Britain’s mini-freeze before the big freeze: 75mph gales and -10C lows will hit the north next week

Britons are being told to prepare for severe gales next week as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning predicting possible travel disruption and loss of power.  

It will follow a relatively mild weekend, with temperatures of around 9C (48F) to 10C (50F) across most of the country – which came after a brief cold spell with temperatures of around -10C (14F) overnight. 

The weather warning is scheduled to be in effect from 12pm on Monday until 3pm on Tuesday and will cover the northern parts of Scotland with gales reaching as much as 75 mph.

The gusts of wind will join with heavy rain and go through Scotland and Northern Ireland before settling in England. 

These cold conditions will mark a frosty January with temperatures in England and Wales expected to plummet by next weekend.  

BBC meteorologist Louise Lear told viewers today: ‘You can see this area of low pressure moving in from the north.

‘The winds will start to really pick up in the north on Monday. This will see heavy rain and gale-force gusts of winds through Scotland and Northern Ireland before settling into England.

’50 to 60mph gusts of winds will come in and that will feel quite cold. As we go into Tuesday and Wednesday, for Scotland and Ireland, we will start to see some colder weather conditions, which could bring snow showers as we move through the week.

‘In England and Wales, we start to see a significant drop in the temperatures by next weekend.’ 

A brief cold spell earlier this week saw temperatures fall to around -10C (14F) overnight. And the cold weather is expected to return later this month – with forecasters even predicting snowfall in some areas. A man is pictured walking in Bridport, Dorset this morning after temperatures fell below zero overnight

Rowers did not let the chilly temperatures stop them from getting their morning exercise today. It comes as the Met Office issues a yellow weather warning for wind – which is expected to bring strong gales to parts of Scotland on Monday 

Britain last week had to endure freezing temperatures after weeks of above average figures. On Thursday temperatures dropped to nearly -11C (12F) overnight as the country faced freezing fog and widespread frosts. Pictured is Avon Gorge in Bristol this morning

A spokesman for the Met Office said: ‘Very strong winds are expected to move eastwards across the north of Scotland on Monday, likely strengthening over northeastern parts of Scotland and the Northern Isles overnight and into Tuesday morning. 

‘Gusts of 65 to 75 mph are likely, particularly in the northeast, before the winds gradually ease from the west later on Tuesday.’

Britain last week had to endure freezing temperatures after weeks of above average figures. On Thursday temperatures dropped to nearly -11C (12F) overnight as the country faced freezing fog and widespread frosts.

Public Health England even issued a level two alert for social and healthcare services in northern and western areas.

But this weekend Britain gets a brief respite from the chilly weather, with again above average temperatures and dry conditions. 

A yellow weather warning is scheduled to be in effect from 12pm on Monday until 3pm on Tuesday and will cover the northern parts of Scotland with gales reaching as much as 75 mph

The weather for the rest of the weekend will be largely dry and mild – but cloudly for most of the time. As we move into next week there will be rainier conditions and a yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for northern Scotland 

Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist for the Met Office, told MailOnline: ‘For the rest of this weekend the weather will be relatively quiet. Temperatures will be typically above average and could reach 10C (50F) in some parts.

‘As we move into next week however temperatures are expected to fall again and could reach lows of -5C or -6C.

‘And then as we get further into the month temperatures are likely to fall even further as we have a sudden stratospheric warming in place. 

‘This means there could be the possibility of some very cold temperatures and even snow in parts of the country.’  

The Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW), otherwise known as a polar vortex break-up, could even lead to another Beast from the East sweeping in before the end of the month. 

SSW is where the temperature suddenly rises high up in the stratosphere, between six and 30 miles above the North Pole, and it can result in a chain reaction that leads to very cold conditions from eastern Europe and Russia.