UK's unusual weather phenomenon has Specsavers asking if the map is upside down

23 January 2023 , 12:13

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This morning saw an unusual phenomenon sweep the UK as a massive 19 degree temperature difference could be felt between the north and south of the country.

A huge gulf in weather greeted the British Isles this morning, as some woke up shivering whilst others to an unseasonably warm morning.

But the strange occurrence isn’t what most would expect: instead of the north suffering through below freezing temperatures, whilst the south and London bathe in the heat, the reverse happened.

At 6:30am this morning, the northern tip of Scotland sunned it out in 11C whilst down in London and the south-east commuters shivered through -8C fog.

Brits were so shocked at the tables being turned that even Specsavers took to social media to ask: “Is this map the right way up?”

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

UK's unusual weather phenomenon has Specsavers asking if the map is upside down

The unusual 19-degree difference across the UK this morning (Twitter/ @bbcweather)

This contrast is set to hang around for a few days but the Met Office confirmed to the Mirror it would be gone by the end of the weak.

It has come about because of a high pressure system to the south west of the UK which is bringing air in from across the Atlantic, up and down across the UK.

But due to its positioning, this high pressure isn't reaching the south east, which remains under the thrall of colder, stationary air.

Nicola Maxey, a spokesperson for the Met Office, told the Mirror: "Whilst you have that high pressure stationary to the south west of the UK you’ll see milder air coming into Scotland and the north west and travelling across the country but not quite making it as far as the south east. So you’ll have that colder air hanging on.

Freezing fogs and frost clinging to Macclesfield last week (Getty Images)

"The air is quite still so we’re seeing overnight frosts and some freezing fog - which caused problems at Heathrow. And Heathrow got down to -8.4, which is it’s coldest night since 2010 and it’s coldest January night since 1987.

"By the end of the week, the contrast will have changed, by Thursday we'll have uniform temperatures across the country, still fairly cold but we won’t have this big contrast, this reverse contrast, between the north and the south."

It comes as cold temperatures that have gripped the country recently are set to give way and the Arctic freeze is due to weaken this week.

Heathrow suffered its coldest night since 2010 last night, and its coldest January night since 1987 (Getty Images)

The capital woke up swathed in a freezing fog that saw chaos at Heathrow airport as at least 80 flights were cancelled.

Much of London and the south will see temperatures top out today at around 3C, after plummeting overnight.

Meanwhile swathes of Scotland are enjoying warmer than usual temperatures with lows of 8C throughout tonight and highs of 11C today.

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However, despite the warmer temperatures, parts of Scotland will still experience showers and rain throughout the day.

Whilst London woke up to below freezing temperatures this morning, Scotland was greeted by an unseasonably warm day (Rick Findler / Story Picture Agency)

The arctic air saw temperatures take a chilly plunge for the last five days, reaching below -10C amid snowy and icy conditions.

But forecasts confirm that the cold is due to give way for the entire country to warmer weather.

Looking ahead temperatures are set to be more mild and settled across the day and night for the rest of the week.

But into next month there are fears that the same conditions that created the ‘Beast from the East’ could return.

A ‘polar vortex’ could fall on the country, causing prolonged freezing temperatures.

This is where high-altitude winds swirl around the north pole, trapping in cold air, but a weaker polar vortex can lead to a weakening jet stream - which in turn opens the window to colder and snowier temperatures.

There are also fears that the polar vortex could weaken so much it triggers a sudden stratospheric warning (SSW).