One day into winter... and icy blast brings a -4c frost

IT’S only a day since the official end of British Summer Time – and already winter is looming.

Forecasters expect temperatures to plunge to -4c today, with gritters on stand-by.

The Met Office predicted a white morning for most of the country today, citing a 24-hour shot of Arctic air as the cause.

Transport Scotland has 208 gritters ready to tackle any slippery roads, but Hallowe’en tomorrow is expected to see the temperature rise to 15c.

The sudden drop in temperature comes after a topsy-turvy weekend of weather.

Residents on one Scots island spoke of their disbelief after a freak tornado caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. The whirlwind hurtled through Corrie on Arran on Saturday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction.

At least eight boats were lifted into the air and smashed down, with the wreckage strewn across the main road round the island.

The vessels, most weighing at least half a ton, had been laid up on dry land for the winter protect them from bad weather.

Local resident Glen Sloss said: ‘It was incredible. The tornado came through a wooded area and down into the village at a rate of knots before it went out to sea.’

Arran Mountain Rescue Team member Ewan McKinnon said: ‘It was a very freaky situation. I was driving through Corrie just seconds after it happened. It was lucky that no cars were passing that spot at the time.’

Taxi owner Brian Deary said: ‘I have never seen anything like it. All the boats were in pieces, scattered all over the quay.

‘It was as if a bomb had hit. Five or six were upturned and the bits spread along the play park.’

Met Office forecaster Chris Page said: ‘At the end of a mild October, Monday’s widespread frost could see -3c or lower.

‘Hallowe’en will be a lot milder at 15c in the day and fairly dry for evening trick-or-treaters apart from some light rain in the North.’

Meanwhile, commercial forecaster The Weather Company said that after chilly spells in November, both December and January are both forecast to be cooler than normal, possibly leading to the coldest winter for five years.

Chief meteorologist Todd Crawford said: ‘We expect the coldest UK winter since 2012-13 and extended cold spells with a ridge of pressure in the North Atlantic, especially in early winter.’