Snow and ice, gales from Siberia and temperatures of -17C . . .

Forecasters are predicting that temperatures will drop well below freezing this week, after the spell of mild weather over the holiday period comes to an abrupt end.

Snow and icy Siberian winds are forecast to hit Britain tomorrow and Thursday, causing chaos and congestion on the roads as millions return to work. The Met Office forecasts an average temperature of just 2.5C (36.5F), although it says that there will be a severe wind chill factor. The average temperature for last January was 6C.

Brian Golding, head of forecasting at the Met Office, said: “After a mild Christmas and new year, we will notice a real change to some cold and wintry weather. We will need to be prepared and wrap up well as we head back to work.”

The weather is expected to start to turn colder tomorrow, with temperatures plunging from 10C to 4C overnight. Any part of Britain could potentially wake up to snow on Thursday morning, the Met Office said, with rain, sleet and snow expected to brush through the South, and showers expected in the North. No more than 1cm of snow is expected, although forecasters say that this could increase to 10cm (4 inches) in hilly and mountainous areas. Friday will be brighter, although still very cold.

Experts disagree on the course of the weather after this cold snap. The Met Office says that January and February look set to be unseasonably mild. A spokesman said: “The evidence we have at the moment suggests that January and February will be milder than we would normally expect at this time of year.”

Klik hier voor het hele artikel

_{©Timesonline}