COLDEST WINTER FOR 5 YEARS ON WAY
BRITAIN is facing its coldest winter in five years, with temperatures set to plummet to - 11C ( 12F) within weeks. And there could even be a White Christmas.
Much of the country woke to the coldest morning of the autumn so far yesterday with the mercury dropping to - 5C in parts and widespread frost as schools went back after half term.
Temperatures will lift back into double figures today, with a dry and mild Halloween night in store. But Britons have been warned the next cold snap may not be far away – with a bitterly cold winter expected.
The Weather Company’s chief meteorologist Todd Crawford said: “We expect the coldest winter in the UK since 2012/ 13.” A ridge of pressure in the North Atlantic is set to force the jet stream up to the Arctic and back down into Europe, releasing cold air from Polar regions directly into northern Europe, he added.
AccuWeather meteorologist Evan Duffey agreed this winter is shaping up to be colder than the past four.
Widespread snowfall is possible, with heavier and more frequent showers likely in Scotland and the North, he added.
He said: “The past few winters have been mild. We expect this year to be closer to normal, so it will be colder and with average, or above average, snowfall.”
Britain’s first taste of winter came after Arctic winds saw temperatures dip to - 5C in Scotland during the early hours of yesterday with lows of - 2C across central England and - 3C in the South.
The Met Office predicts a much milder week ahead, with a mostly settled and dry picture for much of the country.
Spokesman Grahame Madge said a change to a more southerly airflow will bring highs of 16C in parts of the UK.
He said: “The outlook going into Tuesday is for a slightly overcast day but with light winds and temperatures back into double figures, perhaps 14C to 16C in the South.
“For most it is a dry, bright day with the only significant rain expected in Scotland. It is a similar outlook for much of the week with some showery spells which could be heavy in parts.” James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said: “It is likely to turn colder again by next weekend and this will bring a risk of wintry conditions, particularly in northern and western areas.
“This winter is shaping up to be one of the coldest for some years. We can expect several widespread snow events across the country in the run- up to and beyond the New Year.” A White Christmas is possible, he added.
This will be the first harsh winter since 2012/ 13 when the average temperature between December 2012 and February 2013 was 0.4C below normal. Widespread snow led to chaos on roads and transport networks.