Don’t put your winter warmers away just yet… (Picture: Getty)
Stop the press! It’s cold in the UK.
Okay, not exactly surprising news that Brits aren’t basking in sunshine in February. But after the snowfall that closed schools earlier in the year and freezing fog descending on London in weeks past, it’s been a particularly grim start to 2023.
And even though Spring is technically just a few weeks away, warmer weather isn’t a guarantee.
In fact, a cold snap has been predicted for most of March. So just when might it get warmer and what do the next few weeks have in store?
When is it going to get warmer?
Currently, the outlook does not look promising for anyone hoping to put away their winter coats and bulky layers.
In fact, some weather mapping has warned that temperatures in March could hit -10 degrees.
Sudden stratospheric warming took place in mid-February close to Scandinavia – a weather event which is typical of this time of year.
The effect on Britain can be mixed – it either causes extreme weather or… nothing at all.
An example of this is in 2018, when it was blamed for kick-starting the Beast from the East. But the following year, the very same occurrence happened and Brits felt nothing but a typical late February chill.
As it takes a few weeks to measure what might happen after the Scandi warming, meteorologists are now getting more insight. And some maps show temperatures could tumble down to the minuses during this latest cold snap, with the possibility of snow reaching nearly every corner of Britain.
Snow hit earlier this year, and we might be seeing it again soon (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
What’s the forecast for March?
While we’ll have to wait and see if the meteorologists have got it right, BBC Weather have forecasts for the next couple of weeks.
They expect a colder but drier next few weeks as we move into March.
The heating might have to be cranked up (Picture: Getty)
The forecast explains: ‘It will be rather cold, with temperatures near or a little below the seasonal average, and there could be a few showers scattered around at times, some of these will be wintry over higher ground.’
‘The second week of March has a risk of becoming a bit colder as high pressure moves further north and northwest, especially towards Greenland. Sleet and snow showers will be possible at lower elevations, and there is a chance that low pressure will push northwards from the Continent bringing more widespread precipitation.’
‘A similar pattern looks likely to persist until the end of March.’
So, when will it get warmer? We’re looking at April at the earliest.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
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Don’t put your winter coats away yet.