Britain is just days away from another dramatic turn in weather events with snow, ice and plunging temperatures on the horizon.
After the warmest January day – and a new winter heat record being set, Brits would be forgiven for expecting more settled weeks ahead.
But this is not the case, as a major change is tipped to happen by the end of next week, with some areas set to see snow flurries by at least Friday, and a potential for more widespread chaos in mid-February.
Netweather forecasters have issued some guidance on when the next prolonged cold spell may arrive in a blog written by Nick Finnis.
He said: “So, are there any signs of colder weather returning in February? There are hints from recent teleconnection and longer-range model output for a pattern change towards mid-February that could introduce colder and more wintry weather.
“When colder conditions will arrive and where they will come from is too early to say for now, but perhaps sometime through the second week of February, though perhaps not until mid-month.
“Despite the recent mild weather, there’s plenty of time for winter to bite back, even in March or April, though after February, any snow that settles tends not to hang around unless the air mass is unusually cold.”
Meanwhile, weather maps show an “ebbing and flowing” weather pattern over the next seven days – with overnight temperatures stooping to below freezing for much of northern England and Scotland on Wednesday.
But the noticeable slipping of thermometers will not start to become widespread until at least Monday, February 5, maps suggest, as Edinburgh and Newcastle grapple between -2C and 0C during the daytime.
By 6am on February 6, this icy blast will start to stretch more southerly, with lows of -1C in Norfolk with the capital falling to below freezing before 6pm.
February 5 and 6 are also the dates when the next snow showers are expected to arrive, with flurries expected to blanket much of the UK in two intervals.
The first will come sporadically overnight on Monday, whereas the bigger covering is due to arrive on Tuesday between 6am and noon. Snow depth maps show parts of Britain, more so the south, could see up to 1cm laying.
Newcastle and Carlisle could see up to 4cm, while towns surrounding Greater Manchester could see up to 2cm. Rural Welsh towns and villages may also see up to 3cm – all estimates which are likely to change.
The Met Office long-range forecast predicts a bumpy start to February made up of dry weather, wet and windy conditions and snowy periods.
From February 2 to 11 it says: “Early February will continue to be changeable, with spells of wet and windy weather for many parts of the UK. The northwest is likely to see the heaviest and most frequent or most persistent rain, while the southeast will tend to be drier overall.
“At the start of this period, very mild but rather cloudy conditions are expected widely, with the best of the sunshine to the east of high ground. With time, however, westerly winds are increasingly likely to turn more northwesterly on average, leading to a greater likelihood of colder and brighter interludes within the generally mild, unsettled theme, especially across the north.
“These would bring an increased chance of wintry weather, with overnight frost and fog accompanying any more settled spells.”
Looking even further ahead, up to February 25, it consistently says there are risks of colder and therefore wintry periods before the start of March.
