Britain braced for winter of ice and blizzards with snow set to arrive next month
The beginning of the month should see northerly or north-westerly winds whipping over the country, bringing lower than average temperatures
COLDER temperatures and snow in higher areas could hit next month as a frosts and wind will bring the UK firmly into winter.
The beginning of the month should see northerly or north-westerly winds whipping over the country, bringing lower than average temperatures.
This will lead to a higher risk of frosts over much of the UK.
Windier and more showery conditions are expected in the north, with snow over higher ground.
Conditions in the south should be more settled, with less stormy weather spells than average expected.
Earlier this month it was predicted Scotland would face a barrage of storms this winter.
It was also warned that flooding could be a problem throughout the next few months as rainfall could be heavy.
The coldest winter in recent years was dubbed the ‘Beast from the East’ in 2010.
That weather system blanketed Britain for a month and included the coldest December ever recorded by the Met Office since it began in 1910.
Looking ahead to this winter, it becomes harder to predict nearer the end of November what the weather will be like, but the Met Office long range forecast expects more settled conditions.
Forecaster Emma Sharples said: "This week we have got fairly mild conditions after we had the easterly [winds from the northeast] last week which made it feel quite chilly.
";Then by the end of next week we will see a drop in weather conditions."
She said of the long range forecast: "In that outlook we'll go out to the 23rd November, it still looks quite uncertain but it always is at that stage.
"But it looks like on balance we will see temperatures slightly below average.
"As we slide towards winter it's going to get colder."
This week will see patches of fog moving in overnight and clearing gradually during the days.
Patchy rain is predicted with higher winds in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the south of England perhaps seeing glimpses of sunshine as the fog clears.
As the week ends, the outlook for Friday and Saturday is rain in bursts for Scotland and Northern Ireland, but England and Wales remaining mostly dry and mild with foggy mornings.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.