UK weather forecast: Temperatures to drop to -10C as charts show return of snow

January 2024 turned out to be near average in terms of temperature and rainfall for the UK, but it was a month of contrasts.

While there were long cold snaps, storms and heavy rain, the UK also recorded its highest January temperature.

The country had its sixth sunniest January on record, offering a welcome contrast to the previous month.

Storms, temperature extremes, and varied precipitation marked January’s weather, showing how abrupt the UK weather can be.

“Of course, contrasting winter weather in the UK isn’t a new phenomenon,” Met Office senior scientist Mike Kendon said. “What this January clearly demonstrates is just how abrupt these changes in weather type can be.”

Since storm naming was introduced in 2015 the furthest through the list the group has got is to number 11, Storm Katie, which impacted the UK in March 2016.

This year’s storm naming season is now just one name away from matching 2015/16’s number of named storms, with over seven months still to go until the list is reset again.

As the weather takes on a milder tone across the country, relief from persistent rain is on the horizon for the Scottish Highlands.

However, higher grounds are bracing for strong gales ranging between 50-60 mph today, according to Met Office forecast.

“We could see gales for parts of Scotland, as well as some strong gusts of 50-60 mph across the Pennines,” the forecaster wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The day is set to start on a mild but cloudy note with temperatures climbing higher than the previous days, the Met Office forecast shows. Residents in the west and northwest can expect intermittent rain throughout the day, while brighter intervals are expected in the east and the sheltered areas on the lee side of hills.

Despite the cloudy conditions, temperatures are forecast to remain “very mild”, adding a touch of warmth.

But some gales are expected in parts of Scotland over the higher grounds, the forecaster says.

An earthquake has struck parts of the UK, leaving locals fearing a car had crashed into their house.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said the 3.3 magnitude quake hit the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides at 7.30pm on Monday.

It said movement was felt on Mull itself, on surrounding islands and on the mainland, mainly from within around 50km of the epicentre, which was in the north west of the island.

Following a relatively mild end to January, experts have warned that snow will return to the UK next week as temperatures plummet to -8C in some areas.

Jim Dale, Senior Meteorological Consultant at British Weather Services told The Independent: “We haven’t got to the end of winter yet and next week will be colder. There will be snow in Scotland and the north and potentially in the south.”

According to WXCharts, an interactive weather map provider using Met Office data, the UK will be coldest on 10 February, with certain areas of Scotland and Wales seeing minimum temperatures dropping to -8C.

The maps predict widespread snow cover with 2cm of snow falling per hour at its peak.

In its long-range forecast, the Met Office has also said there will be some hill snow over the weekend and that “there is a chance colder conditions could start to feature” in the second week of February.