This is why some weather forecasters think Sheffield could be set for its coldest and snowiest winter in 10 years

Some long range computer models are showing that this coming winter could be as bad, or even worse than the winter of 2010/11 when record breaking levels of snow were dumped on Sheffield.

Last winter was the coldest winter since then with the Beast from the East bringing heavy snowfall to Sheffield on a number of occasions between the end of February and the beginning of April.

By contrast, the summer just gone was the hottest on record in the UK, with Sheffield basking in weeks of hot and sunny weather during June and July in particular.

James Madden, from Exacta Weather, said the country could see some significant snowfall in the run up to Christmas this year.

He said: "All our long-range projections have been showing for quite some time that December is likely to be a colder than average month overall and we are expecting several widespread snowy periods.

'This year we are expecting potentially hazardous winter conditions from early on in the season.'

However, the Met Office says there are few signs of the weather turning significantly colder in the coming weeks.

Helen Roberts of the Met Office said: 'Overall, the probability that the UK-average temperature for September-October-November will fall into the coldest of our five categories is around 5 per cent, and the probability that it will fall into the warmest of our five categories is around 40 per cent.'

'We can also expect below-average precipitation in the period up to December, predicted by the UK's official forecasters as falling into the driest of our five categories, with 20 per cent likelihood - and slightly less likely to be wetter than average.

'Forecasts show it more likely than not that there will be a weak-ish El Nino by the end of the year, though there are currently no signs of ocean warming. But it's one to keep an eye on.'