Spring is in the (very chilly) air

SIBERIAN winds are heading for Scotland – just in time for the official start of spring.

Temperatures are set to crash well below zero, prompting ‘significant’ snow showers on Monday, especially in eastern areas.

Spring starts on March 1, according to the meteorological calendar, but the Met Office is forecasting that an unusual cold snap will occur ahead of the new season.

For most of this month Scotland has endured cold air sweeping down from the North-west from Canada. This has brought freezing temperatures and show showers, particularly in the Highlands.

However, a sudden stratospheric warming detected last Monday over the North Pole – and capable of increasing temperatures by

0C – has switched the direction of winds that affect the UK from west to east.

Met Office long-range predictor Professor Adam Scaife said: ‘In the past few days we have seen a dramatic rise in air temperature, known as a sudden stratospheric warming, at 30km above the North Pole.

‘This results from a breakdown of the usual high-altitude westerly winds and often leads to cold easterly conditions being more likely to dominate subsequent UK weather.’

Scotland has just enjoyed a brief respite from what is set to go down as a colder than normal winter. On Monday, Drumnadrochit in Inverness-shire hit 12.8C ( F) while the French city of Nice only managed 11C ( 1F).

Met Office forecaster Martin Bowles said that is about to change, adding: ‘March 1 could be one of the coldest days of the year.

‘The result of sudden stratospheric warming is very settled weather, with high pressure sticking over Scandinavia. This means air normally over Siberia is pulled south, arriving over the UK by next Monday.

‘Not only will next week be very cold, it could stretch into the following week, resulting in prolonged cold weather.

‘I believe spring will be delayed by a couple of weeks.’