Britain faces arctic freeze
BRITAIN will be battered by an onslaught of bitter Arctic weather from tomorrow.
Snowfalls driven by gale-force winds and plunging temperatures will freeze out the mild spell that has even seen daffodils blooming.
Severe weather warnings have been issued for Scotland and large parts of England.
Overnight temperatures will fall to below freezing and in the daytime will hover around 5C (41F).
By mid-week the whole country will be feeling the big chill, with some parts shivering in a covering of snow lashed by winds of up to 50mph.
From Monday, temperatures will hit freezing point at night
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Last night Positive Weather Solutions forecaster Jonathan Powell said: “A very cold air system will start making its way across the UK and temperatures will start slipping down considerably.
“From Monday, temperatures will hit freezing point at night and some areas could even see minus 3C.”
As the clocks go back, Britain will truly become darker. Winter will take a firm grip with relentless rain adding to the gloom and people in Scotland and the West Midlands could well see snow.
Met Office spokesman Barry Gromett said: “From Sunday we will certainly see an end to the mild weather.
“Northerly winds will creep in and some places will see snow. Temperatures in the day will be a cold 5C. The weekend will be very windy everywhere.
"Nobody will be immune from this wintry weather. We’ll really notice the difference. This will be the first spell of widespread frost.”
The freezing weather is likely to cause chaos on the roads with the added risk of localised flooding.
A Highways Agency spokesperson said: “Our winter fleet is prepared and ready to treat the roads for snow or ice.”
Forecasters are warning that parts of northern England will see massive downpours, with Cumbria being drenched by 2ins of rain in six hours tomorrow.
But Mr Grommet warned: “Rain is set to fall steadily throughout the week. Tuesday will be another day of heavy rain, with nowhere escaping the wet weather.” Daily Express weatherman John Warner said that many people would be taken by surprise.
He said: “Much colder weather is on the way, with night frost and wintry showers typical of mid-November, not the end of October.
“It will be quite a shock because we have been used to much milder weather recently.”
Experts warned that the poorest families and the elderly are likely to be worst hit by the cold snap.
Mervyn Kohler, of Help the Aged, said: “Nearly three million older people are living in fuel poverty.
“They will be dreading the nights closing in and the colder weather. Many older people will have to choose between heating their home and eating a meal.”
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