Weather warning as major cold spell expected to hit the UK in the coming weeks

Forecasts are predicting that the UK could face another ‘Beast from the East’ as freezing temperatures are set to sweep throughout the country in March. The arctic conditions are due to the phenomenon called ‘Sudden Stratospheric Warming’ – when rapid warming occurs high up in the stratosphere – and is likely to bring snow and wintry weather across the UK.

The Met Office Forecast

Whilst weather looks to be normal for the week ahead, the second week of March is when conditions could become unsettled with cold weather and snow possible. The Met Office predicts:

Colder air may ingress into northern and eastern areas at times, perhaps bringing wintry showers, with a low probability that these snow showers may become more widespread. Later in the period there is an increasing chance of it turning more unsettled, possibly bringing snow at times. Temperatures likely to be generally below average.

Some forecasters have said temperatures could plummet to as low as -10C as the Sudden Stratospheric Warming phenomenon brings snow and chilly weather to the UK, as per The Independent.

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‘Coldest March on record’

Bookies have been forced to slash the odds for the chance of next month being the coldest March on record from 4/1 to 2/1 as forecasts anticipate the worst. Alex Apati of Ladbrokes explained, as per Yorkshire Live:

The incoming Beast from the East has forced us to slash odds on next month playing host to the coldest March on record.

The real cold snap is expected to hit in the latter half of March with the chance of snow being described as ‘likely’ by the Met Office for the period Monday March 13 - Monday March 27:

Through this period, spells of rain and snow are likely at times, with a small possibility of these combining with stronger winds to become locally disruptive. Overall though, conditions are more likely to be mixed, with some areas remaining largely snow free. Northwestern areas are likely to stay driest throughout. Temperatures are likely to remain below average to start, although a trend towards average temperatures is most likely later on. Despite this trend, short colder spells remain possible, and are more likely than average.

Whislt the second half of March will see unsetteld weather with snow and rain likely, by the end of the month temperatures are expected to return to normal for the time of year in the UK.

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Sources used:

- The Independent 'UK weather: Met Office gives update on snow ahead of predicted cold spell in March'

- The Met Office 'UK long range weather forecast'

- Yorkshire Live'UK Snow warning this week as Beast from the East polar vortex to bring 'coldest March ever''