After a week of bitter cold and heavy snowfall that disrupted parts of the country, the UK weather has stabilised, with temperatures expected to remain near average for this time of year. While some wintry showers and fog patches are still forecast, the Met Office has confirmed that a return to the Arctic conditions seen last week is unlikely in the immediate future.
Thousands of schoolchildren in northern Scotland missed several days of classes last week as the combination of heavy snow and freezing temperatures caused widespread disruption across vast stretches of the country. The West Midlands also saw some of the worst snowfall in a decade, with 15-25cm accumulating in parts of England and Wales.
However, Met Office senior operational meteorologist Liam Eslick has assured The Update Desk that colder weather is not expected to return to the UK in the coming days. “In the immediate future, colder weather isn’t expected to return for the UK. Temperatures for most of next week should remain near average,” he said.
While there remains a slight possibility that winds from the East could bring a chill during the final week of January, Eslick noted that this forecast is still some time away and could change. For now, the milder southern air is set to persist, keeping the cold at bay.
Meteorologist Alex Deakin added that in the short term, the cold weather will not be making a comeback, although temperatures next week could dip slightly below average. He explained that the jet stream in the Atlantic appears to be weakening as it reaches the UK, leading to slower-moving weather patterns.
The weather over the weekend is expected to be showery, with a mix of sunny spells and showers, particularly in the West. Overnight frost and fog patches are also likely, with the fog potentially freezing and slow to clear. Temperatures are forecast to reach highs of 9°C in London and the South East, while the north of England and Scotland will see lows of around 4°C.
While the UK may not be entirely out of the woods when it comes to wintry weather, the latest forecasts suggest that the country has avoided a prolonged return to the Arctic conditions experienced last week. Barring any unexpected changes, the coming days are set to see a more manageable and seasonal weather pattern.
