Met Office's polar vortex warning to anyone aged 55 and over

Met Office's polar vortex warning to anyone aged 55 and over The Met Office has warned of an "exceptional development" which risks bitterly cold weather, frost, fog, sleet and snow showers across the UK Households throughout the UK are being advised to adopt a 'thin clothing' rule this winter as a polar vortex threatens to deliver a spell of bitterly cold weather and snow across the nation. The Met Office has issued a warning that the polar vortex, which sits approximately 10 to 50km above the Earth's surface and circulates extremely cold air over the North Pole, has "weakened" and been disrupted. The forecaster described this as an "exceptional development" for this time of year, warning it could bring colder, drier conditions to the UK, with a heightened risk of frost, fog, sleet and snow showers. Met Office's warning to Brits over the age of 55 The wintry weather is expected to persist into Friday, so with such a bitterly cold spell anticipated this week, those aged 55 and above are being encouraged to take precautions against the freezing conditions, reports the Express. Lower temperatures become increasingly challenging for the body with age, forcing our systems to work considerably harder to maintain warmth. The Met Office explained: "As we get older, our body has to work harder to keep us warm. From about the age of 55+, we lose around 1% of our muscle mass every year. It doesn't sound like a lot, but our muscle keeps us warm. So it's really important to wrap up warm when you go outside." One straightforward method to shield yourself from the bitter weather this winter is to adopt a 'thin clothing' approach, which involves wearing multiple layers of lightweight garments rather than a single heavy layer. The Met Office advises that donning several thin layers will actually prove more effective at keeping you warm in cold conditions, as warmth becomes trapped between the layers, providing far better insulation against the harsh elements. Ensure our latest weather stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings. How to keep active Health experts also suggest maintaining an active lifestyle and venturing outdoors for walks, even during cold spells, and if leaving the house isn't possible, you should ensure you get up and move about at least once an hour. In its cold weather guidance, the Met Office said: "With many of us having to spend more time at home it can make it harder to keep active. It's important to continue to do what you can to stay active as this can help with both your physical and mental health. "Try to keep moving when you are indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. Break up your time spent being inactive by walking around your home or standing up from your chair when you are on the phone. "If you are heading outside for a walk or maybe some gardening, wear several layers of light clothes. Remember that several thin layers of clothing will keep you warmer than one thick layer as the layers trap warm air. "It doesn't matter what you do to keep active, as long as it's something you enjoy and keeps you moving. There is strong evidence that people who are active have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, depression and can also reduce the risk of falling." The Met Office also urges households to stay on top of weather forecasts, as conditions can shift rapidly, and to get prepared for wintry conditions by gathering a number of key items at home in the event of power cuts or severe winter storms. What to stock up on These include torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack, blankets, warm clothing and essential food items, such as bread, bottled water, milk, tinned goods, cereal, snack foods and dried pasta. The Met Office added: "We are so reliant on the internet, but if a storm meant power and mobile phone networks were affected, what would you do? Consider a separate battery charger, and you could store key information such as the power cut helpline number (105) on your phone. "Make sure you have basic supplies in case you have to leave home quickly, or your power and water are disrupted. It's worth putting together a 'grab bag', with bottled water, medicines, a torch, radio and batteries, copies of important documents and a change of clothes."