November 12th 2024.
On November 8, I found myself on the viewing platform of 22 Bishopsgate in London, gazing out at a rather gloomy day. The weather in the first weeks of November had been quite depressing, with some people even comparing it to living inside a Tupperware container. Can you imagine? Parts of England didn't even get to see a single ray of sunshine for the first seven days of the month. But finally, that thick blanket of clouds that had been blocking the sky seemed to be lifting, revealing a cold and chilly weather in its wake.
According to the Met Office, things are about to get even colder, especially during the nights. In fact, there is a possibility of snow and frost in some areas. Looks like it's time to dig out those cozy winter woolies and bundle up! Although November had been relatively mild, dry and dull so far, the forecasters warned of a change in the weather this coming weekend, with colder temperatures, stronger winds and more rain.
The beginning of the month saw higher than average temperatures of 13°C to 15°C in many parts of the country, but those are expected to drop back to the usual daily highs of between 8°C in Scotland and 11°C in the south in the next few days. The Met Office also predicted the possibility of frosts tonight in north Wales, the north and north-west England, and Scotland, with the addition of northerly breezes that could bring an extra wind chill from Saturday.
But don't worry, even though it might be cold and dreary, at least we'll finally get to see the sun again! And there's even a chance of snow in the Scottish Highlands from early next week, although the probability of that happening further south is very low. The forecasters have coined this recent period of bleak weather as "anticyclonic gloom", which has resulted in the UK only getting an average of three hours of sunshine in the whole of the seven days leading up to Thursday last week.
The Met Office was quick to clarify that we shouldn't expect to see Big Ben buried under a blizzard anytime soon. However, they did mention the "S" word and warned that some areas in the north may see snow now that the weather has changed. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway explained, "The high pressure that has been bringing us dry weather this week will move away towards the Atlantic as we approach the weekend. This will bring an increase in rainfall, which could even be heavy at times on Sunday. As a result, temperatures will also drop, especially in Scotland, as a northerly airflow brings colder Arctic air to some northern areas."
He also added, "This shift in weather patterns may lead to the possibility of snow, mainly over high ground in the north, starting from Sunday. There is also a potential risk of gusty winds, so it's important to stay updated with the latest forecast and be prepared for any winter hazards that may occur."
According to the provisional figures up to November 11, we have only experienced 14% of the long-term average amount of sunshine for the whole month. By this time, we would normally expect to have seen around 37% of the full month's average. This year, the UK has also had its driest start to the month on record, with only 3.5mm of rain falling so far, which is only 3% of the long-term average for the entire month. Let's hope the weather improves soon and we get to enjoy some much-needed sunshine and rain.
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