Another 'Beast From The East' Is Coming, According To Scientists

Those of you who are mourning the end of summer might want to cover your ears for this news: we're expecting one of the coldest winters for decades.

Experts have warned that a fresh 'Beast from the East' could be back to freeze Britain this year, after the country was blitzed in late February and March in 2018 after cold air swept in from Russia.

A study into sea temperatures and air pressure over the North Atlantic Ocean by climate experts revealed then upcoming cold spell.

The jet stream - fast-flowing air in the atmosphere moving toward Britain from the Atlantic - of freezing air will hit for weeks around Christmas.

Temperatures may drop as low as an average of 3.9C in January to February 2020 in central England - that's 0.5C colder than the average temperature for the same period in 1981 and 2010. However central regions of the country will be worst affected.

The research team, led by Mark Saunders, a professor of climate prediction at University College London, said in a paper: "This would rank 2020 January-February central England as the coldest winter since January-February 2013.

"It would also rank January-February 2020 as the seventh coldest winter in the last 30 years, and the 23rd coldest winter since 1953."

PA

PA

They added: "There is a 57% chance the central England temperature will be colder than the 4.1C (39.4F) in 2018, thus making it the coldest January-February since 2013."

The predictions for over four months time are one of the longest-range forecasts ever predicted.

Last year's 'Beast from the East' saw 22 inches of snow fall in Gloucester and temperatures plummet to -14C at winds of up to 70mph in Cairngorms, Scotland. The extreme weather tragically claimed the lives of 17 people.

The Met Office explain the 'Beast from the East' is a phrase used to "used to describe cold and wintry conditions in the UK as a result of easterly winds from the near continent."

PA

The weather body add: "When pressure is high over Scandinavia, the UK tends to experience a polar continental air mass."

We think it's time to invest in a winter coat or five.

Topics: Weather, Life News, News

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating from the University of Sussex, Ciara worked as a writer at GLAMOUR Magazine and later as the Assistant Editor of Yahoo Style UK.

@ciarasheppard