Return of the Beast from the East! Met Office warns 'stratospheric warming' that sparked 2018 blizzards is heading for Britain in two weeks' time - as country shivers into New Year after -7C overnight freeze
Snow and freezing fog will grip Britain on New Year's Day today after temperatures fell to -7C (19F) overnight - and more sub-zero weather is on the way this weekend, before worse could be to come later this month.
Forecasters are warning of possible further chaos, because the same conditions behind the 'Beast from the East' in 2018 - one of the worst storms to hit the UK in living memory - are forming again high up in the atmosphere.
The 'sudden stratospheric warming' event happens when the temperature in the stratosphere soars by 50C (122F). This 'reverses' Britain's wind pattern, from the warmer west out in the Atlantic to the east – and Siberia.
It can take two weeks for the effects of a SSW to be felt. This was the case in February 2018 with the infamous Beast from the East, which saw much of the UK gripped by travel chaos and school closures amid heavy snow.
The Met Office had to post a 'code red' warning for snow, the first time in its history it had done so. Blizzards blew in on bitter winds from Russia, with drivers and passengers stranded overnight on snow-hit motorways.
Walkers on the path to the summit of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales today on the first day of the New Year
Swimmers take to the water in Queensferry, in the shadow of the iconic Forth Bridge, near Edinburgh on New Year's Day today
Former skydiver Paul Cullen, 48, has built a 7ft tall Dalek out of snow in his back garden in Mow Cop, Staffordshire
Ollie King, 22, and his sister Laura, 19, take a dip into the sea at King Edward's Bay in Tynemouth in 4C temperatures today
Emma Booth, 41, from Stockton, takes a dip into the sea at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning
Brave swimmers enjoy a bracing New Year's Day dip in the freezing North Sea waters at Tynemouth, North Tyneside, today
Deborah Smith of Truro smiles after an early morning swim at sunrise at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, today
Rachel Tampin, 28 , from Wallsend, takes a dip into the sea at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear this morning
A group of swimmers take to the sea at the first sunrise of the year at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, this morning
A group of swimmers take to the sea at the first sunrise of the year at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth this morning
People brave cold waters in the River Forth in front of the Forth Rail Bridge near Edinburgh in 1C temperatures this morning
Early risers enjoy a bracing New Year's Day dip at Frenchman's Bay in South Shields, South Tyneside, in 4C weather today
A man and woman run along a beach to enter the North Sea on New Year's Day at Rocker in Sunderland in 4C this morning
Three swimmers enter the sea at Porthminster Beach in St Ives, Cornwall, on New Year's Day where it was 5C this morning
This is a projection of wind speeds 30km (18 miles) above the North Pole. In the next ten days, the drop in the red line indicates that the winds high up in the atmosphere are going to drop down and change. This is indicative of 'sudden stratospheric warming' where temperatures jump high up above the North Pole. These conditions were behind the Beast from the East in February 2018, which saw much of the UK gripped by travel chaos and school closures amid heavy snow
Grahame Madge of the Met Office said: 'Many weather agencies are united in the view that this SSW will take place next week. When that happens - around 30km up in the stratosphere - our traditional wind pattern can be reversed.
'What is less clear is the long-term outlook for the impact of this event. Two out of three SSW events result in very cold episodes but one in three has little impact at all.'
What is Sudden Stratospheric Warming?
Severe conditions that hit Britain in February 2018 were described by the Met Office as a 'cocktail of weather events'.
The cold spell dubbed the 'the Beast from the East' - which also coincided with the arrival of Storm Emma - was caused by a jump in temperatures high over the Arctic, known by meteorologists as 'sudden stratospheric warming'.
The phenomenon, which in Britain usually leads to cold periods, begins 30km (18 miles) into the atmosphere in the high altitude jet stream, which usually flows from west to east, bringing relatively warm and wet air from the Atlantic into the UK.
A disturbance hits the jet stream, pushing its waves down towards the Arctic and reversing the stream from east to west. As the air is compressed over this region, it begins to warm.
This leads to high pressure over the North Atlantic, blocking the usual flow of mild air that flows into Britain from the west.
Instead, colder air from the east is sucked over the British Isles, resulting in colder temperatures.
The general outlook for the New Year period and into the second week of January is for cold conditions to persist, with snow, frosts and freezing fog.
On New Year's Day today, wintry showers are expected across north-eastern Scotland and the North East of England. In southern parts, freezing fog patches will reform, while other areas will see brighter skies.
Met Office forecaster Clare Nasir said New Year's Day would see showers in the North falling as snow on higher ground.
She added: 'We could actually see some freezing fog lingering on into the afternoon, particularly for the south east of England, and temperatures here will struggle.
'Elsewhere, there will be some brighter skies to end the day – and that really sets the scene for the first weekend into 2021.'
A New Year's Eve ice warning covering the majority of Devon and Cornwall, for motorists on the M5 facing standstill conditions, remained active until 9am today.
Some 23 flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected - were in force in patches across southern and south-east England. A further 56 flood alerts were also in place from the Environment Agency.
The Met Office said winds will bring more freezing air from the Continent this weekend – meaning many areas under snow are unlikely to see much of a thaw.
The cold spell will continue with 'locally severe overnight frosts, especially across the North', the Met Office said, adding that there will be some wintry showers across eastern parts.
Temperatures in northern Scotland could drop as low as -12C (10F) on Saturday night where snow is lying.
Police forces in areas hit by ice and snow urged motorists to travel only if necessary as crews attended several collisions.
RAC breakdown spokesman Simon Williams said: 'We strongly urge drivers to exercise caution on New Year's Day with a high risk of both snow and ice on the roads.
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A person walks dogs on Bridlington beach in East Yorkshire on New Year's Day where it was 7C this morning
Swimmers get out of the water on New Year's Day in South Queensferry, Scotland, this afternoon
People take a dip into the sea at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear today on the first day of 2021
A spectacular sunrise as the clouds glow bright orange above the frost-covered beach and cliffs at West Bay in Dorset today
New Year's Day swimmers brave the sea on a cold and frosty morning at Langland Bay in Swansea, South Wales, today
A stunning sunrise to welcome 2021 in Dorset today. The temperatures at Castle Castle were well below freezing this morning
'The message for those who have to drive is to adjust their speed according to the conditions and leave extra stopping distance so 2021 doesn't begin with an unwelcome bump and an insurance claim.
'Snow and ice are by far the toughest driving conditions, so if they can be avoided that's probably the best policy.'
Last night was bitterly cold - with temperatures dropping to -7C (19F) at both Andover in Hampshire and Salisbury in Wiltshire early this morning. Exeter and Bournemouth both fell to -5C (23F).
However it was not quite as Arctic as Wednesday when temperatures in Dalwhinnie in the Highlands dropped to -10.2C (13.6F) – the coldest so far this winter.
People enjoy a New Year's day stroll on Sandymount Strand in Dublin this afternoon
Laura Ivers's dog Vax catches a frisbee on Sandymount Strand in Dublin this afternoon
Yesterday, the final day of 2020 brought bitterly cold conditions for much of the UK and more snow – with a low of -7.5C (18.5F) at Topcliffe in North Yorkshire. This was the coldest morning in England in the whole of 2020.
Police urged visitors to stay away from snow-covered Dartmoor in Devon after vehicles got stuck. They warned of 'treacherous' conditions after snowfall lured many families to the beauty spot.
Elsewhere, police in Wales said they had fined a driver for breaching Covid restrictions after travelling from England to 'look for some snow'.
Meanwhile, rescue teams yesterday pleaded with people not to attempt walks in mountain areas in snow and ice unless they are properly prepared.
The appeal came after they saved a man who tried to climb 2,552ft Dow Crag in the Lake District with no equipment in freezing conditions.
Heavy snow fell across Britain in 2018 in the 'Beast from the East'. Millennium Bridge in London is pictured on March 1, 2018
Traffic on the M20 near Ashford, Kent, on February 27, 2018 during the Beast from the East which caused travel chaos
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He frantically phoned 999 begging for help after getting stuck – triggering a rescue with 17 volunteers and a helicopter from 100 miles away in Wales that cost thousands of pounds.
Coniston Mountain Rescue said climbers should only set out in full 'mountain' clothing, with phones and back-up batteries.
In Scotland yesterday, heavy snowfall blocked the A9 in the Highlands between the Carrbridge Junction and the Slochd. Road ploughs and gritters were deployed to help free trapped cars and lorries.
The snow gates were closed at the Cairn o' Mount pass in Aberdeenshire. Part of the M77 in Ayrshire was shut due to an accident in what Traffic Scotland called 'difficult weather conditions'.
Wintry weather was also reported on the M74, in Lanarkshire, and in Perth, the M90 Friarton Bridge was closed northbound because of a collision.