UK gripped by ‘Scandinavian high’ weather event for five days

The UK is being swept by freezing winds thanks to a Scandinavian high weather event causing temperatures to plummet.

Many have been left asking when the weather will finally start to warm up in 2025 as we face below-freezing temperatures, with the mercury dropping as low as -6°C on Sunday night.

Snow has even fallen across Northumberland and County Durham as temperatures remain low – and we could be seeing more of the white stuff in our forecasts before winter ends.

Most of the UK will see chilly and wet conditions throughout this week, the Met Office say, with cold easterly winds making it feel close to freezing.

Rain and sleet are expected to fall throughout the day, with snow forecast in hilly areas.

It’s hoped things will dry out a bit midweek, but temperatures will remain at around 2°C lower than the average temperature for February.

The Met Office has blamed the bitterly cold weather on a Scandinavian high.

What does ‘Scandinavian high’ mean?

A ‘Scandinavian high’ is a large area of high pressure which develops over Scandinavia.

Meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey told Sky News: ‘It is continuing to feed in this easterly wind across the UK.

‘Because that is coming in from the North Sea, it’s filtering in a lot of moisture and we are seeing a lot of cloud kick off this new week.

‘It will also be bringing some outbreaks of rain and drizzle, [which] will be falling as snow over hills… the Pennines could see several centimetres building up.

‘Parts of the west, particularly northwestern Scotland, will see some sunshine around and it will be more of a pleasant day here.

‘But temperatures for most of us are going to be struggling around 5°C to 6°C – once we add to the strength of that easterly wind, it’s going to feel even colder than that – closer to freezing for the vast majority of us.

‘It really will be quite bitter out there, particularly in the exposed eastern coastal districts.’

Where is snow forecast in the UK?

The latest Met Office forecast for today says: ‘Tuesday will bring another grey and cold day, with some rain and hill snow in the north and east.

‘A few sunny spells developing across north west England and western Scotland. Breezy.

‘Rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across much of England, Wales and southern Scotland.

‘Some cloud breaks will allow frost and patchy fog to develop across the west.’

Looking ahead to Wednesday, the forecast reads: ‘Often cloudy on Wednesday with some patchy rain and hill snow continuing in the northeast.

‘Drier in the west with some brighter intervals, but feeling cold with the easterly breeze.’

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