We have a nice twin REX and OMEGA blocking teleconnection in place and developing. One block with low underneath is over the N Pacific and the other over the NE Atlantic extending into the UK with two very cold air masses diving into Western North America and the other, Eastern Europe.

Current rex block over both NW NAMER and NE ATL/W EUR.

Current North America/Europe temps.

The twin rex/omega blocks mean cold continues for both continents.

The cold intensifies over both continents as this week progresses, particularly for the Northwest US and Eastern and Southern Europe this weekend.

The next 7 days shall be the coldest of winter thus far for central/eastern and southern Europe with unusual cold and possibly snow reaching the Med coast.

Like in Jan/Feb 2012, while Europe shivered, the UK largely missed out due to the blocking high’s ‘too close’ position. This week’s setup is very similar.

Europe cold to eventually reach UK Towards mid-Jan?

The good news is it looks like this building cold tongue does manage to make it into the Western end of the continent as we head towards Jan 10-15 as the models show a Scandinavian blocking high developing.

2m temp anomaly

Watch this morning’s video.