Easterly winds can bring the UK some of its coldest and snowiest weather – think back to the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018.
However, not all easterlies are made equal and in this case, the air that will be heading our way is not as cold was it was in 2018.
In this weather setup Arctic air does not travel directly to the UK. Instead it flows around the area of high pressure becoming modified on its journey across continental Europe.
It is certainly not expected to bring a repeat of the bitterly cold spell in early January where we saw snow across many parts of the UK and a low of -18.9C (-2.0F) at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands.
There is also uncertainty about just how long this chilly snap might last.
Most computer weather models try to bring Atlantic weather systems in from the west later next week which would turn things milder. Others allow the cold to remain – and even deepen.
Keep up to date with the changing temperatures where you are by checking Weather online and on the app.
