‘Screaming’ gales blast in as 12 INCHES of snow set to fall in Britain this week
WINTER 2013 is about to tighten its grip as long-range weather forecasters warn 12 inches of snow will hit Britain this week.
Heavy snow is set to cripple parts of the UK while temperatures threaten to hover below-average for until the beginning of spring.
The latest detailed forecasts for winter 2013 all point towards months of relentless extreme cold with heavy snow ‘extremely likely’ across the country.Experts in long-range weather forecasting said the whole of Britain should be prepared for this winter to be the most severe since 1947, which saw the UK hit by relentless snow and some of the lowest temperatures on record.It comes as Britain battens down the hatches for a particularly sever bout of winter weather.
Government forecasters have extended severe weather warnings for ice across virtually the entire northern half of the country.
Spokeswoman Nicky Maxey said temperatures will remain well-below average for the time of year at least until the weekend,
She said: “We have a cold front moving from the North southwards through Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures are a few degrees below average for the time of year.
“Gale-force gusts from the Arctic region of up to 70mph will make it feel even colder, and we are expecting wintry showers over high ground.
“There is going to be heavy rain in the South, including London, which may turn wintry over high ground into Thursday.
“Towards the end of the week it is going to be drier and brighter, though still very cold, in some places it won’t get much above freezing.”
The Arctic plunge, a colossal mass of air sweeping in from the North Pole, delivered it’s first bite this week with heavy snow grinding parts of the country to a halt.
He said: “It is going to be bone-numbingly cold for quite some time now, with no real change into and through next month.
“Wednesday and Thursday will see bitter Arctic gales batter exposed regions with more snow on the cards for many places.
“This will mainly fall over high ground but we can’t rule out rain turning wintry across lower parts.
“Most of the country is now looking at a stubborn spell of extremely cold winter weather to bring misery for weeks.”
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said: “The cold and wintry theme will continue throughout the remainder of November, with the risk of further snow events during next week. “The cold and wintry conditions will also prevail throughout much of December, before progressively worsening in January and February.”
Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said several inches of snow is expected over high ground of Scotland and the North.
He said up to 12 inches could fall in Northeast Scotland with including over the Grampians and Cairngorms mountains.
He said: “The largest snowfalls will be in northeast Scotland and especially the Grampians and Cairngorms with 20 to 30cm [12 inches] over the tops ready to help get the ski season started.
“Cold northeasterly winds will end the week and continue over the south-east at the weekend when it will be mainly dry apart from a few light wintry showers
“Temperatures may drop out sharply overnight in central Scotland with minus 8 to minus 10C [14F] possible where there is lying snow around the Cairngorms.
Netweather said by Thursday there will be a risk of wintry showers as far south as London and Kent as rain turns to sleet and snow.
Forecaster Jo Farrow added: “Wednesday night into Thursday will see a screaming northerly wind for the western half of the UK, and relatively light winds over eastern Britain, where temperatures will fall close to freezing.
“On Thursday there will be a flow off the North Sea, bringing cloud and damp weather, with a wintry mix.
“So eastern Britain could see some snow showers, especially over the hills.”