Tag: Winter

Keeping Santa Heart-Healthy

Heart Research UK campaign seeks to educate people on the risk of heart attacks over the winter period

Reports have found that the risk of heart attack rises approximately 15% over Christmas time. To highlight the dramatic effect the festive season can have on heart health, national heart charity Heart Research UK has created a special Christmas awareness campaign that aims to inform the public and raise vital funds that will benefit life-saving research.

Research from the UK and Sweden has shown that Christmas can put a huge strain on our hearts, with approximately a 15% increase in heart attack risk at Christmas time. Seasonal changes and the rise in contagious illnesses including influenza can contribute to a person’s increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease and it’s especially dangerous for the elderly and those with certain underlying health conditions.

Reports show that deaths due to cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease increase during the winter months with heart attacks (myocardial infarction) being more prevalent.

In 2019/20 in the UK, there were 6,661 excess winter deaths due to cardiovascular disease which included 2,820 deaths due to coronary heart disease. In addition to this, research from Sweden found that the risk of heart attack increased by 15% during the Christmas and New Year period.

It is therefore easy to see why Santa Claus finds himself the subject of Heart Research UK’s latest campaign. With his stressful job, poor diet, irregular exercise and fondness for mince pies and sherry, Santa fits this profile of someone who needs to be aware of their heart health over the Christmas period.

Introducing ‘A Healthy Heart Christmas’– a new campaign from Heart Research UK designed to raise awareness of the risk of heart disease during the winter months.

The campaign highlights the increase in risk of heart attack over the winter months and highlights the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption and stress whilst providing a number of handy resources via their website to help everybody enjoy a heart healthy and stress-free Christmas.

To accompany the campaign, Heart Research UK has partnered with thortful, the UK’s largest online card marketplace, to create a set of hand-drawn, limited-edition Christmas cards showing traditional festive scenes. Proceeds from sales of the cards will go towards funding Heart Research UK’s lifesaving research.

“We are extremely grateful to all the thortful customers for their generous contributions. The donations from the Christmas card sales will help us raise much-needed funds for our pioneering medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease. We are so thankful for their support. Together we can take on heart disease.” says Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive at Heart Research UK.

Finally, as part of a radio spot promoting the campaign, BAFTA-winning actor and Line of Duty star Mark Bonnar has lent his distinctive voice to a special retelling of the iconic Christmas poem ‘A Visit from St Nicholas’, leading with the famous ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ verse before encouraging people to visit Heart Research UK’s website and donate.

Anyone who wants to donate towards their life-saving research or learn more, can visit the Heart Research UK website (https://heartresearch.org.uk/), where they can access a range of useful tips and guidance on how to take care of their heart and make little changes to their lifestyle and diet over the holidays.

The range of limited-edition Heart Research UK Christmas cards are available to purchase here https://www.thortful.com/creator/heartresearchuk with all proceeds supporting Heart Research UK. 

UKHSA calls for everyone to get their flu jab this week

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging all those eligible to take up their flu vaccine by 10 December to ensure protection in time for Christmas.

The vaccine takes 14 days before it provides maximum protection, so people should get it before 10 December to help keep themselves and vulnerable relatives safe throughout the festive season.

Flu is a highly infectious disease and can lead to serious complications for those living with a long-term health condition, including respiratory and heart conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease or a chronic neurological disease like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. People with underlying health conditions overall are 11 times more likely to die if they catch flu compared to healthy adults.

Pregnant women are also at increased risk of serious complications and should have the flu vaccine to help protect themselves and their babies.

While many people aged 65 and over have already come forward for their flu vaccination, exceeding the WHO target of 75%, less than half of those with underlying health conditions have taken up the offer. Uptake in pregnant women also lags behind other groups, with just 34.4% vaccinated so far this season.

While levels of flu infection are still low, typically levels ramp up over December, with a peak in January. We are calling on people to take up the flu vaccine, along with practicing good hygiene, ventilating rooms, and staying at home if unwell.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid said: “Getting your winter vaccines – whether that is your flu jab if eligible or your booster jab –  is one of the most important things people can do for yourself an your family this winter.

“Record numbers of people took up the offer of a free flu vaccine last year and the programme is expanding even further this year, with a record 35 million people in England eligible.

“Don’t delay – book your flu vaccine as soon as possible.”

Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “The threat of flu has not gone away – it can cause serious illness and be fatal.

“Flu vaccination saves lives. If you are eligible, you don’t have to wait to be called up – book your flu vaccine as soon as possible to help protect yourself and family this Christmas.”

Almost 20 million COVID-19 booster vaccines and third doses have been administered in the UK.

Rum & Cake – Scottish botanists launch NEW wild sipping rum

Combining flavours of the wild with some of our seasonal favourites, Scottish alchemists, Buck & Birch, have launched an innovative and indulgent spirit just in time for Christmas. A wild sipping rum, Rum & Cake, will warm the cockles and tease the tastebuds, as it quickly becomes your go-to drink for the cold winter nights.

The finest dark rum is infused with the incredible Buck & Birch Hogseed Parkin, then cold-filtered to ensure a sumptuous sipping sensation, laced with molasses and Scottish spice. And what is hogseed we hear you say? A lesser known but fantastic spice that grows abundantly in Scotland and enlivens this rum with the heady scent of orange peel and warming spice on the palate.

Offering a fresh, but heady scent of orange peel with a spicier kick on the palate, the Hogseed Parkin adds a snappy taste note to make this luxurious liquor unmistakeable.

Big, bold and well-rounded, Rum & Cake is rich, buttery and full bodied in your mouth. With notes of warming ginger and clove, orange zest and a touch of  caramelised fennel, this is a spirit to sip  

Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm on the creation of this new taste sensation: “Rum in cake works a treat, but cake in rum – even better! No tricks or fancy science. We don’t rely on over complicated techniques  or any other chemical wizardry to capture this unforgettable flavour. Instead, we rely on good old-fashioned methods of infusion and patience.

“Newly baked parkin is added to rum and left to macerate, slowly imparting all of those beautiful flavours into the liquid. The finished spirit is then cold filtered for clarity whilst the all-important flavonoids are kept intact. Basically, it’s what Santa will want you to leave out for him with the mince pies this year.”

Decadently seasonal when served with ginger ale or apple juice, it is just as much at home neat and over ice with a twist of orange. Salivating yet?

Rum & Cake – go on, name a better duo …we’ll wait!

RRP: £32.99. 700ML. 39.6% ABV.

To view a full selection of drinks and gifts available or to book a distillery tour in The Tasting Room, visit www.buckandbirch.com

Winter is here: seasonal driving hacks to save motorists money

A leading insurance comparison firm is revealing the top winter driving hacks that could help motorists avoid higher premiums and retain those all-important No Claims Bonuses.

Quotezone.co.uk says many motorists overlook the winter conditions and can make unnecessary mistakes that will hit them hard in the pocket.

The firm, one of the UK’s leading car insurance comparison websites, says even minor adjustments in behaviour could save hundreds of pounds. Here they lay out some of the pitfalls motorists can find themselves in this winter: 

Defrosting – It is tempting to leave the engine running while the windscreen unfreezes, and the car warms up. However, if an opportunistic thief takes the vehicle, many insurance companies will not cover the loss. 

Leaving engines running is also an offence under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Doing this is known as ‘idling’,and is bad for the environment as it increases the amount of dangerous gases emitted into the air from the car’s exhaust.

Don’t use boiling water on windscreens – Glass can crack when it experiences a sudden change in temperature, and windscreen damage isn’t always covered by a standard car insurance policy.

Simply using a frost guard, a defogger or even homemade de-icer – lukewarm water mixed with rubbing alcohol.

Clear your windscreen before you set-off – Windscreens with inhibited views can land owners with a £1,000 fine and three points on a driving licence. So any leaves, snow, ice, mud or even condensation, needs to be fully cleared before setting out.

Check tyres – Motorists can be fined an eye-watering £2,500 for each faulty tyre and receive three points on their driving licence. If the police see another tyre falling short, it doubles to £5,000 and six points. Four faulty tyres could even see the maximum 12 points – resulting in the loss of a driving licence. 

Commercial vehicle drivers, where the car or van is owned by their employer – could land firms with penalties of up to £20,000.

Numberplate – Excess mud and grit on the roads this time of year can make your car dirty very quickly, and if the numberplate isn’t clearly visible, drivers could face a fine of £1,000.

Floods – Some car insurance policies include clauses advising policyholders not to drive through flooded roads, and may specifically exclude cover for any water damage to the car if the motorist goes against this advice.

Avoid puddles – Soaking pedestrians by deliberately driving through large puddles can results in a £100 fine and three penalty points.

Greg Wilson, Founder of car insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk said: “As winter approaches, it’s not just the fines that motorists should worry about, points on a driving licence are noted by insurers as a sign of how safe a driver is and what the risk of a claim might be when calculating premiums.

“Three points on a licence can add 5% to premiums every year until the points are spent after four years. Six points pushes premiums up by as much as 25%, and let’s not forget No Claims Bonuses and what they might be worth if they’ve been built up over time and now have to be accrued again from scratch.

“Careful, considerate and patient drivers who plan for the winter weather and adjust their behaviour to meet the conditions give themselves the best chance of avoiding points and keeping their premiums low.” 

Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including car insurance, convicted drivers and breakdown cover. 

Quotezone.co.uk is recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk

Fight the freeze!

Five ways to prepare your pets for below zero temperatures

With icy weather warnings predicted to sweep across the UK this weekend, a national vet charity is urging pet owners to take extra precautions to protect furry friends from the cold.

PDSA Vet Lynne James said: “Winter can be a dangerous time for all animals, but fine coated, poorly, young or elderly pets are at higher risk of hypothermia in freezing temperatures. Thankfully, there are simple steps we can all take to keep our precious furry family members safe, warm and healthy as the mercury drops.

Extra layers

“Use a well-fitting, fully lined, non-restrictive waterproof coat to help keep your pooch warm and dry when on walks if they are very young, old or have thin fur. Try to avoid walking your furry family member in freezing cold weather if they are poorly – instead, encourage them to go to the toilet in the garden, then bring them straight back into the warmth.

Slippery surfaces

“Ice and snow can be painful for large and small pets alike if it gets stuck between their paws, so try to keep hair in between their pads trimmed and check their paws when they come back inside. Using a paw butter can help prevent sore cracked pads.

Shelter for small pets

“When the temperature hits below zero, move outdoor rabbits and guinea pigs to a warm and sheltered area, such as a shed or car-free garage, making sure they’re protected from drafts and exhaust fumes. They should still have access to natural light, plenty of room and be given regular access to an outside run so that they can exercise when the temperatures are slightly milder.

Curfew for cats

“Your puss may want to stay indoors more when it gets cold – give them toys to play with to keep them occupied and a litter tray so they don’t have to brave the elements if they don’t want to. If they still prefer to go outside, make sure they can easily get back inside or have access to a warm, sheltered area when the temperature plummets.

Snuggle up

“All furry friends should have extra bedding over winter, and small pets will love piles of extra hay to snuggle up to. Your puss will really appreciate a few extra comfy spaces to curl up in around the house, too – igloo beds are ideal, as they help furry friends get really cosy. You can even place a safely wrapped, animal-safe heat pad under their bedding for extra warmth.”

Vet charity PDSA provides free and low-cost vet care for those who struggle to pay treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.

Since the first UK lockdown began, PDSA’s dedicated vet teams carried out more than one million phone consultations.

With 388,000 pets treated in 2020, by keeping their 48 Pet Hospitals open, PDSA can support the thousands of pets that need help across the UK every day.

Every pet deserves a fighting chance. Please donate today and help save pets’ lives – www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-chance.

Winter road safety advice from Police Scotland

Advice for pedestrians

Advice if you are out walking during winter:

  • Dress for the weather by wearing reflective or bright-coloured clothing so other road users can see you when it’s dark or visibility is poor
  • If you are walking home late at night, make sure someone knows where you’re going and when
  • Vehicles can take up to ten times longer to stop on slippery road surfaces so take extra care crossing the road
  • Stick to pedestrian crossings
  • If there are no crossings nearby, find a place with a clear view and wait for long gaps in the traffic before crossing the road
  • Don’t cross the road between parked vehicles, unless it can’t be avoided then take extra care (look out for vehicles that suddenly pull out or reverse)
  • Never cross the road behind a bus
  • If there is no pavement, keep to the right hand side of the road so you can see traffic coming towards you.

Advice for cyclists

Advice to consider if you are cycling during winter:

  • Make sure your bike can be seen by people on the road
  • Use a good set of front and rear lights (white at the front, red at the back)
  • Wear clothes that help you be seen on your bike, such as bright and light reflective items
  • Pay attention to road signs, markings and particularly red lights
  • Do not cycle on the pavements, they may be slippery and can also endanger pedestrians
  • Be mindful of the effects poor weather can have on other road users
  • Make sure you know about the dangers around you
  • Cars can take twice as long to stop in wet weather
  • Braking can be unpredictable in ice and snow. 

Advice for drivers

Advice for drivers during winter:

  • Make sure your car is ready for winter
  • Check that your tyres, brakes, windscreens, wiper blades and windows are free from defects and clean
  • Drive to the road conditions. Road conditions can change without warning, stopping distances will be affected by the weather
  • Make sure your windows are clean and aren’t misted up
  • Make sure there is no snow and ice on your windows before you drive
  • When the roads are icy, drive at a slow speed in a high gear
  • Accelerate and brake very gently
  • Driving distracted (for example, using a Sat Nav) can cause additional stress. It is dangerous to yourself, passengers and other road users.

Betting on a white Christmas: William Hill reveals odds on festive flurries

  • William Hill, which instituted betting on a white Christmas, has made northerly duo Edinburgh and Newcastle favourites for festive flurries.
  • Britain’s highest airport, Leeds Bradford, is 6-1 to experience snowfall on the big day.
  • Last snowfall on Christmas Day was in 2017, and the last widespread white Christmas was in 2010.

Bookmaker Wiliam Hill has opened its book on the UK being treated to a white Christmas, with prices being assigned to 10 major UK airports.

For many of us, snow is synonymous with Christmas – Bing Crosby even dreamt of it – but in the UK, snow or sleet falls an average of 3.5 days in December, with the MET Office able to accurately forecast whether snow is likely on any given Christmas Day up to five days beforehand.

Edinburgh and Newcastle Airports are current favourites, both 4-1 to experience wintry conditions on December 25. And despite its disruptive nature, Christmas is the one time of the year when the bothersome weather appears to get a free pass.

Leeds Bradford Airport is more than 700ft above sea level and holds the record for being the highest airport in the UK. It is therefore surprising to see it appear alongside the likes of Birmingham, London City Airport and Dublin on 6-1.

Manchester is 13/2 while Bristol, Liverpool and Cardiff Airports are 8-1.

The popular pastime of betting on a white Christmas was in fact instituted by William Hill, and traditionally required a single snowflake to fall on the MET Office operations centre in London. 

Nowadays, and with that building long since sold – the national weather service now based in Devon, all that is needed to declare a white Christmas is the observation of a single snowflake falling in the 24 hours of December 25, at one of 10 major UK airports.

The UK has not seen snow on the ground on Christmas Day since 2015 when it was observed at a tenth of weather stations. Those 2015 flurries came five years after widespread snow and the coldest December for a century in 2010.

The last widespread white Christmas (2010) saw snow on the ground at 83% of weather stations (the highest amount ever recorded), while snow or sleet fell at 19% of stations.

Technically though, 2017 was the last true white Christmas in the UK – with 11 percent of weather stations recording snow falling, but none recorded any on the ground.

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, please visit:

https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/tv-specials/OB_EV21589670/snow-on-christmas-day

Welcome Centre reopens its doors for people facing homelessness this winter

The city council and national homelessness charity Bethany Christian Trust announced the re-opening of the Welcome Centre earlier this week.

The Welcome Centre, which provides accommodation of last resort, tailored support and positive move on options for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets, opened on 4 October. It will operate until 2 May 2022 in the Haymarket Hub Hotel in Edinburgh’s West End.

Founded by Bethany Christian Trust in partnership with the Council, and supported by the Scottish Government, the Welcome Centre was pioneered last year in an emergency response to the outbreak of Covid-19, providing en-suite rooms as a deliberate move away from congregate shelter provision, and has since helped to establish a new model of tailored support for people rough sleeping.

Ahead of World Homeless Day (10 October), the Council’s Convener and Vice Convener for Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, Councillor Kate Campbell and Councillor Mandy Watt, together with Bethany’s Chief Executive, Alasdair Bennett visited the Welcome Centre to meet some of the front-line staff from both the Council and Bethany Christian Trust that manage, work and volunteer at the facility and offer vital support for its service users.

The Welcome Centre takes an innovative and person centred approach, providing 24 hour tailored support for individuals all in one place. Guests receive their own en-suite room and 3 meals a day, including a hot evening meal prepared by volunteers.

Crucially, they are also able to work with dedicated staff and visiting professional services with support to access longer term accommodation as well as on site assistance with mental health, addiction, wellbeing, health needs and accessing benefits.

Councillor Kate Campbell, the Council’s Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, said: “It’s been inspiring to meet staff at the Welcome Centre. Everyone is united in a strong desire to end rough sleeping and the Welcome Centre plays a crucial role. It’s somewhere that anyone who is at risk of rough sleeping can go and have a place to stay that night.

“But it can’t stop there. Which is why it’s been so good to see so many partners working together, from the third sector, health and social care and the council, to make sure that anyone who stays at the centre has support wrapped around them. From advice to health care and support to register as homeless.

“Bethany’s Welcome Centre has to be a first step on resolving people’s homelessness long term. And the warm welcome and support they are given here is vital to building trust and relationships that enable that journey to begin.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, the Council’s Vice Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, said: “It’s been fantastic meeting everyone here at the Welcome Centre and seeing the vital work that they do. But on World Homelessness Day it’s important to say that our long term goal is to prevent homelessness in the first place.

“Which is why our Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan is not just focussed on how we resolve rough sleeping, or improving temporary accommodation, but on long term actions we can take.

“It’s crucial that we prevent homelessness by supporting people early on when they’re at risk of losing their home.

“Ultimately I think we all want to get to a place where there isn’t a need for the Welcome Centre, because we’re able to intervene to make sure that in the future no one faces being without a home or having to sleep on the streets.

Cameron Black, Director of Crisis Intervention, Bethany Christian Trust said: “People need genuine support when they are having the worst day of their lives and that is what they find at the Welcome Centre.

“The staff are there for people 24 hours a day to offer professional and real care. We are so grateful to the Edinburgh Collection Hotel’s accommodation and our partner agencies who go the extra mile to bring their expertise to where people are.

“All of the support from volunteers from the local churches and all who help fund this innovative project saves lives. We just couldn’t do it without you!”

Relying on the financial support of the general public, local churches, trusts, businesses, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government, the Welcome Centre shows what can be possible when the people of Edinburgh come together to create change.

With a large professional staff team, over 1,000 Bethany volunteers and more than 20 visiting partner services, the Welcome Centre saw remarkable success in 2020 – 2021 in helping people recover from the crisis of homelessness and move on to a more stable situation.

The service accommodated and supported over 860 individuals who had fallen into homelessness because of a wide range of circumstances as well as those rough sleeping, with 97% of known outcomes positive.

Bethany’s Buy a Bed campaign, which is vital in enabling the service, will launch on the 18 October and gift vouchers can be purchased in Bethany Shops and online: https://www.bethanychristiantrust.com/support-work/buy-a-bed/

Help your workmates save money and stay warm this winter

Many of us have been working from home since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Research from June 2020 (PDF) showed most Scots felt their energy use increased during lockdown, and almost 60% of households were worried about their bills going up as a result.

As lockdown measures continue and cold weather means the heating is on for longer, you and your workmates might need some help to manage your energy costs while keeping warm at home.

Learn simple ways to stay warm at home

The good news is, we can help. As well as impartial advice to householders, we also offer fun and interactive online workshops for employers across Scotland.

Workshops are completely free and can be tailored to suit your workplace. And they’re a great way to connect with and support your colleagues, especially when many may be concerned about rising bills.

You and your workmates will pick up practical tips to reduce your bills and keep your home warm, like:

  • Getting to know your heating controls, so you can get the best out of your heating system and make your home more comfortable
  • Keeping the heat in by draught-proofing your home
  • Making sure you’re not wasting energy – just turning your appliances off instead of leaving them on standby could save you £30 a year
  • Finding out what support is available to help you make your home warmer and more energy efficient through energy saving home improvements

We’d love to help you and your colleagues stay warm this winter – email us to book your workshop. We also offer workshops on travelling sustainably (for essential journeys of course!), and saving water in partnership with Scottish Water. If getting everyone together for an online workshop will be tricky, our home energy e-learning is also full of useful advice on saving energy and money at home

Pick up tips to make the food shop go further

While we’re all cutting down on supermarket trips and many household budgets are getting tighter, it helps to make the food shop go further. Love Food Hate Waste workshops, delivered by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of Zero Waste Scotland, can help attendees save up to £437 a year by reducing food waste, through simple tips like: 

  • Menu planning, to make sure you don’t buy more than you use and don’t have to dash out for missing ingredients
  • Storing food correctly so it lasts longer
  • Using up leftovers and kitchen cupboard ingredients with crafty recipes

Interested? Get in touch to book a workshop.

Support for communities as well as workplaces

We also offer free online workshops for community groups on saving energy and water at home, travelling sustainably, and cutting food waste.

These are a great way to get your community group together remotely.

Find out more about our support for communities, and drop us an email if you’d like to book a workshop.

Council catches up with bin collections as conditions ease

Council staff have been working around the clock to minimise disruption after this week’s heavy snowfall in the city – and now bin collections have resumed too.

Roads service teams have been out day and night to clear snow from priority pavements, cycle paths and roads, as well as outside COVID vaccination centres. Due to the volume of snowfall they often need to treat and re-treat the the network to keep it passable.

As a result of the severe weather and lying snow the council took the decision to suspend all waste and cleansing services and close recycling centres. During this time, waste and cleansing staff will help gritting teams to clear snow as quickly as possible.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said on Tuesday: “We had our full fleet of gritters and mini-tractors out yesterday and throughout the night, treating roads, pavements and cycle lanes and clearing priority routes of snow.

“The team have been focusing on COVID vaccination centres and key arterial routes to make sure anyone needing to make an essential journey or to receive a COVID vaccination is able to.

Frontline staff in both roads and waste and cleansing services have been working tirelessly in the face of heavy snowfall, which can at times pose a safety risk. For this reason, we have decided to suspend waste collections, close recycling centres and cancel special uplifts, due to lying snow, for the safety of staff and the public. In the meantime, waste and cleansing staff will be assisting with snow-clearing efforts to help keep the city moving.

“We hope that everyone will understand that these are exceptional circumstances and that, while it may produce a temporary inconvenience for some residents, it is a sensible decision to prioritise safety for our crews and residents alike. We will resume waste collections as quickly as possible and thank the public for their patience – we will keep our website and social media updated with the latest information.”

Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “Roads services teams have been working extremely hard overnight and will continue treating the city throughout the day. They will often need to revisit key routes multiple times to make sure they are passable when poor weather persists.

“With further snow and bitterly cold weather forecast we’ll need to concentrate on priority routes, revisiting these where necessary when further snow falls and ice forms. Squads will benefit from the assistance of waste and cleansing staff during this severe weather.

“I would encourage residents only to travel if it’s absolutely necessary and to take extra care if they do.”

Anyone with a booking for a recycling centre or a special uplift will receive an email about rebooking their appointment.

Further information and tips on clearing snow and gritting priority routes is available on the Council website.

Today will be largely dry with a maximum temperature of 2 – 3%; but there will be a few snow showers in eastern areas lingering through the day. Cloud will be patchy allowing for plenty of sunny spells. A little breezy.