03-02-2009, 02:47 PM
One week's rain in a day and teeth- chattering temperatures to return
By Nick Mcdermott
Last updated at 6:13 PM on 02nd March 2009
More than an inch of rain and lashings of sleet will drench parts of Britain in just a few hours tomorrow, forecasters have warned.
And parts of the country will even see a return of the snow which swept across the country a few weeks ago in the coming days.
Parts of Scotland are likely to see severe disruption as up to a foot of snow falls, in what forecasters have said will be a 'messy week'.
A man makes his way across Westminster Bridge as heavy snow hit the capital
Barry Gromett, of the Met Office said: 'Scotland will almost certainly see snow from tomorrow and the rest of the country will see sleety, wintry showers mixed with snow.
'Weather systems from the west and cold and mild air coming together over Scotland will be the cause of the bad problems. Traffic is likely to be severely affected.
'In terms of this week, it's going to be quite messy.'
Daytime temperatures for the week will be between 4C and 8C, the west of England staying the mildest and Scotland remaining the chilliest.
Overnight temperatures will plummet to -3C in the Midlands and elsewhere hover between -2C and 2C.
The heaviest snowfalls in 18 years hit Britain in early February, shutting down London's transport
Mr Gromett added: 'We'll see a lot of torrential rain this week...up to an inch where it's heaviest.
'In general the week will be unsettled and showery and getting slightly milder towards the weekend. Rainfall and snow again really, with a brief respite coming up to the weekend.'
Forecasters yesterday confirmed that Britain shivered through the coldest winter for more than a decade.
The last three months have been the chilliest for 13 years, with an average temperature of only 37f (2.9c).
The winter temperature has been calculated up to February 23, but it would have needed an impossibly high average temperature in the last few days for this winter not to be the coldest since 1995-1996.
Although we are now in March, the recent mild weather is not expected to last. Wintry conditions are about to return with a vengeance.
The warmer temperatures in the last two weeks of February coaxed daffodils and crocuses to make an appearance, adding a splash of much-needed colour to the countryside.
Heavy snowfall hit much of the country at the start of February. The South-East suffered its heaviest snow for 18 years, bringing much of the region to a standstill. Transport networks ground to a halt and schools, hospitals and businesses also closed.
The blizzard is estimated to have cost the British economy up to ã3billion because a fifth of the workforce was unable to get to work.
A report published today accused London's authorities of being completely unprepared for the heavy snow that crippled the capital last month.
Despite being given plenty of warning by weathermen, rail, bus and Tube passengers found services cancelled or disrupted.
And boroughs failed to work together on gritting the roads even when ambulance bosses said their vehicles could not get out.
Val Shawcross, chairwoman of the London Assembly transport committee, which drew up the report, said: 'Questions must be asked about how the response was led.
'While some disruption was inevitable, the evidence we heard suggests a lack of preparation and co-ordination delayed the capital's recovery'
But, despite a shivering-cold start to last month, more recently it had begun to feel springlike.
Parts of Kent enjoyed February's warmest weather, with Canterbury reaching 62f (16.9c). The lowest temperature was -1f (-18.4c) at Aviemore, in Inverness-shire.
Meteogroup Forecaster Julian Mayes said: 'Although we remember the cold first two weeks, and there's no doubting the effect that had, it was actually followed by a mild second half of the month.
'In a way if you blend that together you get quite an average month.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...eturn.html
By Nick Mcdermott
Last updated at 6:13 PM on 02nd March 2009
More than an inch of rain and lashings of sleet will drench parts of Britain in just a few hours tomorrow, forecasters have warned.
And parts of the country will even see a return of the snow which swept across the country a few weeks ago in the coming days.
Parts of Scotland are likely to see severe disruption as up to a foot of snow falls, in what forecasters have said will be a 'messy week'.
A man makes his way across Westminster Bridge as heavy snow hit the capital
Barry Gromett, of the Met Office said: 'Scotland will almost certainly see snow from tomorrow and the rest of the country will see sleety, wintry showers mixed with snow.
'Weather systems from the west and cold and mild air coming together over Scotland will be the cause of the bad problems. Traffic is likely to be severely affected.
'In terms of this week, it's going to be quite messy.'
Daytime temperatures for the week will be between 4C and 8C, the west of England staying the mildest and Scotland remaining the chilliest.
Overnight temperatures will plummet to -3C in the Midlands and elsewhere hover between -2C and 2C.
The heaviest snowfalls in 18 years hit Britain in early February, shutting down London's transport
Mr Gromett added: 'We'll see a lot of torrential rain this week...up to an inch where it's heaviest.
'In general the week will be unsettled and showery and getting slightly milder towards the weekend. Rainfall and snow again really, with a brief respite coming up to the weekend.'
Forecasters yesterday confirmed that Britain shivered through the coldest winter for more than a decade.
The last three months have been the chilliest for 13 years, with an average temperature of only 37f (2.9c).
The winter temperature has been calculated up to February 23, but it would have needed an impossibly high average temperature in the last few days for this winter not to be the coldest since 1995-1996.
Although we are now in March, the recent mild weather is not expected to last. Wintry conditions are about to return with a vengeance.
The warmer temperatures in the last two weeks of February coaxed daffodils and crocuses to make an appearance, adding a splash of much-needed colour to the countryside.
Heavy snowfall hit much of the country at the start of February. The South-East suffered its heaviest snow for 18 years, bringing much of the region to a standstill. Transport networks ground to a halt and schools, hospitals and businesses also closed.
The blizzard is estimated to have cost the British economy up to ã3billion because a fifth of the workforce was unable to get to work.
A report published today accused London's authorities of being completely unprepared for the heavy snow that crippled the capital last month.
Despite being given plenty of warning by weathermen, rail, bus and Tube passengers found services cancelled or disrupted.
And boroughs failed to work together on gritting the roads even when ambulance bosses said their vehicles could not get out.
Val Shawcross, chairwoman of the London Assembly transport committee, which drew up the report, said: 'Questions must be asked about how the response was led.
'While some disruption was inevitable, the evidence we heard suggests a lack of preparation and co-ordination delayed the capital's recovery'
But, despite a shivering-cold start to last month, more recently it had begun to feel springlike.
Parts of Kent enjoyed February's warmest weather, with Canterbury reaching 62f (16.9c). The lowest temperature was -1f (-18.4c) at Aviemore, in Inverness-shire.
Meteogroup Forecaster Julian Mayes said: 'Although we remember the cold first two weeks, and there's no doubting the effect that had, it was actually followed by a mild second half of the month.
'In a way if you blend that together you get quite an average month.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...eturn.html