WE had blue skies and warm sunshine - along with floodwater lapping the riverbanks, and the coldest winter since 1963 expected.

Just what is going on with the weather?

York basked in glorious sunshine yesterday, as thermometers reached 20C (68F).

But heavy rainfall earlier in the week saw the banks of the River Ouse break for the first time this autumn - and the rains came again today.

The Environment Agency was keeping a close eye on the conditions, as the entire Vale of York was on a low level Flood Watch, while the River Ouse at Naburn was on a more serious Flood Warning.

The crazy weather conditions are set continue, as forecasters predict that the winter will be the coldest since the devastating snows of 1963.

It is feared that dwindling gas stocks could lead to factory shutdowns and a return to the three-day week.

Meteorologist Rachel Vince, of the PA Weather Centre, said the heatwave in York and across other parts of the country was caused by southerly winds bringing warm air up from Portugal and Spain.

Although the temperature was a record breaker, the weather conditions which caused it were not so unusual. "It sometimes happens that we have an Indian summer, and this is an even later one," she said.

"But make the most of it, as there will be rain by the weekend."

York sun-seekers took the opportunity to don sunglasses and T-shirts and soak up the rays yetserday.

Judges Lodgings, in Lendal, still had chairs and tables out on its rooftop terrace to allow drinkers to enjoy the warm conditions.

Jo Wright, 21, from Strensall, restaurant supervisor, said: "I think global warming has something to do with these conditions."

Pete Smith, 49, from Holgate, York, said:

"This weather is bizarre and really unpredictable."

Carolyn Pawlikow, who runs Scoops ice cream shop in Coppergate, York, said: "We're selling more ice creams than coffees at the moment."

Updated: 09:58 Friday, October 28, 2005