
Strong gales will batter Britain next week after a short, mild respite from bitterly cold temperatures - amid fears the La Niña phenomenon will bring a record freezing winter.

A prolonged period of cold in the Pacific Ocean has sparked speculation that the UK will face sub-zero temperatures for months.

When La Nina is brewing — as is the case now — warmer winds are blocked. As a result, bitter northerlies can come blasting in, bringing the kind of weather expected this week. They also create the potential for it to get a lot colder.

La Nina was blamed for the big freeze of winter 2010 and the coldest December on record, with lows of -13c, snow on the ground for weeks and blizzards that deposited 2ft drifts, bringing parts of the country to a standstill.

A steam train chugs along the North York Moors Railway line as it heads towards Pickering, North Yorkshire, surrounded by fields of snow

Plumes of white smoke billow into the sky above the engine as it cross a bridge on its way to Pickering from Goathland near Scarborough, North Yorkshire

A prolonged period of cold in the Pacific Ocean has sparked speculation the El Nina phenomenon will mean the UK facing sub-zero temperatures for months

Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge told The Independent: 'In 2010 we had a deep La Niña which sent a strong meteorological signal, and it was reflected in the weather in the UK with the cold weather we saw at the time.'

Some areas of Britain are facing up to 4in of snow and temperatures as low as -8c this week as a precursor to a month-long cold snap - amid hopes of a White Christmas.

Winds of nearly 60mph will hammer the whole of the UK next Wednesday after the mercury rises to more comfortable conditions from tomorrow.

Parts of northern England and Scotland have been blanketed in snow in the past few days.

But wintry scenes could melt away when mild temperatures return from this afternoon — bringing with them more cloud and a possibility of rain for much of England, and Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Walkers make the most of the what is left of the snow on the North York Moors. Milder temperatures are set to sweep across Britain, meaning a lot of the white stuff could be gone come Monday

A grouse pokes it's head out of the thick snow on the North York Moors this morning

Glen Coe, in the Scottish highlands, pictured yesterday morning, was blanketed in thick snow and the white peaks are beautifully reflected in the lake below

Britain is set for a mild respite from bitterly cold temperatures at the start of the new working week. But, after stormier conditions, colder conditions will return for next weekend

Milder conditions will continue into the beginning of the new working week, bringing bright spells but patches of cloud and drizzles on Monday and Tuesday

By Sunday morning an area of high pressure will have pushed warmer air across most of the UK, with the warmest spots being in the south.

Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell told MailOnline: 'It's going to be less cold than it has been.

'Temperatures will be up to double figures and most parts will see 10°C, London and the south will be warmest.'

Milder conditions will continue into the beginning of the new working week, bringing bright spells but patches of cloud and drizzles on Monday and Tuesday.

Residents and visitors enjoy a Saturday morning walk along the beach in Swanage, Dorset, as milder conditions return today and into the start of next week

A man and two youngsters make the most of the calm conditions this morning in Swanage, Dorset. Winds of up to 60mph will sweep across much of Britain next Wednesday through to Thursday

) Photographers wait for that special moment up on Peveril Point on an overcast day in Dorset

Saddleworth, near Manchester, is pictured with drips and drabs of snow still lingering on the streets and on the hill yesterday morning

The Angel of the North's face hasn't escaped flurries of snow, as it stands high above fields that have been completely blanketed in white

Temperatures are set to get milder today and into early next week before gales batter the country on Wednesday

'Monday and Tuesday and be lumped together and will be similar to Sunday,' Mr Powell added.

Cloudy spells and rain will 'disintegrate' as it moves south west across the UK the forecaster said.

But the mild spate is expected to come to an abrupt end on Wednesday, which will see gales of 55mph batter Britain.

The storm hits on the second anniversary of 2015's Storm Desmond, which saw a record 14in of rain in 24 hours as 5,200 homes flooded in and around Cumbria.

This picturesque image show the grounds of North Yorkshire-based Nunnington Hall covered in snow on Thursday

Many parts of the country awoke on Thursday to see snow had arrive. Picture are grounds of Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire

Pristine white snow covers the grounds of Nunnington Hall, in North Yorkshire, on Thursday. Colder weather is set to make a return towards the end of next week

The Met Office said a second bout of gales on Saturday and Sunday, windiest in the North, is set to see snow at low levels in the North and on higher ground further south

And bitter winter temperatures will bite back from Thursday when cold, northerly air sweeps across Britain -- blanketing parts of northern England and Scotland in snow.

The Met Office said a second bout of gales on Saturday and Sunday, windiest in the North, is set to see snow at low levels in the North and on higher ground further south.

Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson added: 'Two separate depressions are due in the coming week.

Huge waves crash against a pier and lighthouse on the coast of Seaham, in Country Durham, yesterday morning

Britons woke to slightly warmer temperatures but the seas were still stormy at Seaham, North Yorkshire. Winds of nearly 60mph are set to batter Britain next Wednesday and Thursday

Edinburgh Castle was lit up in blue to mark St Andrew's Day in the Scottish capital, which enjoyed a relatively calm evening last night

St Andrew's House, the office of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, were also daubed in blue light to mark St Andrew's Day yesterday

Monday and Tuesday will see temperatures move into milder, double-figures. But the respite isn't expected to last long. Pictured: Edinburgh Castle lit up in blue to mark St Andrew's Day

'The first sees Wednesday and Thursday windy for all areas, with the strongest winds in the South and gale-force gusts up to 55mph.

'Colder air returning from the north from Thursday is shown by a significant number of forecast models, meaning showers could fall as snow over northern hills.

'The second low pressure is expected on Saturday and Sunday, with the risk of gales, windiest in the North.

'As there will be bands of rain as well, snow could fall particularly in northern parts, possibly to lower levels, and higher ground elsewhere could see wintry showers.'