One of the coldest

THE Beast from the East was heading West last night – but it wasn’t going without a fight.

Gale force easterly winds gusting at up to 60mph hit Huddersfield yesterday – bringing a wind chill factor of -16°C (3.2°F).

Examiner weatherman Paul Stevens warned people venturing outdoors to wrap up warm and said: “We are now in the dying throes of the Beast from the East. By today we are going to see the wind easing off somewhat.”

Paul said Huddersfield had been hit by 28cm (11in) of snow over the past few days and 30cm (30.8in) over the hills, but added: “With the winds blowing we have seen one metre and two metre (3ft and 6.5ft) drifting in places.”

He said Wednesday’s maximum daytime temperature of -5.8°C (21.5°F) was the lowest recorded in the town since 2010, when one December day saw top temperatures of -6.8°C (19.7°F). Wednesday was likely to have been one of the coldest February days on record for Huddersfield, he said.

The Salendine Nook weatherman said today could bring a little more snow with up to 2cm on high ground. Said Paul: “By Monday, the winds will be southerly and temperatures should be up to 4°C or 5°C (39°F or 41°F).

“In the short-term going into next week, the weather will be a little warmer but more unsettled. It will be cold at times, but not as cold as it has been with showers which will be wintry on the hills.

“By the middle of next week, we will be back to temperatures of 5°C to 7°C (39°F to 44.6°F), but there is always the threat of cold conditions threatening from the east until we get to the end of next week.”