Last day of mild weather before Arctic blast pelts the North East with snow and sleet

After a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperature.
After a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperatureAfter a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperature
After a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperature

Conditions will stay moderate today (15 Jan), with highs of around 10C and a minimum temperature of 8C. Tomorrow temperatures drop slightly before they cool considerably on Thursday, as a blast of Arctic air will bring freezing temperatures and wintry conditions to the area.

According to the Met Office, tonight the North East will be “mild and mostly cloudy. A few spots of rain may develop at times. Becoming windy with some strong gusts, particularly over high ground.”

After a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperatureAfter a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperature
After a mild winter, the North East needs to ready itself for a serious drop in temperature
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Wednesday looks set to be “cloudy during the morning with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Brighter but with a few showers through the afternoon. Cold overnight. Strong winds throughout.”

“Cold on Thursday with a risk of wintry showers. Dry with long sunny periods Friday and Saturday, though remaining cold with hard overnight frosts.”

According to the Met Office, various areas of the North East, including Sunderland, can expect “light snow showers” and “sleet showers” on Thursday, when temperatures will drop as low as -2C.

Long-term forecast

Looking ahead to this weekend and the remainder of the month, the Met Office UK outlook for Saturday 19 Jan to Monday 28 Jan explains that “outbreaks of rain, sleet and some snow are likely to move slowly south and eastwards on Saturday, but tending to become lighter and more patchy as it does so.

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“Sunday looks generally quiet, with a good deal of dry and bright weather. Thereafter, it looks set to remain mainly on the cold side, but also unsettled and sometimes windy, with gales possible in the north.

“Any milder spells will tend to be brief, and associated with longer spells of rain. The rain could turn to snow at times, particularly across northern, central and eastern areas, especially later in this period.

“Some drier, brighter spells are likely, perhaps with snow showers, during such spells, frost could become widespread and severe.”