Chilling prospect... it may be coldest winter in 30 years
DIG out those woollies – we could be facing one of the coldest winters in 30 years.
Scientists analysing sea temperatures and weather systems over the North Atlantic say they can predict what is heading our way.
Freezing Arctic air is expected to descend on the UK in the first months of next year as the Gulf stream sidesteps our shores.
It will leave Britain without the rise in temperature it normally brings from the Atlantic and Caribbean sea.
The extreme predictions were made by climate prediction experts at University College London.
Professor Mark Saunders said: “This would rank the 2020 January-February central England temperature as the coldest winter since 2013 and the seventh coldest winter in the past 30 years.” But the team admit their attempt at one of the longest-range forecasts in history is not set in stone.
They put the risk at a “fifty seven per cent chance the central England temperature will be colder than in 2018”.
The scientists had better news for those mourning the end of warmer days – a late record-breaking Indian summer could be on its way.
Temperatures in the South are expected to top Hawaii later this month at 79F (26C).
A significant shift in the weather pattern is likely again next month with high pressure moving away from the UK. This will allow low pressure to return from the North and West, bringing unsettled wet and windy weather more typical of October.
More immediately, Britain faces a blustery wet week with 50mph gusts as the tail-end of Hurricane Dorian and Storm Gabriel hit us.
The pair have caused destruction across the Atlantic with gales in excess of 145mph but their remaining power is now on course for the UK.
Rain and thundery showers are expected today but tomorrow will be drier. However by Friday experts summer temperatures will return when we soak up sunshine and warm temperatures reaching 75F.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “This week is going to be really changeable. Early Wednesday morning we are hit by the remnants of Hurricane Dorian and on Thursday we face the remnants of Storm Gabriel.”