A weather phenomenon known as ‘sudden stratospheric warming’ just took place miles and miles above Earth – and we could be paying the consequences.

According to a well-known forecaster, it could cause a very cold spell at the end of the month.

It could see daytime temperatures struggle to get above zero Celsius, with a bitter wind and hard frosts.

There is also a chance of snow, but forecasters say it is too early to tell, reports Wales Online.

Channel 4 weather presenter Liam Dutton said: "Much of this winter has seen the weather alternate between cold and mild across the UK.

"Despite this, there haven't been any prolonged spells of intensely cold weather. However, there is a chance that this may change later in February.

"A few days ago, sudden stratospheric warming took place 10-50Km up in the stratosphere. More often than not (66% of the time), this increases the risk of colder than normal weather 10-14 days later.

"This often comes in the form of slow-moving areas of high pressure and bitter easterly winds.

"Whilst the occurrence of sudden stratospheric warming increases the chance of cold weather, it's by no means a guarantee.

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“How cold it gets and for how long are dependent on the position of high pressure close to or over the UK.

“To get very cold weather, the high pressure would need to be over Scandinavia."

Here is the long term weather forecast from the Met Office

Tuesday, February 20 to Thursday, March 1

Dry, but often bright weather will dominate across the UK throughout next week, with overnight frosts becoming widespread.


Temperatures will be around average for the time of year to begin. However, it will turn much colder by the end of the week and into the following week, as the wind tends to turn east or southeasterly in direction.

Wintry showers may develop with the potential for some significant snowfalls focused on southern, central or eastern areas.

The location and intensity of any snowfall will be uncertain until much nearer the time. However, some milder unsettled weather still may occur at times, especially in the west.

Friday, March 2 to Friday, March 16

In first week of March, it is likely to stay cold with widespread overnight frost. There will be a greater chance than usual of easterly winds developing, which would bring very cold weather at times and the potential for some snowfall in eastern and even southern parts.

Unusually, it will probably be driest in the northwest. In the second week of March there are indications that it may become more changeable and less cold, with the wettest weather and mildest temperatures likely to be in the south or the southwest of the UK.

