THE start of 2021 may see the Beast From The East return as snow falls and temperatures plummet to a chilling -3.
The Met Office is monitoring the icy, easterly blast, which, in 2018, brought 20in of snow and the coldest March day on record.
Forecaster Tom Morgan said: “We could see it drop to -10C again in the days ahead. There will be more snow on the way.
“As things stand, 2021 starts how 2020 ended, on a very cold note with the risk of wintry showers and widespread frosts.”
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- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE NEW YEAR'S EVENING FORECAST
The weather agency tweeted that showers will turn into ice on roadswhile temperatures are set to drop during another chilly night.
"Clear spells in some western areas this evening," the post read.
"Scattered showers elsewhere will bring a risk of ice on roads and pavements later in the night as temperatures fall low enough to give a frost by morning."
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: FULL WEATHER FORECAST FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY
UK weather forecast: More snow to blanket Britain in New Year icy blast after -7.5C coldest day of 2020
- Joseph Gamp
BRITS WAKE UP TO A FROSTY AND FREEZING START TO 2021
It was a frosty and freezing start to the new year – and things could get colder still.
Snow carpeted parts of the country as an icy chill bit, with walkers wrapping up for a New Year’s Day stroll in Worcestershire Beacon in the Malvern Hills.
The Met Office is monitoring the icy, easterly blast, which, in 2018, brought 20in of snow and the coldest March day on record.
Forecaster Tom Morgan said: “We could see it drop to -10C again in the days ahead. There will be more snow on the way.
“As things stand, 2021 starts how 2020 ended, on a very cold note with the risk of wintry showers and widespread frosts.”
- Jon Rogers
COLD SPELL TO CONTINUE OVER WEEKEND
The cold spell looks set to continue with "locally severe overnight frosts, especially across the North", the Met Office said.
Eastern parts are likely to get some wintry showers as well.
- Jon Rogers
'ICE STORM' WARNING FOR CHICAGO
Chicago is expected to be hit by an "ice storm" on Friday, according to forecasters.
A combination of snow, ice and rain are all expected to hit the Windy City.
"Significant icing, downed tree limbs, and power outages" are likely in the storm, according to the alert, which also warns of ice accumulations of one quarter to one third of an inch and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
- Jon Rogers
CHILLY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE
The wintry conditions look set to linger across the UK for at least the next few days.
The Weather Outlook said in an update: "The rather cold theme will continue during the coming days with little sign of milder conditions quickly returning.
"Today a patchy band of rain, sleet and snow spreads pushes down across the southern half of the UK but it fragments and fades away.
"To the north scattered wintry showers are possible but it should be mostly dry and bright."
Walkers braced the wintry conditions as they made their way up the Worcestershire Beacon - Jon Rogers
SUNNY SPELLS AND SCATTERED SHOWERS
While 2021 got off to a cold and wintry start, things look to be warming up as the day carries on.
In a Twitter update the Met Office said there would be some sunny spells but there would also be "scattered wintry showers".
- Jon Rogers
BRITS WAKE UP TO A FROSTY AND FREEZING START TO 2021
It was a frosty and freezing start to the new year – and things could get colder still.
Snow carpeted parts of the country as an icy chill bit, with walkers wrapping up for a New Year's Day stroll in Worcestershire Beacon in the Malvern Hills.
The Met Office is monitoring the icy, easterly blast, which, in 2018, brought 20in of snow and the coldest March day on record.
Forecaster Tom Morgan said: “We could see it drop to -10C again in the days ahead. There will be more snow on the way.
“As things stand, 2021 starts how 2020 ended, on a very cold note with the risk of wintry showers and widespread frosts.”
- Joseph Gamp
FROSTS, SHOWERS AND FREEZING FOG USHER IN 2021
After subdued celebrations, the new year will be ushered in by widespread frost and freezing fog as temperatures plunge below freezing after midnight.
Thermometers could drop as low as minus 4C (24.8F) in southern England in the early hours, while wintry showers are expected across north-eastern Scotland and the North East of England, said the Met Office.
As the country wakes up, in southern parts freezing fog patches will reform, while other areas will see brighter skies.
Forecaster Clare Nasir said: "It's going to be a bitterly cold start to the new year across southern areas and quite murky as that fog lingers on. It's going to be a cold day, particularly in the South where we're not likely to see the sunshine.
"Brighter skies in western Scotland, the central belt, down towards the North West of England, and sheltered spots of Northern Ireland as well as Wales seeing some brighter skies."
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE WISHES BRITS A HAPPY NEW YEAR
- Joseph Gamp
IN PICTURES: FAMILIES ENJOY THE SNOW IN BATHGATE
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE: NEW YEAR'S DAY WILL SEE WIDESPREAD FROST
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: UK WEATHER FORECAST FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY
UK weather forecast: More snow to blanket Britain in New Year icy blast after -7.5C coldest day of 2020
- Joseph Gamp
THURSDAY WAS REAL COLD
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE: TEMPS COULD DROP TO -5 WITH 'MORE CHANCES OF SEEING FURTHER SNOW' IN COMING DAYS
Sun Exclusive
Senior Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge told The Sun on NYE: "It was England's coldest year of the night, with -7.5 in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.
"Elsewhere Benson hit -6.2 and Marham in Norfolk, at -5.8, and were the coldest parts of the south. For parts of the UK, there is a potential to go to minus double digits, in areas such as the highlands.
He continued: "For tonight, temperatures will drop down to freezing in most areas. Scotland will be warmer than England due to a warmer feed coming across the region.
"The coldest in England looks set to be Hereford with -3 potentially, mid Wales down to -3 – we could see temperatures fall to minus -5 and -6. Ice is a potential hazard and there could be a danger of freezing fog particularly in the south-east.
"For those on the road, they should take extra caution. We will also see showers falling as snow before returning to rain. We are not out of the chances of seeing snow and the forecast to the middle of next week shows an average of colder than normal temperatures."
- Joseph Gamp
MORE SNOW SET TO COME ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
More snow is on the way for New Year's Day as an icy chill grips Britain.
The mercury is set to plunge to as -10C in some parts as a Beast from the East batters Brits with a frosty and freezing start to 2021.
- Joseph Gamp
WEDNESDAY WAS 'THE COLDEST NIGHT' OF 2020
Wednesday was the coldest night of the year with a low of -10.2C recorded in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands.
Swathes of the North West woke up to thick mist and a blanketing of snow after temperatures there also plunged well below zero.
Parts of Merseyside were already covered in snow.
- Joseph Gamp
IN PICTURES: SNOW BLANKETS HORWICH IN GREATER MANCHESTER
Residents in Horwich woke up to widespread snow on NYE morning - Joseph Gamp
RAC URGES DRIVERS TO EXERCISE CAUTION ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
RAC Breakdown spokesman Simon Williams said: “We strongly urge drivers to exercise caution on New Year’s Day with a high risk of both snow and ice on the roads.
“The message for those who have to drive is to adjust their speed according to the conditions and leave extra stopping distance so 2021 doesn’t begin with an unwelcome bump and an insurance claim.
“Snow and ice are by far the toughest driving conditions, so if they can be avoided that’s probably the best policy.”
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: WEATHER FORECAST FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE 2020
UK weather forecast for New Year’s Eve – Snow, ice and bitter winds
- Joseph Gamp
SNOW-HIT DRIVERS FACE STANDSTILL ON M5 AS COLD SNAP CLOSES OUT 2020
Temperatures are predicted to remain above freezing in many parts of the country as the UK says goodbye to 2020.
Although temperatures at midnight are expected to hover around freezing point in central and eastern England, London is expected to register 1C, Glasgow around 3C and Belfast 5C.
Despite the forecast, the Met Office issued a New Year's Eve ice warning covering the majority of Devon and Cornwall, as motorists on the M5 faced standstill conditions due to snow.
The yellow warning cautioned that showers in south-west England will pose a risk of ice from 6pm on New Year's Eve until 9am on January 1.
In a tweet urging drivers to avoid the stretch of the M5 north of Cullompton, Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A large amount of snow has fallen on the M5 between Jct 27 and 28 on both carriageways. Northbound is doing 20mph, Southbound crawling/standstill. Please avoid for the time being, consider having a hot drink at services if you can."
- Joseph Gamp
SNOW AND ICE CAUSE BIN COLLECTION DELAYS IN WIGAN
Residents in Wigan have suffered delays to having their bins collected due to snow and freezing temperatures.
Wigan Council said across its media channels today: “Our waste crews have tackled very challenging conditions this week.
“Unfortunately, due to today’s weather, collections may be limited.
“Please leave your bins out as usual and we will get to them as soon as we can.”
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE YELLOW WEATHER WARNING FOR ICE
- Joseph Gamp
IN PICTURES: DOG ENJOYS THE SNOWY WEATHER
Dogs were seen enjoying the snow on News Year's Eve morning - Joseph Gamp
POLICE WARN OF 'LARGE AMOUNT OF SNOW' ON M5 MOTORWAY
Police warned Thursday night that a 'large amount of snow' had fallen on a section of the M5 motorway.
Officers said the snow had covered both carriageways of the M5 between Tiverton and Cullompton in Devon.
The police said southbound traffic was at a standstill and northbound was crawling at 20mph and motorists were urged to avoid the main route.
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