UK weather: Britain braced for snow, gales and heavy downpours as Atlantic storm hits
AUTUMNAL weather will make a return this week as the cold gives way to mild temperatures, rain and strong winds.
UK set to face ‘rather breezy’ start to the week
Most of the UK is battening down the hatches for heavy downpours with the risk of gales in parts from mid-week.
Stormy Atlantic conditions will clash with bitter air over the UK bringing heavy snow to Scotland over the coming days.
Up to four inches could fall over high ground with the chance of a dusting to lower levels, forecasters have warned.
However most of the UK will be hanging up winter coats by Wednesday with the mercury set to touch 15C (59F).
Temperatures on Monday will be several degrees up on today which has seen lows of almost -5C (23F) during the early hours.
Cold Arctic air which has been sitting over Britain will be shoved aside by tropical air from the south, the Met Office said.
However it will be steered across the country by turbulent low-pressure systems giving the nation an autumnal shake-up.
Met Office forecaster Chris Page said: “It is fairly mild this week with temperates quite a bit above average for the time of year.
“It will start off quite wet turning windy by mid-week as low pressure systems come in off the Atlantic.
“We could see gales or even severe gales in parts, but most of the country will be breezy and quite windy towards the end of the week.
It will start off quite wet turning windy by mid-week as low pressure systems come in off the Atlantic
“We are expecting the first significant snowfall of the season over the highlands of Scotland from Monday as mild air from the west meets cold air over the UK, five to 10 centimetres [3.9 ins] of snow is possible above 400 metres.”
Temperatures will hit 15C (59F) in the south with highs of 14C (57F) likely widely and 11C (51.8F) in Scotland and the north. Western coasts and parts of southern England are in the firing line for the strongest winds with gusts of 40mph-plus forecast.
Mr Page added: “The general story for the week is that is is going to turn milder across the board before turning quite wet and windy for much of the country from Wednesday.
“Monday morning will feel different to Sunday with temperatures a good few degrees up in many places.
“It is going to remain unsettled through to the weekend with low pressure systems bringing wind and rain.”
Britons woke to another chilly morning yesterday (Sunday) after temperates fell to -4.6C (23.72F) in Cumbria; -3C (26.6F) in Scotland; -4C (24.8F) in Yorkshire and around freezing widely.
Despite predictions for mild weather some forecasters insist this winter is shaping up to be the coldest for five years.
The early cold snap prompted warnings of snow and freezing temperatures through Christmas and into next year.
Forecast models show signs of Arctic conditions returning next weekend with winter set to kick off to an icy start.
WeatherOnline forecaster John Ejdowski said: “Friday looks colder and windy with a risk of wintry showers over the northern hills.
“It will be chiefly dry across England and Wales with sunny spells and gales in the north will lessen.”
However he warned to batten down the hatches for stormy conditions to set in towards the end of the week.
“Much of this week is looking quite unsettled with rain and showers,” he added.
“It will be colder across northern Scotland with a risk of wintry showers.
“Across England and Wales overall temperatures will turn much milder after a colder start. We could see a deep low bring stormy conditions to Britain on Thursday.”