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Blankets of snow could hit Britain this winter because of an\u00a0El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern, long-range forecasts have said.<\/p>\n
The weather pattern is set to peak around December, bringing plummeting temperatures and icy blasts.<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o<\/span>\u00a0is a phenomenon occurring every three to seven years when the Pacific Ocean heats up more than usual, causing uncertain weather changes.<\/p>\n Professor Adam Scaife, head of long-range prediction at the UK\u2019s Met Office told\u00a0EuroNews\u00a0: “El Ni\u00f1o years have a tendency to have a mild wet and westerly start to winter (November to December) and a colder, drier end to winter (January to March) across most of northern Europe.”<\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o weather front could see blankets of snow this winter, expert says<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong> ‘I live in England’s snowiest village – but forecasters have been exaggerating’<\/strong><\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o\u00a0starts heating the Pacific Ocean around the west coast of South America, around Peru and Ecuador before the warm ocean current moves further westward.\u00a0Since the weather event starts so far away, it takes a very long time to have a noticeable impact in the UK.<\/p>\n Meteorologist Jim Dale previously told Express.co.uk: “It brings out unprecedented unusual events. This does not mean every event will be cataclysmic. It could be unusually quiet.”<\/p>\n The Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at Leeds University, explained that: “During El Ni\u00f1o winters the largest effect is observed in northern Europe… where winters become drier and colder. A frosty 2023-24 winter season is likely if El Ni\u00f1o ramps up sufficiently by then.”<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n The last white Christmas in Britain was in 2021 when six per cent of stations recorded snow falling although less than one per cent of stations reported snow lying on the ground.<\/p>\n The year before that was also a white Christmas, with six per cent of weather stations recording snow falling, according to the Met Office.<\/p>\n Although experts say this year could also be a white Christmas, it’s not certain because forecasting snow in the UK can be notoriously tricky.\u00a0<\/p>\n Whether or not Britain experiences snow, rain, sleet or hail is determined by the temperature on the air near the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, the freezing level doesn’t stay the same every day or within a day. Sometimes it can change hour by hour across the country.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/153\/590x\/secondary\/5000323.jpg?r=1696759732256\")
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New maps show when Brits will bask in balmy 26C in a matter of hours[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/153\/590x\/secondary\/5000325.jpg?r=1696759732311\")
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