Met forecasts cold winter for UK, western Europe

Weather Services International (WSI) expects temperatures for December-February to average colder than normal for Britain and western continental Europe, the U.S.-based forecaster said on Monday.
"Based on all of the available evidence, we expect another winter with below-normal temperatures across the UK and the western half of the mainland, although not nearly as severe as last winter," WSI Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford said.
WSI, which specialises in weather forecasting for the energy sector, said it expected the coldest weather in December, with the potential for a relatively warm spell in January or February.
"As we head into the winter season, most of our important climate indicators are at or near record levels," Crawford said.
"Most importantly, the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been unusually strong and persistent for much of the last three years, suggesting a return to weather patterns more like those in the 1950s and 1960s," he added.
In a similar pattern to the cold winters of the 1950s and 1960s, the current NAO phase is accompanied by a La Nina climate event, which is currently producing cold ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific, Crawford said.
WSI predicts regional temperature anomalies as follows:
DECEMBER:
Nordic region – Colder than normal, except far south;
UK – Colder than normal;
Northern mainland – Colder than normal, except for east;
Southern mainland – Colder than normal, except for east.
JANUARY:
Nordic region – Colder than normal, except far south;
UK – Warmer than normal;
Northern mainland – Warmer than normal;
Southern Mainland – Warmer than normal, exceptFrance/Iberia.
FEBRUARY:
Nordic region – Warmer than normal;
UK – Warmer than normal;
Northern Mainland – Warmer than normal;
Southern Mainland – Warmer than normal, except France/Iberia.