The Shape

You might have heard rumours that Cold Weather and snow are in the outlook.

It is certainly true that temperatures are set to tumble by The End of the week, But before you dust off the toboggan or, dare I say it, start dreaming of a White Christmas , it might be worth taking a closer look at The Forecast .

None of what is heading our way is unusual for late November - But it will feel like a big change from what we have had So Far this autumn.

An unprecedented September heatwave gave way to a mild and wet October - and that trend has continued So Far this month.

But by the weekend, temperatures in many areas are expected to fall below the seasonal average, particularly in the north and east. We will see daytime highs in single digits for most, with night-time frosts also becoming a feature.

This is far from extreme though. The UK's lowest November temperatures on record came on 14 November 1919, when Braemar in Aberdeenshire saw a daytime high of -11. 1°C, and a bone-chilling overnight low of -23. 3°C!

As so often with our weather, It Comes down to the Jet Stream .

For much of the autumn the Jet Stream has been racing across The Atlantic , bringing westerly winds and spells of mild, wet and sometimes Stormy Weather .

But This Week The Shape of the Jet Stream is shifting. It will be blowing down from the north or the north-west, bringing northerly winds and a flow of air from The Arctic .

It will feel particularly chilly in eastern and northern parts exposed to The Strongest of those winds.

While it will be cold enough for some places to see some of the White Stuff , snow lovers in most parts of the UK are likely to be disappointed.

High Pressure is expected to bring a lot of dry weather, particularly in The West , offering a welcome break from the relentless rain of recent weeks.

Lower pressure further east will bring some showers - especially in northern and eastern Scotland and along the East Coast of England. But while snow is expected over High Ground in the Highlands, at lower levels further south it looks unlikely to be cold enough for much in The Way of wintry weather.

The start of December marks The Beginning of meteorological winter and at this stage, signals from the computer weather models are decidedly mixed.

Most forecasts suggest that the chilly weather will Stick Around for a while next week, But with only limited amounts of rain or snow. It will start to feel less cold as northerly winds abate somewhat.

Some models suggest Low Pressure systems might try to spread from The West by the start of December, which would mean a return of something milder and wetter.

It might sound like a cop-out, But it is simply too early to tell!

Most long-range forecasts suggest December is likely to bring spells of wet weather, some brighter interludes, and temperatures around or above the seasonal average.

However, confidence in The Forecast at this range is low. It would only take A Shot of Cold Air at The Right time to bring a flake - or More - of snow on Christmas Day .

So as winter arrives and the festive season approaches, stay In Touch with The Forecast on TV, and on The Bbc Weather App .

Source of news: bbc.com