Could La Niña cold snap chill Britain until CHRISTMAS?

A bitter chill has settled in across Britain today, marking the start of a big freeze that could last until Christmas. 

Fleets of gritter lorries were out in many areas of the UK after the coldest night of the autumn so far, as traffic police warned drivers to look out for ice patches with thermometers showing sub-zero readings in many areas.

A temperature of -6C (21F) recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire overnight made it the chilliest night recorded in Britain for seven months since April 18 this year when Cromdale in Morayshire fell to -6.2C. 

In Kent, councils said the gritters were out in force from 3am in the early hours of this morning as temperatures fell to -2C overnight in the South, -3C in the Midlands and -4C in the North of England. 

Fog covered parts of the North West of England today, creating hazardous driving conditions in Bolton, Greater Manchester

Motorists make their way through foggy conditions in Bolton, Greater Manchester, this morning

Motorists make their way through foggy conditions in Bolton, Greater Manchester, this morning

Swans on the water as this morning's light breaks through at Harold Park in the Low Moor area of Bradford, West Yorkshire

Swans on the water as this morning’s light breaks through at Harold Park in the Low Moor area of Bradford, West Yorkshire

Another beautiful scene at Harold Park in Bradford this morning as parts of the UK wake up to sub-zero temperatures

Another beautiful scene at Harold Park in Bradford this morning as parts of the UK wake up to sub-zero temperatures

The possibility of a big freeze has been blamed on the La Niña phenomenon, a weather process which cools the eastern Pacific Ocean, reducing mild easterly winds and allowing bitter northerlies to sweep in.

This was behind the big freeze of November 2010 which saw lows of -13C and snowfalls of 2ft in places during the coldest winter on record for Britain, although forecasters are not expecting such a chilly season at the moment.

According to the Met Office’s forecast for November to January, a ‘full La Nina event’ is likely in the next few months. It adds: ‘The risk of colder than normal conditions remains a significant possibility.’ 

England and Wales had a cold but sunny start today, with cloud thickening across the West later on while the East stays fine. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be largely cloudy with patchy rain and strong winds.

Last night's low temperatures

This morning's rush hour

Temperatures fell to -6C in Scotland last night (while) while they are not expected to get above 5C this morning in England

Wintry walk: The McInnes family, of Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, strolling at Cairngorm Mountain resort yesterday 

Wintry walk: The McInnes family, of Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, strolling at Cairngorm Mountain resort yesterday 

They will be cloudy and wet tonight, before the rain moves east into Wales and western England through the early hours. Further east it will be mostly dry with variable cloud and clear spells, and a brisk southerly wind.

Tomorrow, rain will move east with sunny spells and isolated showers behind. Some heavy bursts of rain are possible across central England, and winds will change from southerly to westerly once the rain clears through.

Wednesday will start fine but rain will move in from the west later, although it will not spread into eastern England until after dark. Meanwhile it will be windy across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Met Office has also said it will be chilly from Wednesday to Sunday with snow possible on some hills in the North. The UK’s previous coldest night of the autumn was last Sunday when the Scottish Highlands fell to -5C. 

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