The UK appears to be on the tipping point of a cold snap, weather maps predict, with forecasters warned that the nation is “on the fringes” of Europe’s big freeze.
Jim Dale, a senior meteorologist for British Weather Services, has said experts will be keeping a close eye on January’s emerging weather pattern – especially as a “modest” plunge in temperatures is expected in the continent.
Speaking to Express.co.uk he said: “The Troll from Trondheim is watching and waiting. No material plunge as yet is forthcoming. “Something modest into Central Europe soon but we are on the far fringes of that.
“However, fellow meteorologists do not want to to let this go and so it continues to be a discussion point; as are the general expectations for 2024.”
The Met Office has also predicted a cold, and potentially snow-dominating snap from this weekend. Risk levels are low at the moment, but can change relatively quickly.
The long-range forecast, which covers Britain from this Saturday, January 6 to 16 says: “The weekend sees somewhat more settled conditions introduced quite widely across the country, with colder conditions and some frosty nights (perhaps becoming widespread and severe in time).
“Initially there are still likely to be some showers, especially around windward coasts in the east and north, but in general most areas start to see longer, more settled spells develop.
“Occasional unsettled spells are still possible, but these generally much more regionalised, and infrequent than conditions of late, perhaps not even materialising.
“As temperatures fall, the chance of any precipitation falling as sleet and snow increases, particularly over high ground and especially over northern parts of the UK, but not exclusively so by any means.
“As well as frost and ice by night, some freezing fog is likely to develop as well.”
Currently, much of central Europe remains in the green – which means temperatures are around average – not too hot, or too cold. But that’s likely to shift as the first full weekend of 2024 arrives.
Europe-wide GFS runs, illustrated by WXCHARTS, show an Arctic blast firstly engulfing much of Britain by Thursday – with much of eastern Europe affected, and parts of north eastern France.
By Sunday, a stronger sub-zero blast is set to push across from the east, covering nearly all of southern England, along with northern towns and cities in Europe. Sunday appears to be the first day in which a stark decline in the mercury will be noticeable in the UK.
But early indicators suggest January 17 is when the bitter conditions will spring into action, with a fierce blast from the east pushing once again over the continent and into the UK.
However, with January 17 being the latest date for predictions, it’s yet not known how badly it will affect Britain – if at all. These signals will develop as time goes on.
The Met Office’s even longer-range forecast which goes from January 15 to 29 hints that a colder period may be on the cards, but omits much detail. It adds: “Compared to normal, there is an increased chance of colder than average conditions during this period.
“Currently the chance of widespread severe cold is still deemed low, but still the risk of impacts from cold, ice and snow is greater than normal.”
