SNOW WARNING AS BIG FREEZE BITES
BRITAIN will enjoy a brief respite from the cold over the next couple of days before Arctic weather returns this weekend.
Temperatures plunged to almost -5C (23F) yesterday morning bringing widespread frosts and snow to parts.
Bitter Polar winds pushed the mercury to -4.9C in Benson, Oxfordshire, with -4.5C recorded in Cumbria and -1.9C at Exeter.
A change in the weather today will take the edge off the icy weather as milder air comes up from the South.
Temperatures will hover around 13C in the South tomorrow and Thursday while the North just touches double figures.
Warned
But by the weekend conditions are expected to change again as bitter winds blow in from the North Pole. Overnight temperatures will plummet to minus figures and bring wintry showers to Scotland and the North.
Met Office forecaster Oli Claydon said: “We move out of the Arctic maritime air mass on Tuesday and while Scotland will remain cool elsewhere will see a warming trend.
“By the end of the week, temperatures will drop below freezing as Polar Maritime air returns.”
Mr Claydon warned heavy rain will sweep the country midweek with Scotland and the far North to be hit with strong winds.
He said: “A band of rain will work its way south-eastwards tomorrow night. This will affect the whole of the UK bringing strengthening winds to the North, some of these will be quite strong.”
The current cold snap has triggered fresh warnings to wrap up for what could be the coldest winter for five years. Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist at The Weather Company, said: “We expect the coldest winter in the UK since 2012-13.”
Climate scientists have warned ocean cooling in the east Pacific – a so-called a La Nina phenomenon – could increase the risk of a harsh season in the West, including Britain. In some parts of the world, it can increase rainfall.
Met Office climate expert Adam Scaife said: “Seasonal forecasts are now in agreement that a moderate La Nina is very likely to occur in the coming winter.” Ladbrokes has slashed the odds for snow on Christmas Day from 5-6 to 4-5 with Aberdeen the favourite at 7-4.
Spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said: “The odds are falling as quick as the mercury and it looks like ‘Snowvember’ is a sign of things to come over the festive period.” Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead added: “It’s now just 4-5 the UK sees snow on Christmas Day as hopes for a white Christmas continue to grow.”
IT’S cold. There is snow. And there is more of it to come. We may even have the coldest winter we have had for five years. Time to get out your thermals and hot water bottles.