Shropshire Star

UK wraps up warm as ‘the beast from the east’ looms

Freezing air from Russia is set to grip the country.

Published
People in winter coats and scarves cross Waterloo Bridge (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Britons are starting to feel the chill as a cold front sweeps in from Russia to deliver what is forecast to be the coldest late February in five years.

The cold blast – dubbed the “beast from the east” – will see temperatures plunge below zero from Sunday night, with some areas seeing lows of minus 8C (17.6F).

WEATHER Cold
(PA Graphics)

If it approaches the UK from the south it can be cold and dry, bringing clear skies and a heavy frost.

But if it sweeps in from the North East, extra moisture brings the threat of heavy snow, which would hit just as the first day of the meteorological spring arrives.

WEATHER Cold
(PA Graphics)

Temperatures may be tipped to go as low as minus 8C (17.6F), but that’s still a long way off the lowest seen in the UK in the past few years.

WEATHER Cold
(PA Graphics)
Freezing air from Russia is set to grip the UK (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Freezing air from Russia is set to grip the UK (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Gritters prepare in the Scottish Borders (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Gritters prepare in the Scottish Borders (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Derek Mackay has snowboarding lesson
Scottish Finance Minister Derek Mackay took shelter indoors but still had to don a few layers (Andrew Milligan/PA)
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