Polar vortex set to arrive weeks early bringing freezing temperatures in November

Polar vortex set to arrive weeks early bringing freezing temperatures in November Weather maps show temperatures are set to drop to -2C next week as the UK faces a sudden cold snap due to disruption to the polar vortex bringing icy conditions Brits are facing a freeze within days as temperatures plummet from disruption to the polar vortex. Following two ferocious named storms, Austen and Boelo, in quick succession the weather has been more stable over the past couple of weeks but it is set to turn icy by mid November. A weather map map for November 9 shows the mercury dropping to -2C across central and eastern Scotland while it will also be bitterly cold across the country. Sub zero temperatures can also be expected in parts of central and southern Wales while it ill also be close to freezing right across the south of England, according to the map from Netweather. And maps from WXCharts also shows a high pressure system which is in control over the weekend, moving away with a low moving in next week bringing the more unstable conditions. Forecaster believe that disruption to the polar vortex is from El Nino which is causing major disruption to global weather this year. The polar vortex is essentially a swirling mass of very cold air that sits above the Earth's poles. It weakens, allowing icy Arctic air to sweep southwards, with sudden stratospheric warming where winds change direction or just slow down. These changes are notorious for triggering icy weather and snowfall although maps do not suggest we will see flurries over the coming week. Experts had thought that the polar vortex would arrive in January next year but it now appears to be coming earlier than predicted Forecasts from NASA show the wind circulation already weakening, with wind strength falling to 12.04 m/s (26.9 mph) on October 31, 9.15 m/s (20.5 mph) on November 1, and 4.15 m/s (9.3 mph) on November 3. A Met Office for November 6-15 predicts temperatures dropping "a little below average before returning to near or slightly above average". It states: "High pressure is likely to dominate conditions across much of the UK initially, with large amounts of cloud at times but any amounts of rain or drizzle tending to be small. Quite breezy in the south, but a greater chance of some fog patches in northern areas where winds will be lighter. "As the high pressure begins to migrate away to the east, frontal systems may attempt to bring some occasional rain to parts of the southwest and/or northwest at times, though exactly how much progress into the UK this makes is uncertain. "In any case, rainfall is likely to be below average in many areas for this period as a whole, with temperatures initially a little below average before returning to near or slightly above average."