A collapsing polar vortex in the Arctic is set to cause nightmares for Brits in the new year with freezing conditions on its way.
Around 20 centimetres of snow could fall as revellers make their way home from tonight’s parties to welcome in 2023, with temperatures falling to -9C in some places.
The year starts with a north-south divide and bitterly cold temperatures in Scotland with yellow warnings for snow and ice in place for Saturday, yet in southern England the mercury could rise to the low teens during the day.
Following up over the next ten days the country could again be facing a heavy blanket of snow, with the country facing Arctic conditions, the Daily Star reported.
Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said: "A Sudden Stratospheric Warming event is now looking even more likely to occur this winter and this could happen as soon as in the next 10 days or so.
"This will mean that the cold air over the Arctic will be given a route to cross our shores."
"If an SSW does set in icy weather could hit Brits around the middle of January.
“Cold winds blowing into the UK this weekend mean New Year revellers should wrap up to see in 2023.
"We could see some snow hitting parts of Britain around the New Year period, but this is likely to be restricted to the northern half of the country.’’
The Met Office says tonight will be mostly cloudy with at times heavy rain and “patchy hill snow” over northern England and southern Scotland.
The new year will strat with spells of rain with clearer spells over England and Wales later on New Year’s Day.
2023 is starting with yellow warnings for snow in areas of northern England and Scotland, with the latter also facing icy conditions in the north.
As a result some people could face longer journeys with roads and train services expected to be affected.
Forecasters have said the deadly bomb cyclone which sent temperatures plunging in the US over Christmas is causing the unsettled weather in the UK.
There is also a severe flood warning for Whitesands and another 30 regular flood warnings for Scotland while in England there are currently six warnings for floods.
BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said: "As this rain band starts to move into the colder air in Scotland, we might actually start to see it turn to snow, there is quite a bit of uncertainty about this one but we could see some heavy snow not just affecting the hilly areas but maybe also getting down to some lower levels.”
