It’s been so cold that even the Trafalgar Square fountains in London have frozen today – but there could be a 21°C swing in temperatures next week (Picture: EPA)
The end of the ‘freeze of the century’ is nigh and the UK will soon be warmer than parts of Spain, according to the Met Office.
An arctic blast has seen temperatures across Britain plunge as low as -14°C in recent days and thick snow has blanketed parts of the nation.
Four snow and ice warnings remain in place today, while amber alerts have been issued in northern Scotland for heavy snowfall.
Schools are shut, while drivers and commuters have been warned not to travel if possible to avoid getting stranded on roads or being impacted by severe disruption to trains.
But a major weather turnaround is imminent with milder air moving in from the west, bringing some much needed respite from the bitterly cold snap.
Sub-zero temperatures will be replaced by highs of up to an unthinkably balmy 15°C, forecasters say.
‘By Monday (January 22) we could be looking at temperatures in double figures,’ Met Office spokesperson Nicky Maxey told the Mirror.
A much needed warmer weather front is heading in from the west to burn away the Arctic blast (Picture: WX Charts)
‘Somewhere like London could be 13, 14, 15°C. Glasgow 8-10C. Quite a change in the feel of the weather.’
Most of the rest of southern England is forecast for highs of around 12-13°C on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
It’s a stark contrast to the -6°C lows London has been facing.
If we do see the dizzying heights of 15°C in the capital to kick off next week, it will be warmer in the UK than Ibiza’s 14°C and 13°C in Barcelona.
London may even nudge out Corfu (14°C), Madrid (10°C) and match both Valencia and Benidorm (15°C).
London could hotter than Barcelona next week (Picture: AP)
Time to get the sun cream and holiday attire out, then? Not quite. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news, particularly in northern England.
With the warmer air, also comes the increased chance of heavy rain – and strong winds.
The Met Office forecast says: ‘Turning mild, wet and windy through the weekend and into next week.
‘Gales or severe gales likely on Sunday, especially in the northwest. Locally heavy outbreaks of rain at times.’
Ms Maxey added: ‘It’s going to be more wet and windy though. We get rid of the cold and get back to wet and windy.’
Scotland has seen lows of -14°C this week (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
People have been clambering through the snow in Scotland on Thursday (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Independent forecasting service Net Weather says: ‘As the high-pressure edges over central Europe, more weather fronts push over the UK with the main focus for the rainfall over Wales, NW England and western Scotland.
‘There could be good shelter for eastern Britain with drier weather, say for south east England and Aberdeenshire.
‘The risk of flooding will return with some heavy and persistent rain this weekend and a thaw adding to the flows downstream.’
The Met Office’s long range UK forecast for the rest of this month says: ‘The milder than normal conditions seem most likely to persist through to the end January, with the greatest chance of unsettled conditions likely to be focussed across the north and northwest.
‘However, in the the south and southeast some drier and more settled spells of weather are likely to develop, especially later in the month, when, although quite likely milder than of late, the chance of overnight frost and fog increases once again.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more by signing up to Metro’s News Updates newsletter
News Related
-
Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised to rebel over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy as they question ministers’ commitment to the scheme. A major row is ...
See Details:
Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR
-
In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of Malin bridge and we park along the village green. Malin is almost as far north as you can get on ...
See Details:
Country diary: A tale of three churches
-
Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday it was the scene of power projection of a different kind, as Rishi Sunak pitched for investment from some of ...
See Details:
Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty
-
-
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report. Postecoglou’s centre-back options The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric ...
See Details:
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January
-
A £100m campaign urging households and businesses to use less water will be funded from customers’ bills, Ofwat has said. Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign The regulator’s chief executive David Black told MPs that if the measures worked it would be cheaper than building ...
See Details:
Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign
-
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group B – Canada Training – Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia – July 24, 2023 Canada’s Christine Sinclair during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo (Reuters) – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be renamed “Christine Sinclair ...
See Details:
Soccer-Venue renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada soccer great's final game
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Phil Taylor makes his pick for 2024 World Darts Championship winner
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Soccer-Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in PSG clash
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Hamilton heads for hibernation with a word of warning
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich after 1-10 start to the season
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
This exercise is critical for golfers. 4 tips to doing it right
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
One in three households with children 'will struggle to afford Christmas'
-
OTHER NEWS
Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ...
Read more »
Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ...
Read more »
For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ...
Read more »
The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ...
Read more »
After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ...
Read more »
Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ...
Read more »
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ...
Read more »