Met Office plays down 'big freeze' headlines: 'The overall picture is much less dramatic'
Locals should expect an unsettled and occasionally murky November rather than a significant early-season freeze, the Met Office said
The Met Office has poured cold water on recent headlines warning of a “big freeze” in the UK this November, with the forecaster stressing “the overall picture is much less dramatic”.
The weather agency has said that it is reasonable to expect chilly conditions, overnight frost and fog during this time of year.
But, a spokesperson said, “despite references to a ‘big freeze’, the forecast does not currently indicate a widespread or particularly significant cold spell”.
The Met Office said that for November people should expect an “unsettled” and “murky” November rather than a “big freeze”.
A spokesperson said: “Overall, the forecast is much more characteristic of an unsettled and occasionally murky November period than a significant early-season freeze. Frost and fog are possible where skies clear overnight, but there is currently little support in this forecast for widespread disruptive snow or exceptionally cold conditions.”
This week’s UK-wide weather forecast:
Monday night (November 9): Fog is expected to move across parts of central and northern England and Wales, with occasional rain spreading to southeast England and southern parts of Wales overnight. Frost will also develop in the north, especially in rural Scotland.
Tuesday (November 10): Outbreaks of rain in parts of England and Wales. However, many places will remain dry with sunny spells, although fog and low cloud could be slow to clear.
Wednesday (November 11): Colder conditions will begin to move into the north. Rain will continue across parts of southern England and Wales, while showers move south across Scotland, becoming wintry at times in the far north and northeast.
Thursday (November 12) and Friday (November 13): Colder air will spread further south across the UK; most places will become dry with some clear or sunny spells. Temperatures are expected to fall below average widely by Thursday and particularly Friday, as frost becomes more widespread.
Jason Kelly, chief meteorologist at the Met Office said: “Persistent high pressure has brought light winds and clear skies, allowing fog to form, while weak November sunshine has meant it is fairly slow to clear.
“We’re expecting one more night of dense fog, with a warning in place for some areas. Increasing cloud and wind should then limit further widespread fog from developing.
"Snow showers could briefly fall on lower ground in northern Scotland and the Northern Isles, mainly Shetland, overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday. However, snow may only settle on higher ground and this is relatively normal for the time of year."