UK weather forecast – SNOW STORM chaos gives way to warmer temperatures today as big freeze eases

Snow, ice and plunging temperatures caused treacherous conditions for vast swathes of the UK across the weekend.

After the Met Office recorded the coldest night of the winter so far on Saturday, forecaster Simon Partridge said "things are gradually getting back to normal".

But a yellow weather warning is still in place across much of Scotland for snow and ice until 12pm today, with up to 6cm expected on higher ground.

"We will see another weather system pushing in from the west and that is going to bring the hill snow to Scotland," he said.

"Elsewhere it will bring rain and stronger winds across all parts of the UK. That will gradually clear away to the east, with some decent sunny spells developing.

"Apart from south-east England, where that lingers for much of the day, with rain gradually turning lighter, but it will remain cloudy."

RETURN TO MILDER WINTER

As the country returns to work today he said the mercury could rise to 11C in the South West, up to 9C in the South East and Midlands and 6C in Scotland.

"It is definitely back on track in terms of temperature, where they should be for the time of year, back to a more traditional UK winter for at least a week.

"The rest of the week is just more unsettled weather."The warmer temperatures come after a low of minus 11.7C was recorded at Chillingham Barns in Northumberland in the early hours of Sunday morning, the Met Office said.

But while it was the coldest night of the year so far in England it was not as cold as parts of Scotland, where temperatures fell as low as minus 12.6C at Braemar in the Highlands.

VALENTINE'S DAY FREEZE

It came as forecasters warned Britain is set to be hit with a -16C Valentine's freeze too cold for gritters and yet MORE heavy snow.

February 14 could be the coldest for NINE years as icy conditions return after a brief respite later this week.

Over the coming days the mercury is due to creep up as stormy, snowy conditions make way for more typical winter temperatures.

But that won't last long, as forecasters predict a Valentine’s Freeze will return icy conditions to Britain with lows of -16C, the coldest for nine years.

Forecaster Simon Partridge said: “We’ve got a lot more winter to get through. Most forecast models agree temperatures will dip again from around February 14 onwards.”

The wintry conditions are expected to continue into the half-term break from February 18.

Forecasters warned that the Atlantic low pressure systems will track further to the south, bringing slightly wetter conditions across the UK.

Strong winds are also expected to sweep across the UK.

The Met Office warned: "There is the possibility that frontal systems may bring wintry hazards, particularly if a more east or northeasterly flow develops. Temperatures overall around the average."

Source: Read Full Article