UK weather forecast: Met Office issues blizzard and 80mph wind warnings as mild air replaced with cold front

The mild weather of the last few days is forecast to be abruptly replaced by a cold front this week, with parts of the UK facing blizzard conditions and strong winds of up to 80mph.

From Tuesday (4 January) temperatures will be “noticeably colder across the whole of the country”, according to the Met Office.

This chilly climes comes following the warmest New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day on record after warm winds from the mid-Atlantic caused temperatures to hover around 16C.

What has the Met Office said?

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning of snow and ice for northern Scotland on Tuesday (4 January) and Wednesday 5 (January).

A yellow weather warning for ice has also been issued for northern England.

This could lead to travel disruption, particularly for higher routes.

It will be much colder than recently in the UK with wintry showers, according to the Met Office.

The UK Health Security Agency urges people to check on those vulnerable in the coming days.

Forecaster Simon Partridge said: “It’s basically what we should have for this time in January; it’s just that we’ve been so mild for so long that it’s suddenly a bit of a shock to the system.

“It will definitely be colder, so if you’re going out, think about an extra layer tomorrow [Tuesday] … you might need anything to keep the wind out because it’s not going to be pretty.”

What is this week’s forecast?

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to peak at 8C or 9C in the South and reach 4C or 5C in Scotland.

The cooler weather could bring some snow over the Pennines and North York moors in England, but generally there will be very wet conditions.

Any snow in the Pennines and Lincolnshire is likely to be slushy over the next few days.

In Aberdeenshire and northern and eastern Scotland 80mph winds could cause blizzard conditions, and a warning for snow and ice has been issued in these areas by the Met Office.

On Wednesday, the weather will be drier and brighter day in the west with a few showers.

Parts of Wales and northern Scotland will still see some wintry showers that will fade, with easing winds for most.

A band of rain will move in on Thursday (6 January) following icier temperatures overnight, while the south of England could see temperatures of minus 4C in the morning.

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