The i Paper examines why predictions about bad weather are unlikely to be correct
Claims that the UK may soon be hit by cold weather and barrage of snow and are exaggerated and unlikely to be correct.
As autumn begins across the UK, some weather maps are predicting that a -3°C cold snap will make its way across the country by the end of the month.
It comes as wintry weather and heavy rain sweeps across the country this weekend.
The Met Office has issued weather warnings for rain across Northern Ireland this weekend, which are in place for several counties, such as Antrim and Armagh.
However, the forecaster believes that the bad weather is likely to be short-lived and headlines in news articles about wild weather are unsubstantiated.
‘A brutal cold snap’ is unlikely
The Met Office said while localised dips in temperature are always possible, especially overnight and in rural areas, there is no evidence a cold snap is incoming and there is more likely to be “milder-than-average conditions”.
It said that overnight low temperatures are not unusual in October, and pointed out that Braemar in the Scottish Highlands dipped to -2°C on Wednesday night (15 October).
The Met Office also explained temperatures can fluctuate day to day and this may be possible over the next few days, which may lead to chilly evenings and frost in some areas – mainly ones located in higher ground.
It told how headlines in news stories about the weather use dramatic language and eye-catching claims which “often outpace the measured tone of the Met Office forecast”.
The Met Office said some chilly nights are possible at times through the remainder of October and Autumn and this is “completely typical”, but “widespread or persistent cold weather is not currently anticipated”.
Dan Stroud, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “At the moment generally unsettled seems to be the name of the game. A cold snap is unlikely – that is not a term I would use.
“There is no suggestion there will be anything noteworthy or unexpected.”
The Met Office believes the weather will become more settled in the coming week and most of the country will experience temperatures of 14C or 15C.
On Monday it said while wind and rain will linger in the far northeast of the country, most of Scotland will be dry, and in other parts of the country there will be a mix of sunshine and heavy showers.
On Tuesday it believes it will remain breezy across the nation and there will be sunshine and scattered showers.
The Met Office predicts that up until Thursday conditions will be unsettled, with wet and windy weather expected across the country, and some gales in places which will ease through Friday, as low pressure moves eastwards.
At the weekend, cold weather will hit the country, and showers are expected around the coasts but there will be sunny spells elsewhere, the Met Office predicts.
Temperatures will drop on Saturday and Sunday to around 10C or 11C across many parts in the day and as low as 4C at night.
In Scotland it is predicted to be even chillier, with a maximum temperature of 8C or 9C expected in the day and as low as 4C at night.
It also believes there is potential for snow and temperatures that are below freezing in the Highlands of Scotland next weekend.
Mr Stroud said while there is a risk of wintry weather next weekend, this is typical for this time of year.
He said: “At the moment we think there will be a bit of a plunge in temperatures next weekend. It will be generally unsettled and changeable. But these temperatures are around average for this time of year.”
For the rest of the month up until the first week of November, the forecaster thinks that the UK will continue to face unsettled weather such as outbreaks of rain which will be heavy at times, and there could be some snow that will be isolated to the Highlands.
It also reckons the wettest weather will probably be in parts of the north and west of the nation, and general temperatures are expected to be close to or slightly below normal for this part of the year.
