Mercury plunges to another new low: -11.7C!

THE ice and snow adds a weird and wonderful view in the garden at Anne Allsop’s home in Lovers Lane, Grasscroft. The freeze, thaw and refreeze has turned the small tree by her door into this icicle-strewn sculpture.

THE Oldham Chronicle’s weatherman Damian Rodgers recorded the lowest ever temperature yesterday since he started taking records in 1978.

At minus 11.7C (11F), recorded at 8.35am yesterday, it was the third time this week the mercury hit a record low — dipping below the minus 10.9C and minus 10.7 temperatures reached earlier in the week. Damian said the cause of the cold snap, which has so far lasted for three weeks, was due to the warm South-Western Atlantic air, which usually hits us, being cut off by cold continental air.

That, he said, was giving North-Western Europe the kind of weather it should get for its latitude. Damian predicted it would be sunny and cold today and tomorrow, with maybe an odd snow flurry, but said Sunday could see more snow, although not as much as has fallen on Oldham over the last week.

He said it probably wouldn’t be heavy, but would continue for a long period, which might add a few more centimetres on top of snow already lying on the floor.

More icy cold temperatures are forecast for at least another week.