Met Office warning as icy jet stream that killed 60 in -50C blizzards hits UK

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    The UK is set for an "unsettled period" over the coming days as freezing air from America's wild blizzards makes its way to Britain.

    The Met Office warned that a jet stream carrying cold air across the Atlantic is set to impact Brits in the run-up to the New Year, and in some areas a yellow weather warning has been issued.

    The forecaster said in a tweet: "The UK is set for an unsettled period leading to New Year's.

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    "This is partly related to the cold air that has been spreading across North America, helping to strengthen the jet stream and push low-pressure systems across the Atlantic."

    In a separate Tweet it added: "The extremely cold air across North America will help to fuel a powerful Atlantic jet stream.

    "The strong jet stream will steer low pressure systems towards the UK, bringing wet and windy weather over the coming days."

    North America has been hit by storms that have caused unusually low temperatures, ice, and heavy snow.

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    More than 60 people have been killed in the cold snap across the US and Canada, 25 of them from Erie County in the state of New York.

    Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said: "This is not the Christmas any of us hoped for nor expected."

    In Britain, rain and snow is expected to hit parts of the UK today and with temperatures heading south of freezing, ice will likely develop.

    In parts of Scotland a yellow rain warning has been issued and will be in place until 6pm on Friday (December 30).

    Meanwhile parts of the southwest were relieved of their warning for rain and floods yesterday (December 28).

    But despite the jet stream stretching over the Atlantic, the Met Office said the UK is unlikely to see the kinds of worrying weather America has suffered.

    "We're likely to see some wet and windy weather over the coming days, but there are currently no signs of any exceptionally cold weather heading for the UK," the forecaster tweeted.

    As we head into the New Year, forecasters predict longer – and sometimes heavier – spells of rain for parts of the UK, but snow will likely be seen only in higher ground in Scotland.

    Temperatures are expected to remain normal or slightly below average in the north.

    From January 2 to 11, the Met Office predicts "changeable conditions" and said there is a possibility that a northwest-southeast divide could develop, with drier conditions in the east and strong winds and frequent rainfall in the northwest.

    "Further into the period, changeable conditions are expected to continue," the forecaster wrote.

    "With spells of strong winds for many, interspersed with colder more showery spells, some snow possible in the north, mainly over higher ground, but possible at lower levels."

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    • Met Office
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    • UK Weather

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