Beast from the East 2021 - Weather forecasters predict cold easterly winds to hit North East which could bring heavy snowfall

The BBC’s long range forecast for February is predicting a push of cold air to hit the UK over the weekend and into early next week which could potentially bring a freeze similar to the Beast from the East in 2018.

A Met Office weather warning for snow and ice has also been issued across the North East and will be in force from 3pm on Saturday, February 6, to 11.59pm on Monday, February 7.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Mark Sidaway, said: “Into the weekend snow will continue across much of Scotland, and is likely to increasingly fall to low levels before beginning to move south into northern and eastern England.”

“Although amounts of snow across England are likely to be less, they could still cause some problems as we go into the weekend.”

BBC forecasters say that as high pressure builds to the north of Europe bringing colder air from north west Russia across the Baltic and the North Seas and into the UK.

With a colder polar airmass, showers may fall as snow even in low levels, possible as low as sea levels, according to the BBC forecast.

Next week (Monday, February 8 to Sunday, February 14), is likely to remain cold as high pressure is expected to remain over Scandinavia.

The BBC says this setup is ‘similar to the classic ‘Beast from the East’ from 2018’, and there is potential for some heavy snow showers in eastern areas.

Although the forecast adds: “This is very sensitive to the strength of the high to the north east, so it is still a bit too early to accurately predict snow amounts, but the greatest chances are in the eastern and central parts of Britain.

"We have high confidence that the high pressure system will develop, and it will turn colder than normal. The coldest days will tend to be around midweek as the air from Russia finally arrives in force.”

In February and March 2018, the Beast from the East brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures which brought the North East and Scotland to a standstill.

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