The Met Office has explained how long the spell of warm weather will last after freezing weather gripped the region for the past week.

Bitterly cold temperatures have seen blankets of snow and ice across the North East for more than a week until today (Monday December 19).

Temperatures were significantly higher on Monday morning, reaching 10C having been hovering around 0C for the past week.

Read more: Pictures as Sedgefield Young Farmers' Santa Tractor Run returns for 2022

The forecaster has issued an update on how long the new warm weather is expected to last.

It will be significantly milder than recent days across the North East, starting windy and cloudy with further outbreaks of rain spreading northeast. It will turn drier later in the day with winds easing a little.

Tonight most areas will be dry, with some clear spells likely with frost returning. Thickening cloud bringing rain from the southwest to southern areas late in the night.

Tuesday will be bright and cooler with some sunny spells once any early rain has cleared eastwards.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “Monday night into Tuesday, for most it’s going to be a lot milder than it has been of late but we could still see a touch of frost particularly in parts of Scotland.

“And then Tuesday, I think it’s going to be a little bit colder again compared to Monday. So the really mild day, Monday, is a flash in the pan if you will.

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here 

“I think we’re still looking at highs of 12C perhaps 13C towards the south coast but away from that as you head to more central parts and further north we’re going to be in mid to high single figures at best, so quite a drop compared to Monday.

“The cold period lasted so long and was so extreme, that’s come to an end.

“But I think it’s fair to say the really mild weather we’ve got through tonight and into tomorrow is going to be very short-lived.”

Here’s the hour-by-hour forecast for today, according to the Met Office:

  • 12pm – 12C, cloudy, feels like 10C
  • 1pm – 13C, overcast, feels like 10C
  • 2pm – 12C, heavy rain, feels like 9C
  • 3pm – 13C, sunny, feels like 9C
  • 4pm – 13C, sunny, feels like 10C
  • 5pm – 12C, sunny spells, feels like 8C
  • 6pm – 11C, cloudy, feels like 7C
  • 7pm – 9C, cloudy, feels like 6C
  • 8pm – 8C, sunny spells, feels like 6C
  • 9pm – 8C, sunny, feels like 5C
  • 10pm – 8C, feels like 5C
  • 11pm – 8C, feels like 5C

Read next:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here