Brits could face a -10C freeze with heavy snow at the start of March according to maps as the Met Office gives an update on a Beast from the East hitting the country.
The UK is going to see colder weather for the rest of the week and there is a possibility of snow during Wednesday for parts of the country with a new cold front bringing freezing conditions.
But it will be the phenomenon of Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) that could bring very low temperatures in March.
Maps from WXCharts show that the mercury could drop to -10C in Scotland as well as there being subzero temperatures across the country on March 5.
And there are also likely to be widespread flurries of snow that could be more than 30 centimetres deep in central and northern Scotland.
The Met Office has confirmed that there has been an SSW where the effects can take three weeks to impact on the UK and that colder weather is more likely.
Forecaster Alex Deakin said: “Southern Stratospheric Warming is linked to the winds high up in the air, in the atmosphere, in the stratosphere above the North Pole, which most of the year go around in a westerly direction. Every now and again, every couple of years those winds flip direction and that’s what’s happened, it happened last week.”
He continued: “Colder weather is more likely, that is what SSW does it increases the chances of those slow moving weather patterns and increases the chances of high pressure close to the UK … it doesn’t alway mean colder weather but it does increase the chances and it doesn’t definitely mean we are going to see some widespread problems from the colder weather.”
And on how cold it is going to get, Mr Deakin said that the impact is still some time away and what will be the determining factor will be the position of the high pressure.
“The position of the high will be absolutely crucial as to whether we tap into really cold air or whether we just stay a little bit colder than average,” he added.
Meanwhile, looking to today, Mr Deakin said that there will be a noticeable change with the end of a mild period with a new cold front and people can expect some snow mixed with rain on higher ground in Scotland.
“We could easily see some snow in the showers as Wednesday progresses over some of the higher routes,” he said.
“They are showers and so not expected to last but if you are travelling here during the course of Wednesday you might get hit by a sudden burst of snow on some of those higher routes. Then on Wednesday night as it gets colder it could also turn a little icy wherever we see the showers.”
UK 5 day weather forecast
Wednesday:
Band of cloud and occasional rain continuing southeast, to eventually clear the southeast of England around dusk. Colder, breezy and brighter conditions following although with showers, these wintry on hills.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Thursday: Showers clearing then fine, rain later western Scotland. Friday: Cloudy, a few showers around, turning brighter and colder later. Saturday: Mostly dry, variable cloud. Cold wind on south coast.
