Met Office responds to reports of 'Beast from the East' hitting UK

The Met Office says the UK is in for colder conditions next week.

NORTHWICH, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 10: A dog walker braves low temperatures as  heavy frost clings to the landscape after overnight temperatures dropped to -7C on January 10, 2025 in  Northwich, United Kingdom. The Met Office has issued weather warnings as a cold snap sweeps across the UK, bringing freezing temperatures and bouts of ice, snow, and rain. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Many parts of the UK were covered in snow in January. (Getty Images)

The Met Office has said it is not forecasting a "Beast from the East" type weather event next week.

There have been several media reports in the past few days claiming that such a system will hit the UK with a blizzard of snow between 8 and 15 February.

While temperatures are expected to dip this weekend and into next week, particularly overnight, and there could be some snow, the Met Office said it is not expecting a repeat of last month's extremely icy conditions.

A Met Office spokesperson told Yahoo News UK that overnight lows could dip down to -5C in rural parts under clear skies next week. However, they said it is not forecasting a "Beast from the East" event.

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The spokesperson said: "As high pressure becomes established over Scandinavia towards the end of this week, a cold easterly flow will affect the UK.

"Daytime temperatures are likely be below average, with the breeze adding to the cold feel. "Overnight, some frost is likely, especially where skies are clear across parts of the north and west.

"Whilst the emphasis will be on a fair amount of dry weather, some wintry showers are possible, perhaps more likely for windward coasts in the south.

FALMER, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 09: Walkers enjoy the snow at Ditchling Beacon on January 09, 2025 in Ditchling, United Kingdom. The Met Office has issued weather warnings as a cold snap sweeps across the UK, bringing freezing temperatures and bouts of ice, snow, and rain. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Walkers in the snow at Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex, on 9 January. (Getty Images)

"The most likely scenario at present for later next week is for a continuation of this broad weather pattern, which is entirely typical for this time of year, and at the moment we are not forecasting a 'Beast from the East' type severe weather event."

The Met Office has become increasingly vocal against headlines predicting extreme weather events. “Talking about the weather is a national obsession in the UK,” it says in guidance, “making it a popular subject for the media.

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“However, our weather is not always exciting or extreme, meaning misleading or exaggerated headlines can appear at times."

In September, the Met Office even directly called out what it branded “clickbait journalism” over a story about upcoming thunderstorms.

It posted a video on TikTok that blasted the “utter rubbish” warning urging people to “shut the curtains” during a rainy spell in England.

The Met Office says the Beast from the East is a phrase to describe extremely cold conditions hitting the UK.

The 2018 Beast from the East brought snow and freezing conditions to the UK for two weeks in February.

Winter snow storm, The Beast from the East, Feburary 2018, Yarrow, Falstone, Northumberland, England, UK.
The Beast from the East brought snow to Falstone, Northumberland, in February 2018. (PA)
Winter snow storm, The Beast from the East, Feburary 2018, Yarrow, Falstone, Northumberland, England, UK.
A winter snow storm during the February 2018 'Beast from the East' in Yarrow, Falstone, Northumberland. (PA)

The Met Office said that when pressure is high over Scandinavia, the "UK tends to experience a polar continental air mass".

If this happens in winter, cold air is drawn in from Europe and Asia, and brings harsh conditions often known as the Beast from the East.

In its long range forecast for Saturday 8 to Monday 17 February, the Met Office says that cold conditions are likely and there is "even the possibility of snow at times".

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Over this weekend, most places will be dry but there could be a few wintry showers near the south and east coasts.

Into next week, the chances of wintry showers increases and there is a "risk of some sleet or snow falling more widely for a time".

Temperatures will be a few degrees below average with "some hard frosts and the wind may make it feel much colder at times", the forecaster said.

Further ahead, between Tuesday 18 February and Tuesday 4 March, the Met Office temperatures may begin below average but will rise. While wintry showers are possible, it says things will return to normal later in the period with a low probability of wet weather.