NOW FOR A BLAST OF MILD AND WILD
Sunny spell, then a chill
BRITS will enjoy a spell of balmy weather before a New Year deep freeze.
Temperatures are set to hit an all-time November high of 18C this week.
But forecasters say the balmy weather will be followed by snow, ice and disruption to transport.
Much of the country was hit by heavy rain over the weekend with parts of Wales flooded for the second time in three weeks.
But the soaking will be followed by a potentially record-breaking week with the mercury expected to creep past 18C on Wednesday for the first time since records began in 1841.
The warmest temperature for November 14 so far was 17.7C in 1989 in Cwmbargoed, south Wales.
But the month is set to end with snow in the north and some severe cold further south.
Snow
The change is set to be triggered by El Niño, the warming of Pacific Ocean water which boosts temperatures in Britain but also brings late winter freezes.
Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook said: “Britain’s weather looks like going from mild to wild.
“Indian Summer conditions in coming days see 18C sunny spells, challenging records.
“But it is set to turn much colder, and after Christmas spells of snow, ice and travel disruption are forecast.”
Marco Petagna of the Met Office said there will be “dry and fine conditions” for many southern and eastern areas on Wednesday, spreading to the north as well from Thursday.
But he added: “The big change ahead is to a colder last week of the month, moving from above to below-average temperatures with the risk of wintry conditions in the north.”