UK weather: Arctic freeze set to blow away as above-average temperatures return

Snow in the UK — Parts of the UK will see snowfall this weekend, however, temperatures will return to above-average by next week Getty

After an Arctic blast hit the UK this weekend, temperatures are expected to rise to above-average conditions once again. A stream of warm air is going to edge back in by mid-week, bringing temperatures up to 14-15C in some areas.

The mild weather will follow a weekend of snow and wind warnings for many, as the country was battered by a northerly jetstream. Parts of Scotland and the north of England were on alert for up to 4cm of snow on Friday and Saturday, with 5-10cm expected on higher grounds. Gale force winds posed a risk of blizzard conditions.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "A major, but temporary, change of weather type will see the winds swing into a more northerly direction into this weekend, pulling down much colder air across the whole of the UK. Wintery showers will spread to many areas and night frosts will become much more widespread."

Why are we seeing colder weather this weekend? How long will it last? it's all to do with the #jetstream! pic.twitter.com/bnYRxTgGlC
— Met Office (@metoffice) November 20, 2015

Guidance was issued for British pensioners on how to cope with the Arctic blast over the weekend as charity Age UK warned that the cold weather poses a health risk for older people as they are "three times more likely" than younger people to suffer from strokes if they do not keep warm.

Fortunately the Arctic temperatures are not expected to last long, with the Met Office saying that the weather looks like it will improve next week. Despite the promise of warmer conditions, forecasters have also warned that the long period of mild weather is over and Britons should prepare to brace themselves for winter temperatures.

"It's been really well above average so it's going to feel quite different this weekend," a spokesperson for the Met Office said. "It looks as though the period of having very mild air for a long time is over."

Some forecasters have warned that this year could bring the "coldest winter in 50 years", fearing a repeat of 1963 when the worst winter in history saw temperatures plunge to near -20 in January.