Beast from the East a year on: DRASTIC weather change - Sun to last until end of February

THE BEAST from the East struck a year ago, blanketing the UK in heavy snow, causing treacherous roads and severe delays. February this year is a drastic contrast, with warmer temperatures, sunny skies and the hottest Valentine’s Day for more than 20 years.

14:24, Fri, Feb 22, 2019 | UPDATED: 14:45, Fri, Feb 22, 2019

Beast From the East

Beast From the East: Last year snow blanketed the country, now it is warm and sunny (Image: GETTY/ WX CHARTS)

BBC weather: Temperatures set to RISE in the UK

Exactly a year ago, the Beast from the East was blanketing the UK in snow, causing dangerous conditions across the country. There were 17 deaths attributed to the weather system, which was officially named Anticyclone Hartmut. The weather in February this year has been unseasonably warm, with temperatures on Valentine’s Day reaching the highest for more than 20 years.

On Valentine’s Day 2019, temperatures reached 16.1C in Bala, Wales according to the Met Office.

Whilst in 2018, temperatures were plunging as the Beast from the East rolled in.

The Beast from the East formed on February 22, 2018, and dumped several inches of snow on the UK.

The highest level of snowfall was in Gloucestershire, where 22 inches fell.

Beast From the East

Beast From the East: Temperatures last year sank to -11C (Image: GETTY)

The lowest temperature recorded in the UK during this period was −11 °C in Nairnshire, Scotland.

In drastic contrast, the mercury has risen to see the hottest day of the year this month with Rhyl in North Wales recorded the warmest temperature in the UK so far this winter at 17.5C on February 15.

The highest temperatures in February in the past reached 19.7C, in Greenwich, London, 18.6C in Velindre, Wales, and 17.8C in Bryansford, Northern Ireland.

On Thursday, Aboyne in Scotland reached a new February record maximum temperature at 18.3C.

Last year, British Gas was called out to fix a record number of boiler breakdowns in the wake of the Beast from the East.

During the Beast from the East last March, temperatures of below -10°C and wind speeds of over 60mph led to the busiest week on record for British Gas, with 104 calls for assistance coming in every second – thirteen times usual call volumes.

On March 2, 2018, British Gas engineers fixed a record 17,000 broken boilers in a single day; this year that figure will be just 5,400.

The company saw calls for assistance come at a rate of 104 calls every second – thirteen times usual call volumes.

Beast From the East

Beast From the East: Now the forecast is sunny and warm for this weekend (Image: MET OFFICE)

Beast From the East

Beast From the East: Temperatures could reach 18C (Image: MET OFFICE)

Now during the first week of March British Gas predicts just 50,000 boiler breakdowns compared with over 145,000 in the same period last year.

British Gas engineer Hannah Hughes told express.co.uk: “Our customers have done a great job this winter of preparing their homes to withstand the weather – but that shouldn’t stop just because it’s getting milder outside.

“It’s essential to keep your heating and hot water systems in good shape all year round so that your house stays safe and warm when it matters most.

“No one expected the arctic temperatures and heavy snowfall we had going into March last year, so there’s always a chance we could be caught by surprise once more!”