Scotland could be hit by another cold snap next month as a rare weather phenomenon threatens to bring snow and ice-cold temperatures.
The Met Office warns that a polar vortex, which helped to cause 2018’s Beast from the East and the month-long Big Freeze in December 2010, could occur. This happens when winds spin around the North Pole and keep cold air trapped in the Arctic.
If these winds weaken, there is a chance that the freezing cold trapped air could head towards the UK.
And if high-altitude air warms up, even more polar air could be pushed towards the UK in a phenomenon called a 'sudden stratospheric warming' (SSW).
It can take around two weeks for the cold air to reach as far as the UK, which has already seen temperatures hit -10C in Scotland this year, reports the Mirror.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin told the Mirror: "Computer models show an SSW is a possibility."
The last time this phenomena occurred, the UK logged its coldest temperature in 26 years as Aberdeenshire dropped to a bone chilling -23C.
However, there is only a 25 percent chance of the polar vortex weakening enough to cause a SSW, according to forecasters.
And if it does not occur, the UK could see a return to normality in the coming days, with the worst of the ice and snow having come and gone.
It comes as the current cold snap - expected to last until Tuesday - could be followed by warmer temperatures, according to Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell.
Mr Snell said: "Next week, looking at the severe front, it’s looking pretty benign.
"We’re starting to lose the risk of fog and temperatures are generally around where they should be. We’ll probably lose the really hard frosts. In terms of ice and snow, it certainly looks like we’re over the worst.
"We’ve got to keep an eye on risk of fog generally this cold spell, although the main hazards from it look like they are beginning to diminish."
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