Britain should be prepared for more snow chaos according to a local forecaster who believes January could be the coldest in 270 years, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Amateur weatherman Harry Kershaw, 84, from Sale, (pictured left) correctly predicted that last winter would be similar to the 1979 Winter of Discontent. Now he believes the coming January could be as bad as in 1740, when the Thames froze in London and daytime temperatures failed to rise above -9C. He said: "Between August and October the weather seemed to be the same as 1986, which was followed by the coldest January since 1740…I believe the last three weeks of January and the first week of February next year could be the coldest we’ve had for 270 years." MORE
- The York Press reports that weathermen have warned that further snow and ice are on their way to York and North and East Yorkshire next week, after a brief respite over the next few days. The worst December weather in nearly 30 years is taking a break today and over the weekend, with temperatures in York set to rise as high as 5C on Sunday as milder air from the Atlantic streams across the country. But forecasters say bitterly cold north-easterly winds are expected to return by early next week, bringing an increasing risk of a return of snow showers across our region. Showers brought in on similar winds last week dumped a foot of snow in the York area. Meteorologists British Weather Services said the UK and Ireland were “solidly on course for the coldest December since 1890 and possibly one of the three snowiest ever, vying with the Decembers of 1981 and 1878 for the dubious honour”. MORE
- After two weeks of some of the coldest late fall weather since modern records began, the United Kingdom will brace for yet another blast of cold and snow lasting until about Christmas, reports Jim Andrews from Accuweather. Beforehand, however, a break in the cold will allow ice and snow to thaw across the U.K., Ireland and neighboring mainland Europe through Sunday or Monday. During this time, cold now gathering across the Arctic will begin to break out southward, paving the way for below-normal cold that lasts for a fortnight. Already, travel authorities in the U.K., based on forecasts of coming cold and snow, have expressed fear that Christmas celebrations could be canceled in the event of major snowfalls in the days leading up to the holiday. MORE
- The deep freeze has triggered a further round of cold weather payments, bringing the total cost of the relief so far this winter to more than £4m, reports the Belfast Telegraph. The postcode areas affected in the latest round of payments are BT27-29, 35, 39-46, 60-71 and 78-82. People who are eligible for the £25 payments include pensioners and many people on income-related Employment and Support Allowances.
- Met Eireann, Ireland’s National Meteorlogical agency, is predicting: “After midweek there are signs that the winds will turn southerly in direction and this will end the severe night frosts and bring higher daytime temperatures.” MORE
- Snow and ice could make Christmas 'a living nightmare' – The Packet