UK weather: Britain battered by storms as temperatures plummet

• Atlantic front will batter UK with 80mph winds and heavy rain


• Extreme weather to cause misery for millions heading back to work


• 2011 was second warmest year on record
  

By Luke Salkeld

Last updated at 4:07 AM on 3rd January 2012

Britain is enduring a miserable start to 2012 with icy weather, gales and heavy rain following the second warmest year on record.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning as scattered wintry showers are forecast to turn into heavy rain and winds across the country overnight.

Western hills and coasts will be battered by an Atlantic storm this evening and potentially damaging gusts of up to 80mph are expected over the next few days.

Water world: A car makes its way through a flooded a road in Essex after heavy rain hit the region on New Year's Day. Gale force winds of up to 80mph are expected to batter Britain over the next few days

Calm before the storm: Katie (left) and Sophie Gray enjoy ice-lollies on a sunny Bournemouth beach today

At the other end of England, however, there were snowy conditions on the A66 in County Durham

Icy roads on Tan Hill, North Yorkshire, provided a challenge to these motorists who scraped the snow to help get their car up a slope

And there is more sleet and snow on the way in the North, with further storms hitting the area early tomorrow.

A spokesman said: 'A weather system is coming in probably early on Tuesday across northern areas of the UK which will bring in some strong winds.

'Gusts of 45-50mph will be widespread, going up to 80mph along coasts and on hilltops.

'The west coast will be mainly affected. The weather will stay windy into Wednesday and will bring in a spell of heavy rain so it will be a pretty unpleasant start to the year.'

The change in conditions was already affecting southern England on Sunday as it experienced its first deluge for some weeks.

Temperatures had peaked at 15C (59F) on New Year's Eve, ending a year which has been the warmest apart from 2006.

The average temperature over last year was 9.62C (49.3F) and the UK enjoyed its warmest April and spring on record, the second warmest autumn and the warmest October day.

Temperatures peaked at 33.1C (91.5F) at Gravesend in Kent on June 27.

Weather experts predict a marked drop in temperature from today, with the unusually mild conditions over Christmas and the New Year making way for more seasonal mercury readings.

Temperatures are expected to reach around 8C (46F) in London.

A walker cuts a lonely figure on Tan Hill which had its first snowfall of the year today

Storms on the way: There was a hint of what was to come in Brighton today which experienced its first downpour for weeks. but it didn't put off this hardy bunch of walkers

Battered: The Met Office says western hills and coasts will be hit by an Atlantic storm tomorrow, dumping several inches of rain across the country

How it can change all too quickly: Maisie Murphy sits among the daffodils that have bloomed on New Year's day in Stoke Park, Guildford. But these spring-like conditions will soon be usurped by storms

Despite the milder conditions over Christmas, average temperatures for last month are likely to be close to average.

John Prior, national climate manager at the Met Office, said: 'While it may have felt mild for many so far this December, temperatures overall have been close to what we would expect.

'It may be that the stark change from last year, which was the coldest December on record for the UK, has led many to think it has been unseasonably warm.'

Issuing a yellow warning for strong winds and heavy rain, the Met Office added: 'A spell of wet and very windy weather will affect the UK during Tuesday.

'The public should be aware of the possibility of disruption, including to travel, due to strong winds on Tuesday morning in most parts and during the afternoon across north-eastern Scotland.

'A spell of heavy rain will also affect many regions, with a risk of localised flooding over parts of Wales and north-west England.'

On the whole, Britain saw 105 per cent of the expected sunshine in 2011 and 102.8 per cent of the expected rainfall.

But while Scotland saw heavy rain - 122 per cent of the year's average - England remained drier at 84.3 per cent.

Areas in East Anglia had the second lowest rainfall on record while parts of the Midlands saw the third driest year.

Source : dailymail

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