Arctic blast to bring near-freezing temperatures to Britain

An “Arctic blast” is expected to hit the UK this week, causing temperatures to plummet after a rainy weekend and likely leading to widespread disruption.

After a week with daily highs around 20°C, the Met Office and The Diplomat News Weather expect London to rarely exceed 15°C from Wednesday to Friday next week.

Temperatures are expected to drop to around 7°C on Wednesday evening.

The forecast predicts chilly conditions and additional rainfall from an approaching “Arctic blast,” affecting the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Near-freezing temperatures expected as Arctic blast arrives

Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell stated on Sunday: “As we progress into Tuesday and Wednesday and further into the week, we will begin to experience a significant influx of cooler air originating from the Arctic.”

By the middle of the week, the first autumn chill of the season arrives and will make for daytime temperatures in the mid-teens with some locations potentially dipping to the low and mid single digits at night.

The agency issued a yellow weather warning, waking many London residents with thunderstorms early Sunday morning across large parts of the country.

Gatwick Airport ordered the cancellation of British Airways flights, among others, due to the inclement weather.

The Met Office stated that while some sunshine is expected in the southeast on Sunday, additional slow-moving thunderstorms will occur.

A yellow warning is active until 6 PM Sunday, with possible updates to the warnings during this time. This may escalate to an amber warning locally if confidence increases regarding the anticipated impacts.

The meteorological agency indicated that “fresher” and “cooler” temperatures may occur this week, noting the forecast remains “unsettled.”

Forecasters expect fresher, cooler temperatures across the UK, with the northern regions becoming significantly cooler by midweek.

Next week, forecasters expect the weather to remain unsettled, bringing showers, longer rain spells, and windy conditions across the UK.

While other parts of the country have a minimal decrease in temperature.For instance, temperatures in Newcastle are expected to hold steady at 12°C.

Matthew Lehnert, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, stated that signs of “recurrent” rainfall led to a yellow weather warning.

He stated in an interview that southern Britain will face recurrent rain patterns, causing localized effects into the weekend.

A yellow weather warning for rain is currently in effect, with the possibility of additional warnings this weekend.

Conversely, northern regions will see high pressure bringing warmer, sunnier weather, with above-average temperatures, particularly in western Scotland. The eastern areas, however, are likely to experience cooler and occasionally cloudier conditions due to winds from the North Sea.”

Britain braces for Arctic blast, freezing temperatures

In contrast, other regions of the country will not experience as significant a decrease in temperature.

For instance, forecasts predict that temperatures in Newcastle will hold steady at 12°C.

WXCharts forecasts a weekend shift, with northern areas experiencing pleasant temperatures and southern regions facing heavy rain and thunderstorms.

The first week of September brought varied weather to the UK, with southern England experiencing humidity and temperatures in the 20s.

 On Thursday, substantial rainfall occurred, with storms depositing several inches of water across numerous locations. Although the worst of the severe weather has subsided, the Met Office predicts “finer spells” for the upcoming weekend; however, the charts and maps suggest that this improvement will be temporary.