Icy forecast of Atlantic weather for UK sparks flurry of bets on white Xmas
BRITAIN is facing a pre-Christmas chill this weekend with temperatures falling to freezing.
Overnight lows of 0C will hit most parts of the country this weekend with -2C in the Highlands.
The forecasts saw bookies trim the odds of a white Christmas from 10/1 to 8/1 for London, and 6/1 to 6/4 for Leeds. Britain has had a much milder month than the December average of 6.5C (43.7F).
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told The Sun that a recent batch of high pressure over continental Europe and Scandinavia had blocked Britain from colder Atlantic conditions, but this was expected to lift.
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He said: “Colder conditions are expected this weekend with clearer skies in the north and southern regions bringing morning frosts and fog.
“An area of high pressure kept low pressure systems from the Atlantic away from the UK.
“More unsettled weather will come through with strong winds and rain next week.
“We look seven-days ahead, so it’s still too early to look at snowfall for Christmas.”
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The average UK temperature during December is about 6.5C, but the country has enjoyed milder conditions of double that figure this month.
Jim Dale, a forecaster for British Weather Services, said: “The weather is going to turn more unsettled with more of an influence from the Atlantic and there will be Polar maritime air in the mix.
“It is going to turn colder next week and much more usual for the time of year with showers at times, some of these wintry particularly over the northern hills and at times down to lower levels.
“As for Christmas Day it is still a long way off, but there is now every chance some northern cities may see some action.
“Although we don’t see a blanket of snow, we could see wintry showers over higher ground.”