A WIND warning has been issued by Jersey Met, with forecasts of gusts up to 50mph.
The orange-level warning is set to stay in place during Wednesday, when there will also be the risk of thundery showers.
Following months of mild weather, much colder conditions are set to push down from the north later in the week. By Monday, temperatures are expected to rise no higher than 6°C.
And the UK Met Office, which issues long-range forecasts, says the cold conditions could last for the whole of January.
For the period 7 to 16 January, it states: “Into Sunday and the new week broadly settled conditions quite widely across the country, with colder conditions and some frosty nights (perhaps becoming widespread and severe in time).
“Initially there are still likely to be some showers, especially around windward coasts in the east, but in general most areas start to see longer, more settled spells develop.
“Occasional unsettled spells are still possible later in the period, but these generally much more regionalised, and infrequent than of late.
“As temperatures fall, the chance of any precipitation falling as sleet and snow increases, particularly over high ground and especially over northern parts of the UK, but not exclusively so by any means. As well as frost and ice by night, some freezing fog is likely to develop as well.”
For the period 17 to 31 January, the UK Met Office says that there is an “increased chance of colder than average conditions”.
It adds: “Currently the chance of widespread severe cold is still deemed low, but still the risk of impacts from cold, including ice and snow is greater than normal. It is likely to be drier than recent weeks, but what does fall is more likely to be of a wintry nature.
“While there is a chance of brief, unsettled spells, which would bring milder air for a time, it would likely also be accompanied by a period of sleet or snow. However, when, or even if, this would happen is very uncertain, and overall the main theme will be much more in the way of settled conditions through this period.”
