Cold shock to freeze the UK as solely 14 counties may very well be hit – full listing

GFS weather maps have revealed chilly conditions are set to hit the UK this October with just 14 counties in South Wales and southern England potentially reaching 10C or more

Brits are set to be hit with single digit temperatures as a chilly October is on the horizon.

The GFS weather model data reveals temperatures will tumble significantly below average over several days during mid-October. Anomaly charts show the nation highlighted in patches of deep blue – showing how the mercury will dive beneath typical expectations for this season.

The charts reveal one particular day will be brutally cold, with afternoon temperatures potentially falling under 10C nationwide on October 13. Peak readings of merely 7C are forecast for London, South Wales and the Midlands.

By 6pm on October 13, the charts indicate maximum temperatures reaching 13C in the extreme south-west. Only sections of South Wales and southern England are projected to climb into double figures – meaning millions of Britons face an entire day where the mercury won’t climb above 10C.

There are just 14 counties where the data indicates possible highs of 10C or above on October 13. They are all located in South Wales or southern England.

UK counties experiencing 10C or above on October 13.

1. Essex.
2. Surrey.
3. Kent.
4. Berkshire.
5. Hampshire.
6. Wiltshire.
7. Somerset.
8. Dorset.
9. Devon.
10. Cornwall.
11. Monmouthshire.
12. Glamorgan.
13. Carmarthenshire.
14. Pembrokeshire.

Experts warn El Nino could deliver extreme winter weather.

This chilly reception comes as meteorologists have cautioned this year’s El Nino – anticipated to be the most powerful on record – could deliver extreme wintry conditions throughout the next couple of months. The Met Office stated: “Through the latter part of the winter, following a peak in El Nino, the stratospheric Polar Vortex can become weaker, leading to an increased chance of Sudden Stratospheric Warming events unfurling, increasing the potential for cold weather.”

Despite what its name implies, Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) can trigger brutally freezing conditions. It was responsible for the notorious Beast from the East in 2018, which delivered 22 inches of snow to certain areas of the country in February and March that year.

While SSW doesn’t invariably produce these effects, the Met Office says a cold spell “follows more often than not”.

A separate WXCharts map also reveals a large swathe of colder air sweeping across Britain and northern Europe. Here, the coldest air is once again focused over North West Scotland, with the blue shading reaching southwards across much of England and Wales.

Given that these maps are projecting almost two weeks into the future, the precise temperatures and regions affected could still shift as fresh forecasts come in.