Spring is in the air as the Beast from the East is finally tamed
TEMPERATURES in some parts of the UK have been the coldest since 1955, but the good news is that more spring-like weather is on the way.
Today looks set to remain cold, with a yellow warning in place for snow and ice in parts of Wales, but the outlook is for milder weather to arrive tomorrow.
It has been cold enough for unusual icicles to form on roadside trees in Hope, in Flintshire, and there were delays on the M4 yesterday morning as icicles had to be removed from a bridge over the motorway near Newport.
The Met Office snow and ice weather warning today says a band of rain will move eastwards bringing a risk of snow and ice across parts of Wales before clearing during the afternoon.
Snow may fall to low levels for a time giving small accumulations in places. There is the potential for 2cm to 5cm of fresh snow over higher ground, where strong and gusty winds will be an additional hazard and may lead to temporary blizzard conditions and drifting.
But it is about to turn milder by the weekend’s end.
BBC forecaster Simon King said: “The Beast from The East is going to be tamed from Sunday and into next week. Might even feel a bit like spring for some of us with milder air coming in.”
On Thursday, the Met Office confirmed the UK had experienced the coldest February night since February 23, 1955. That included the infamous winter of 1962/1963, as the temperature in Braemar, Aberdeenshire was recorded as -23°C (-9.4°F) at 8.13am on Thursday. Forecasters said the last time a temperature below minus 20°C was recorded in the UK was December 23, 2010.
It may have been slightly warmer in Wales, but that didn’t stop the weather from creating some spectacular wintry scenes, including icicles forming at the Sgwd Gwladys falls in the Vale of Neath.
The Met Office long-term weather forecast for the half-term school week says: “This period begins with temperatures much milder than as of late, with temperatures returning to around average/slightly about average for most and with some mild spells being seen in the south and west of the UK.
“The UK looks to be split broadly east and west in terms of the general weather types with the west being wet with strong winds at times, and the east being drier and finer.
“Any snowfall also then most likely becomes restricted to the Scottish mountains.
“From the weekend of the 20th, there are signs of more widespread settled conditions becoming established, which would correspond with temperatures falling back to below average, and with increased incidence of overnight frost and fog.”
Meanwhile, people are being urged not to travel to a Pembrokeshire beauty spot to see the snow after “hundreds” arrived last month.
Dyfed-Powys Police, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority have told the public not to visit the Preseli Hills as more snow is forecast today. It comes after “hundreds” of people headed to the beauty spot following a period of snowfall in January despite the current alert level four restrictions.
National Park Authority north area ranger, Richard Vaughan explained that while those people breached lockdown restrictions, they were also trespassing on private land and left litter behind.
He said: “Already this year hundreds of people have headed to Preselis after a period of snow.
“Despite the fact they should not have been there in the first place, people were trespassing on private land including fields where livestock is present and leaving litter behind for somebody else to clean up.
“There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the snow on the Preselis once restrictions are lifted, but for now please stay home and protect each other, the emergency services and our farming communities.”
Dyfed-Powys Police superintendent of Pembrokeshire division, Anthony Evans said that it had been “disappointing” for officers to see “hundreds of vehicles” at beauty spots such as the Preseli Hills.
He explained that some of the drivers had even travelled “considerable” distances.
“We understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone, and that beauty spots such as the Preseli Hills are particularly tempting, especially with the forecast of snow,” Mr Evans said. “But there is very good reason for the level four restrictions and the requirement to stay at home.
“Where engagement with people fails, fixed penalty notices have and will be issued to blatant breaches.”