England's a bit chilly at the moment...

Britain braces for Arctic blasts with 8in of snow and temperatures of -10c 

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 4:43 PM on 22nd November 2010

Arctic blasts are set to sweep the country this week, bringing up to 8in (20cm) of snow as winter tightens its grip for the season's first big chill.

Bitterly cold weather is forecast across Britain with the mercury plummeting to -9c (15.8f) in northern Scotland while maximum temperatures in the capital are unlikely to rise above 2c (36f).

Many regions have been warned to expect snow flurries as the cold weather takes hold.

Two young boys enjoying one of the first snow falls of winter in Teesdale, County Durham. Forecasters are predicting a plunge in temperatures and more significant snowfalls across much of the country

Meteogroup forecaster Aisling Creevey said overnight temperatures would remain below freezing this week, hitting their lowest point at the weekend.

'It is going to be cold, cold, cold. Temperatures are dropping to below average everywhere and will struggle to rise during the day,' she said.

'A northerly wind will bring wintery showers and snow, particularly to Scotland and coastal areas, and by Wednesday we will really be able to feel the difference across the country.'

The heaviest snowfalls are likely to be seen in north-east Scotland while Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and East Anglia could see 'significant snow accumulations'.

Skaters enjoy the ice at Somerset House in London during the launch of the Big Ice Dance Workout

Motorcyclists taking a slow drive in one of the first snowfalls of winter in Teesdale, County Durham

Those in the capital and eastern parts of the country were also warned to brace themselves as Arctic winds blow over.

The last time the mercury plunged that low was back in March – and even then that was at the top of a Scottish mountain. Yesterday saw a sprinkling of snow in County Durham and Northumberland. 

Met Office forecaster Alex Fox said: ‘Sheltered places in particular could get very cold, while a northerly wind will feel raw, even where temperatures are normal for this time of year.

‘Some places could get a significant amount of snow.’ 

Although forecasters say it is too early to confidently predict how much disruption the snow will cause, there is expected to be as much as 8in on higher ground. 

Met Office forecaster Alex Fox said: 'Sheltered places in particular could get very cold, while a northerly wind will feel raw, even where temperatures are normal for this time of year'

But while freezing temperatures are set to last well into next week, forecasters suggested the biting conditions could abate later in the season.

Overall, the UK could see a milder winter owing to a particularly strong La Nina episode in the Pacific.

The cooling of the tropical seas has been known to affect weather patterns across the globe and might mean a warmer than average start to the new year.

The lowest temperature is expected to be recorded in Aberdeenshire (-9c) while London will be spared the harshest weather with lows of -2c overnight and highs of 2c during the day.

But though forecasters said it was still too early to predict a white Christmas, bookmakers Coral have begun to slash their odds.

Aberdeen is now the 3-1 favourite (from 4-1), while the odds in Edinburgh have fallen to 5-1 (from 6-1), and are at 7-1 in London and Cardiff, where they previously stood at 8-1.

Forecaster Stephen Davenport said: 'My feeling is that we are looking at a colder than average first half of the winter and the second half could be less cold.'

But he said there were 'too many conflicting signals' to be certain about the precise conditions for the season ahead.

'The La Nina episode is fairly strong but quite where it's going is another matter,' he added.

'Very generally, 70 per cent of strong La Nina events are associated with temperatures of a little above average.'

'WE'RE NOT  BLAME FOR CORNISH FLOOD CHAOS' - MET OFFICE BOSS

Met Office chief Ewen McCallum has angrily hit back that forecasters were to blame for the chaos caused by flooding in Cornwall last week.

The 59-year-old said: 'Our job is to predict the weather. We don't put out flood warnings - it's as simple at that.

'We have no way of knowing if culverts and drains have been cleared of debris recently.

'In this case we did all we could, and then we look to the other agencies to deal with the hydrology of the situation.

'People have to understand that not every forecast will be absolutely correct.

'If we got it right every time we'd be God.

'As an organisation we must not be too defensive. We have to accept that bashing the weathermen is quite a good sport.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1331757/UK-snow-fall-Met-Office-warning-Temperatures-plummet-zero.html#ixzz16343sQyv