Spooky frosts will have us reaching for heat controls
AS OCTOBER turns into November, our weather is for once playing its time-honoured role. The mild, sunny conditions of the last week, brought on by south-westerly winds blowing in warm air from down south towards the equator, are going to be replaced by something a good deal more wintry, with morning frosts to accompany the commute to work.
This change of fortune began yesterday, as the prevailing wind direction turned to north-westerlies, with the north of Scotland in particular seeing rain and gales. But at least temperatures in Glasgow held up at 55F (13C). Today, though they will be dropping like a stone, down to 48F (9C) in the city, and if you add in the windchill factor, nearer 41F (5C).
The reason is that the wind is now coming from the north, as a ridge of cold air sweeps in from the Arctic. And it is not just Scotland that will feel the effect. The whole eastern seaboard will experience the bite. London will struggle to make 57F (14C). The only respite to be had may be in the south western corner of England and South Wales.
The start of November will be at best changeable. There is a risk of snow in upland parts of northern England and Scotland tonight, and widespread frosts elsewhere. They may make for a perfect spooky backdrop to Hallowe’en, but they will also have us reaching for the central heating controls.
There should be a bit of push and shove between the milder high out in the Atlantic and the chilly low coming down from the far north, with the whole of the UK on the fault line between the two. So we may have the occasional respite from this vanguard blast of winter, but it will be brief.