BRITAIN may have only just thawed out from the recent freeze, but forecasters are warning of more brutal winter weather.
Experts say temperatures could plunge as low as minus 7C in parts of the country before the month is out.
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Some meteorologists are mentioning the "Beast from the East", a throwback to the savage storm that battered the UK back in 2018.
New data suggests the cold snap could last for up to 10 days, bringing snow, ice and biting winds to large swathes of the nation.
Weather modelling from WX Charts, which draws on Met Office information, indicates that wintry conditions may become widespread as January draws to a close.
The predictions suggest Scotland could be hit hardest, with up to 60cm of snow possible in some areas by January 26.
Major cities including London, Birmingham and Manchester are also in the firing line for flurries.
Could another Beast from the East really be heading our way?
Senior meteorologist Jim Dale from British Weather Services has warned that recent computer simulations are starting to look ominous.
He told the Mirror: "The last few simulations have shown that high pressure develops over Norway and Sweden, and essentially we then start taking Easterly winds. Now the Easterlies start to come in around about January 21, so we're still some way away."
Dale stressed that cold winds alone would not be enough to recreate the infamous 2018 conditions.
He explained: "What we need to see [for a Beast from the East] is something a little bit more sustained that's got weight with it, with the weight obviously being snow – not just the cold direction of wind. But at the moment it is dry."
The forecaster added: "We have to wait for something a little bit more sustained, a little bit more with something in it, and by that I'm talking about the ingredients of snow."
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What are the possible weather scenarios for the UK?
According to Dale, there are currently three main outcomes on the table.
The first possibility is that the UK is blasted by freezing easterly winds but little or no snow actually develops.
A second scenario could see snow arrive, only to be swept away quickly by shifting low pressure systems.
The third, and most disruptive, option would be a full-blown Beast from the East that digs in for the long haul.
Dale told the Mirror: "If there was a Beast, it would likely come from January 21. If it's a damp squib, it could last a couple of days."
He added a stark warning for anyone hoping winter is nearly over.
"But if it's a proper Beast, where we start to get the infiltration of snow, it could well last into into the early part of February without a question."
The meteorologist insisted that such prolonged cold spells are far from unheard of.
He said: "It wouldn't be that unusual to go a week, a week-and-a-half with that kind of scenario."
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