04 January 2023 , 14:14
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The infamous Beast from the East could still be making its return to Britain.
Forecasters aren't ruling out the return of another Arctic cyclone bomb, like that which hit the UK in 2018, burying parts of the country in snow and even resulting in deaths.
The mega-storm swept in after a polar vortex swept in from the east, carrying with it freezing air from Siberia which wreaked havoc on UK infrastructure.
The Arctic deluge resulted in several deaths - including a seven-year-old girl in Cornwall who was hit by a car sliding on ice - and major road closures.
Forecasters became concerned after spotting a pool of freezing air circling the North Pole which had to potential to trigger a Sudden Stratospheric Warning (SSW), which is how the 2018 blast started.
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January 15: Map shows where in the UK could see up to 6 inches of snow (WXCHARTS)
January 20: Weather maps show exactly where an Arctic blast could leave Brits under 6inches of snow (WXCHARTS)Yellow weather warnings were meanwhile issued for snow and ice earlier this week, with snow forecast for parts of Scotland on Wednesday and into next week.
As much as six inches could fall in parts of the country later in the month, with weather maps showing the Cairngorms and west coast to be the worst hit areas.
The Met Office, however, has since shot down claims of a mega-storm on its way, saying there was no snow forecast for most parts of the UK this month.
But while some forecasters ruled out its return, others have said it may still hit the UK.
January 9: A 'Beast from the East' like that seen in 2018 could hit the UK again later this month (WXCHARTS)Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden told the Daily Star : "A Sudden Stratospheric Warming event is now looking even more likely to occur this winter and this could happen as soon as in the next 10 days or so.
"This will mean that the cold air over the Arctic will be given a route to cross our shores."
In addition to above-average snowfall, it could pave the way for another big freeze leaving the cold snap earlier in December a distant memory.
Beast from the East 2.0 could still hit the UK later this month, forecasters have warned (PA)"If an SSW does set in icy weather could hit Brits around the middle of January," Mr Madden warned.
The effects of any stratospheric changes would manifest themselves later in the month.
British Weather Services’ Jim Dale said a big freeze was "not something that I will rule out", adding that a storm bringing heavy rain was "more likely".
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"At the moment I am favouring a more mobile weather pattern from the Atlantic," he said.
Forecasters haven't ruled out a return of another freezing storm later this month (Getty Images)"Instead of a big snow event, we may be more likely to see a named storm during the start of 2023.
"However that does not mean it is not going to happen.
"If it does it will be more likely to affect northern parts of the country.’’