus three are forecast for next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 

Here is the forecast for the North East for the next seven days: 

Today: Largely cloudy and generally dry, however a few isolated spots of drizzle are possible, mainly around coasts and hills. Light northerly winds for many, though a little breezier and feeling colder towards the coast and across the Pennines. Maximum temperature 7 °C.

Tonight: Remaining cloudy but generally dry with winds falling light. Again, the chance for some patchy light drizzle over hills in the west. Minimum temperature 3 °C.

Friday: Dry and cloudy to start, occasional bright or sunny spells developing by the afternoon. Light winds. Turning cold and frosty overnight. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday: A cold, bright start Saturday. Turning cloudier later with patchy rain. Brighter and much colder Sunday and Monday with sharp overnight frosts. Breezy at times with significant wind chill.

Monday 15 Jan - Wednesday 24 Jan: Often cloudy across clearing central and southern areas at first. Thereafter, turning colder from the North, with brisk northerly winds likely developing widely across of the UK, bringing a risk of snow showers, most frequent across the north. Temperatures remaining cold, and a marked wind chill especially in the north. There is risk of unsettled weather pushing in from the south through this period, which could lead to a band of snow and sleet where it meets the colder air across the country. Confidence is low with regards the timing of the arrival of any such disturbance, but there is an increasing risk of something potentially disruptive at some point in this period. Widespread frosts continue to be a feature by night, with a risk of ice in places.