TRAFFORD’S very own amateur weather expert has predicted a mild January with a return to the cold in February.

Meteorological marvel Harry Kershaw, from Brooklands, explained the coming month could be the fifth most temperate in a century but that snow and frost would soon follow.

Harry (pictured) said: “I have observed weather conditions from July to November this year and saw they closely resembled the same months in 1962 - pointing to a winter like that of 1963.”

That winter was also referred to as ‘The Big Freeze of 1963’ and was one of the coldest on record in Great Britain.

Harry added: “However, from the last days of November 2008, the weather has changed with December 2008 being very similar to December 1982. I therefore submit a winter forecast based on the weather for winter 1982 to 1983, which was cool.

“I expect it to be rather a long, changeable winter, with some snow showers, possibly as late as April 18.”

But the Met Office’s winter forecast differed, placing January’s temperatures at below the norm and creeping closer to the average the following month: “UK mean temperatures are likely to be below average in January and nearer average in February.

“Rainfall for the remainder of winter is more likely to be average, or below average over much of Europe, including the UK. However, above average precipitation is favoured over parts of south-eastern Europe.”

January - Generally very mild and windy. It could be the fifth mildest January in 100 years. Others include 1916, 1921, 1975, 1983.

1 Wet, gale force west winds 2 - 12 Wet and windy, gales 10 and 11 Gales 13 - 14 Colder, north winds and snow showers 15 - 19 Less windy, fine and frosty 20 - 24 Winds increasing, wet and milder 25 - 26 Colder, snow showers 27 - 28 Milder, wet, north west gales 29 - 30 Less windy, cold and snow showers 31 North winds and snow February - Generally cold and snowy. Milder during the last few days 1 - 5 Cold, snowy and frosty 6 - 10 Cold and widespread snow 11 to 19 Fine but cold and frosty 20 to 23 Less frosty with mist and fog 24 - 28 Milder, rain and showers March - Generally mild to March 18, cooler with snow to end of month 1 Showery 2 - 7 Dry and mild 8 - 18 Rain and mild (temperature 17 degrees celsius about March 15) 19 - 21 Change to cooler and snow showers 22 - 23 Sleet and thunder 24 - 31 Mostly cool, wet and windy. One fine day about March 26 April - Generally cool, dull and wet. Short warm spell April 12 to 15 1 - 7 Snow and hail showers, frost at night 8 - 11 Milder, wet and windy 12 - 15 Fine and mild. Temperature 18 degrees celsius 16 - 18 Colder and change to wintry showers 19 - 25 Milder with rain and thunder storms 26 - 30 Mild and wet