Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Britain faces one of its bitterest winters for 100 years

31 Dec 07

Temperatures are set to plummet to -17C (1.4F), forecasters warned last night. The New Year will begin with a freezing cold snap that will sweep across the country, causing "havoc" in its wake. An even icier Arctic blast is forecast later in the month.Sleet and snow are expected in many parts over the next few days, and spells of freezing weather are set to last until the end of February.The Highways Agency has already put 500 gritting vehicles on standby to cope with the predicted snowfall.Piers Corbyn, from long-range weather forecasters WeatherAction, said: "It is likely to be one of the six coldest Januarys for 100 years and is expected to include at least one exceptionally cold spell, similar to that experienced in January 1987 and the legendary January of 1740 when biting, strong, easterly winds and snow wreaked severe havoc. "There is likely to be a number of days when temperatures in many parts stay below freezing all day. The lowest night temperatures in parts of the Midlands, Northern England or Scotland could be as low as -17C (1.4F) or possibly colder."The Met Office expects temperatures to plunge from a mild 10C (50F) to -4C (25F) overnight in northern areas by Thursday.Robin Downton, of the Met Office, predicted snowfall in the East and North of England and eastern Scotland on Wednesday, possibly spreading to the Midlands, East Anglia and the South on Thursday.Jonathan Powell, senior forecaster at Positive Weather Solutions, said: "During February we will see an extended cold snap. We would expect it to be much colder than January. "We would expect many days where the temperatures struggle to get above freezing. There will be harsh frosts and snow at the start and the end of the month."

See entire article by Jane Wharton, Daily Expresshttp://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/29879

Thanks to James P. Madden and Geoff Alder for this link

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