Another Beast from the East could be on its way this month

WEATHER conditions are shaping up for another Beast from the East later this month, the Met Office has warned.

Warming high up in the atmosphere could – in a couple of weeks - lead to the wind direction changing by 180 degrees, sending temperatures plummeting.

Back in February 2018 when the Beast from the East struck, there was travel chaos in Leicestershire and schools were closed due to the heavy snow that was brought here by winds from Russia.

Temperatures dropped to -7C and East Midlands Airport had to cancel some flights.

Usually, thanks to the jet stream, the wind in Britain comes from the south west and brings warmth, so the change is quickly noticeable when the direction switches and air from places like Siberia arrives.

In an interview with the Daily Mail this week, Grahame Madge of the

Met Office said the warming in the stratosphere was very likely to happen and that could possibly lead to very cold temperatures if the wind does switch direction.

He said: “Many weather agencies are united in the view that this warming will take place next week.

“When that happens – around 30km up in the stratosphere – our traditional wind pattern can be reversed.

“What is less clear is the longterm outlook for the impact of this event.”

The event is known as sudden stratospheric warming and he said about one in three led to significant weather changes at ground level.

The current Met Office forecast is for temperatures to be between -1C and 4C over the next six days.

There is not much chance of any significant snow over the coming days although wind speeds are set to pick up from Tuesday onwards.