The UK’s “extreme” cold weather is set to subside amid surging temperatures on Monday.
After freezing conditions in recent days, Monday could see highs of 12-13C in Scotland, a Met Office meteorologist said. It comes after -17.3C was recorded at Braemar on Tuesday – the coldest temperature since February 11, 2021 – while other places around the UK experienced lows of -10C to -15C in recent days.
Met Office meteorologist, Alex Burkill, told PA: "The drastic change to something milder is going to be pretty widespread. Widely, temperatures are going to be in the 12C to 13C bracket on Monday.”
But he said that northern Scotland could see temperatures in the single figures on Monday. Speaking on Sunday, he added: “Monday night into Tuesday, for most it’s going to be a lot milder than it has been of late but we could still see a touch of frost particularly in parts of Scotland.
“And then Tuesday, I think it’s going to be a little bit colder again compared to Monday. So the really mild day, Monday, is a flash in the pan if you will.
“I think we’re still looking at highs of 12C perhaps 13C towards the south coast but away from that as you head to more central parts and further north we’re going to be in mid to high single figures at best, so quite a drop compared to Monday. The cold period lasted so long and was so extreme, that’s come to an end.
“But I think it’s fair to say the really mild weather we’ve got through tonight and into tomorrow is going to be very short-lived. Things have gone from well below average, tomorrow they go to quite a bit above average and then they return closer to average as we go through tomorrow night onwards.”
He added: “What I’m expecting in the run up to and through Christmas weekend itself is for southern parts to have temperatures near normal, northern parts to be a little bit colder and there will also be some changeable weather coming through so with that you could quiet easily get some wintry weather as we go towards Christmas, mainly towards the north.”
A major incident was declared in Shetland after more than 5,000 homes lost power on Monday afternoon as heavy snow brought down lines, but all properties were reconnected as of Sunday, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution said.
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