GET your woolies at the ready. It's going to get cold out there!

Huddersfield meteorologist Paul Stevens has confirmed national forecasts that we're in for a cold snap.

And although he is keen to point out that October is early for winter predictions Mr Stevens thinks Huddersfield could be in for its first "real winter" for many years.

Weather experts from all over the country, including the Met Office, have warned that the cold weather is heading for Britain and could bring snow.

A white Christmas could be a likely bet, with heavy snowfalls expected in mid December.

And if current weather systems stay in place youngsters could be making an early start with the sledges as snow could fall as early as this week over the hills.

"If the polar jet stream remains in the same place as it is right now expect lots of bitter cold weather and snow," said Mr Stevens.

"We have a large Greenland high pressure zone pushing low pressures south, bringing cold winds.

"Also, don't be surprised if this week we see some sleet and snow over the Pennines very early in the season," he said.

Mr Stevens, of Salendine Nook, said the rest of this month could be bitterly cold.

November looks likely to be mostly settled with foggy mornings. But there could be more snow later on in the month.

Higher parts of the areas, for example Holme Moss could see significant falls.

December will initially be mild but much colder mid- month, with the risk of heavy snowfall which could lead to a white Christmas.

The new year could have a stormy wet start, then become bitterly cold with snow showers mid-month.

Bitter easterly winds will bring a fair few snow showers to Huddersfield.

As air from this direction is very cold the snow will be powdery and dry, so people should expect some drifting.

RECORDS show October to be a month of extremes.

* 1903: Very wet, with more than 400mm (16in) of rain in parts of the country

* 1913: Very warm, but stormy, including a tornado that claimed six lives along the west coast

* 1913 to 1919: Cold, with temperatures averaging just 7.4°C (44°F)

* 1921: A heatwave in some parts, with temperatures up to 28.9°C (84°F)

* 1974: Snowfalls in Essex hit the headlines

* 1975: Huddersfield in the spotlight as temperatures reached 20°C (68°F) on the 28th

* 2000: Second wettest October for a century, with rain and snow in Yorkshire.