UK weather: Coldest winter for 50 years to hit Britain

Britain could experience sub-zero temperatures as early as October as weather forecasters warn of a repeat of the bitter winter of 1962/63.

Meteorologists say plunging temperatures in the Atlantic are the cause, along with the "virtually non-existent Gulf Stream".

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James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, told the Daily Express: "October is likely to see a real chill at times in terms of temperatures due to below-average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and a virtually non-existent Gulf Stream."

He says this is "likely to result in a much colder than average November with the first significant snow of the year in parts of the north."

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Mr Madden adds: "There will also be some snow to much lower levels of the country at times within this period, and even parts of the south could see some early snow before we enter December this year."

Meanwhile, "a very wet spell" has been predicted for the UK next week.

Chief forecaster Leon Brown, at The Weather Channel, says: "To start next week we will have a large area of low pressure over southern Britain with some persistent rain for the northeast and especially east Scotland, and a lot of showers over the south, many heavy with a thunder risk.

"The southwest may become windy with a spell of heavier rain later on Monday too.

"Later next week Wednesday to Thursday looks very wet across the south then the north with heavy showers following."

For current updates, visit weather.aol.co.uk

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