Monday, February 4th 2013, 7:57 AM EST
BRITAIN is braced for another savage winter blast to roar in today with up to 10 inches of snow on the way.
Bitter Arctic gales up to 100mph will tear in tonight sending temperatures plunging to below -15C (5F) in remote areas and whipping heavy snow into blizzards.
Forecasters said the entire country could shiver for weeks as February starts with a big freeze.
Health officials have issued a level-2 alert warning extreme low temperatures this week could pose a risk to the elderly and vulnerable.
It is feared this could be the coldest February in more than a quarter of a century.
Met Office forecaster Andy Bodenham said: “There are going to be very strong winter storms, with significant snow and winds of up to 100mph. It is a very unusual pattern of weather as it is coming in from Canada.
“This will be followed by another Arctic blast by the end of the week and we think the snow ice and winds will move south across England and even to the West Country.”
The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for heavy snow and potentially devastating gales across Scotland and the North. Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, warned: “This is a proper Arctic blast on the way. It’s all likely to kick off from Monday night, getting worse into Tuesday.
“We could see up to 10 inches in parts of the North although everywhere is going to feel the force of this bitter spell by the end of the week.
“With fierce polar winds we could see temperatures plummet to -15C.”
He warned Britain could see a repeat of last month’s snow chaos that grounded flights and crippled transport systems and public services.
He said: “We are looking at something definitely on a par with the last big freeze and people should be prepared for significant disruption again over the next week at least.”
Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It’s possible February will be the coldest since 1986.
“Arctic air will push south over the next week and the pattern looks like it will be amplified from mid-February.”
James Madden, of Exacta Weather, also warned there will be no let-up for weeks.
He said: “It is likely that we will see a dominating continuation of the cold and wintry conditions up until the middle of the month or the final third of February at the very least.”
Paul Michaelwaite, of Netweather, said: “On Monday clearer and colder conditions spread across all areas.
“The rest of the week will remain cold, as winds swing round to the north. Sleet and snow showers are possible almost anywhere.”
Parts of the UK have already seen a wintery dusting after temperatures dropped at the weekend.
The Arctic snap follows a week of fierce storms from the Atlantic that triggered floods across the country.
Freezing February set to be coldest on record since 1986 - Metro.co.uk
We should be braced for a freezing February, as experts warn that Arctic chills will cover the country in more snow.
After violent storms claimed 19 lives last month, and cost the economy an estimated £4billion in lost working hours, travel chaos and rising energy bills, forecasters fear the cold snap will continue to bite.
The Met Office today issued warnings that 20cm (8in) of snow will fall as 85mph winds are expected to batter Scotland.
It also forecast overnight snow flurries in the north, south-west and the Midlands and it expects this month to be the coldest February since 1986, when the average temperature was -1.2C.
Forecaster Charlie Powell said the mercury would struggle to rise above 1C across much of Britain tomorrow....click Metro link for more
Warning of high winds and snow forecast for Scotland -BBC News
Forecasters have warned of high winds and blizzard conditions affecting large parts of Scotland during Monday....click BBC Link for more
Also Read:
Weather: Heavy Snow As 80mph Winds Blow In SkyNews.com
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