Britons should brace themselves for a bitterly cold winter, as three Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSW) scattered across the cooler months could bring snow and piercing temperatures.
Snow lovers who missed out on seeing any flurries last year could rejoice as Exacta Weather has predicted that snowfall is “on the cards”.
The weather forecaster has pinpointed three dates and periods in the coming months where they have “high confidence” that “colder conditions and widespread snow events” will occur.
A SSW is a rapid increase in the temperature of the polar stratosphere that can occur over a few days.
Three Sudden Stratospheric Warming event predicted to bring heavy snow and bitter temperaturesPA/ US National Weather ServiceThere could be a minor SSW event in mid-November - which forecasters have a moderate to high confidence that it will occur.
There will also be two major SSW events in January and February, respectively. For both of these instances, Exacta Weather has stated it has a high confidence that they will take place.
It said: “At least three cold and snowy periods are on the cards regardless of any earlier SSW occurrences, maybe even more if the ones of moderate confidence also come to fruition and the SSW event does occur.”
The weather forecast did reiterate however, that while snowy conditions are expected this winter, it will not be a constant presence.
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A Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event could plunge Britain into an extended period of cold weather
US National Weather Service“It is also important to note that we do also have some other forecast expectations to start winter at times this year, and it would be unfair to paint a predominant theme of this cold and snow throughout the month as a whole,” Exacta Weather said.
Thankfully, before the SSWs occur, Britons will be able to enjoy some autumnal warmth, with temperatures set to reach up to 20C in some parts of the UK.
Beginning midweek, some regions could see a 10C bump in mercury.
Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “Temperatures are going to rise gradually, peaking probably on Wednesday in eastern areas, and we might well see in some spots 20C, and 22C is not out of question, probably in eastern England - so East Anglia down towards the South East.
Exacta Weather has predicted that snowfall is 'on the cards'
PA“It’s possible we could exceed 20C in London but the peak temperatures might well be up towards the home counties and up to Cambridgeshire.
“Some places will be 10C warmer because (Sunday) is a very chilly day for early October, so the main theme for this week that it’s turning much milder for all,” he added.
However, the balmy weather will also be accompanied by some rain.
He did dismiss notions that an Indian Summer was on its way, predicting that the better weather would be replaced by wet and windy conditions by next weekend.
“It’s not going to be an Indian summer – an Indian summer is a period of fine, settled weather with widely high temperatures after a period of frosts,” he said.
“We have had some frost but it’s only going to be a day or two that we see these high temperatures.”
