Brrrr-ace yourselves – winter is set to make a brief appearance

Winter is coming next week as temperatures are expected to drop to below freezing after a record-breaking month of rainfall.

Following the mildest December recorded, more seasonal temperatures will return as thermometers drop below zero towards the end of next week, according to forecasts.

The winter weather will be fleeting –but there may be possible sleet showers before the warmer weather returns with a fresh jet stream from the south.

Meteorologist Steve Western, of Weatherquest, said the last month has been 'exceptionally mild', but temperatures are expected to drop once again next week.

'It is going to get colder into next week, and there could be a possible sleet shower or two,' he said.

'The higher temperatures recently have meant it has been exceptionally mild, leading to a record-breaking December.

'That is because the air of the jet stream was across the Scottish borders and the north of England. That gave us the mildest December on record.'

Mr Western added temperatures should fall between two to three degrees over the coming days.

'From about the middle of next week, temperatures and other conditions will come far closer to what is normal for this time of year,' he added. 'The average tends to be around five to six degrees celsius during the day, down to between zero and minus one during the night.

'That is the normal range of temperatures we would expect for early to mid January.

'After that temperatures do start to come back up because the the jet stream will come back north again.'

The Met Office has predicted snow in the north next week, but says it is unlikely to reach to the south.

'There is now an increased signal for a brief much colder spell around the middle of next week with widespread overnight frosts,' it says.

'There is likely to be a mixture of sunshine and showers, with the showers falling as sleet or snow to low levels in the north, and perhaps also in the south.'