Arctic winds are expected to blow snow southwards
AS WE close in on December, seasonal averages suggest we should be seeing temperatures of around 48F (9C). Instead, in recent days, it has been closer to 62F (17C), but the pendulum is about to swing in the other direction, with cold winds and even some snow arriving towards the end of next week.
The change began yesterday as warming winds from the south west began to peter out as a cold weather front came in from the Arctic. As it spreads down, gardens could turn frosty early on, but over the course of the morning spells of bright sunshine will break up the showers. The most notable feature, though, will be the wind, now blowing all the way down from the far north and with a real bite to it, especially on north eastern coasts.
The mercury will drop just below the average – 46F (8C) in London, Cardiff and Liverpool, 44F (7C) in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and 43F (6C) in Newcastle – but the wind will make it feel much colder. From Monday, thicker cloud across northern Britain may, briefly, take the edge off the wind, but will also bring rain. It will remain cold and the frost will be present all week. By Tuesday another low pressure system from the north will be upon us, this one even colder than its predecessor. That means a real risk of snow in parts of Scotland and even further down over the hills of northern England. Winter is definitely here.
All of which inevitably raises the age-old question often heard at this time of year: what are the chances of a white Christmas? The last significant snow to fall on December 25 came in 2015. The bookies have started taking bets and Edinburgh, at 10/3, is the current favourite to see snow as presents are unwrapped.