{"id":10822,"date":"2024-12-13T12:50:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T12:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/?p=10822"},"modified":"2024-12-13T12:50:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T12:50:53","slug":"uk-rare-3-day-weather-warning-areas-most-hit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk-rare-3-day-weather-warning-areas-most-hit\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Faces Rare Three-Day Weather Warning: Map Shows Areas Most Affected by Snow and Ice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This December, the UK is gearing up for some major and <strong>unusual weather phenomena<\/strong>. A rare <strong>three-day weather warning<\/strong> has been issued, forecasting a mix of heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds. This comes on the heels of <strong>anticyclonic gloom<\/strong>, a weather phenomenon that brings <strong>cloudy skies<\/strong>, <strong>reduced visibility<\/strong>, and a persistent chill to much of the country.<\/p>\n<h2>Three-Day Weather Warning: Snow, Ice, and Strong Winds Expected<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Met Office<\/strong> has issued a <strong>three-day weather warning<\/strong> for several regions in the UK, from <strong>December 13 to 15<\/strong>, with a focus on <strong>northern<\/strong> and <strong>western<\/strong> areas. The warning is specifically for <strong>snow<\/strong>, <strong>freezing rain<\/strong>, and <strong>strong winds<\/strong>, which will affect regions such as <strong>Scotland<\/strong>, <strong>Northern Ireland<\/strong>, <strong>North West England<\/strong>, and parts of <strong>Wales<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\u26a0\ufe0f Yellow weather warning issued \u26a0\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>Rain across northwest Scotland<\/p>\n<p>Sunday 1800 &#8211; Tuesday 1200<\/p>\n<p>Latest info \ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QwDLMfRBfs\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/t.co\/QwDLMfRBfs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stay <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WeatherAware?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WeatherAware<\/a>\u26a0\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MbkI4p50Nk\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/MbkI4p50Nk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Met Office (@metoffice) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/metoffice\/status\/1867515751210332274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">December 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Snowfall and Ice Accumulation<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Snowfall rates<\/strong>: According to forecast models from <strong>WXCHARTS<\/strong> and the <strong>Met Office<\/strong>, snowfall could accumulate at rates of up to <strong>3 cm per hour<\/strong> in certain regions, particularly in the <strong>North West<\/strong> and <strong>Yorkshire<\/strong>. Snowfall accumulation is expected to be heaviest in <strong>higher elevations<\/strong> and areas prone to colder air, such as <strong>Scotland<\/strong> and the <strong>Pennines<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Freezing Rain<\/strong>: The combination of wet snow and freezing rain is expected to create hazardous conditions, especially in the <strong>Midlands<\/strong> and <strong>South East<\/strong>, where temperatures will hover just below freezing. As a result, <strong>icy conditions<\/strong> could lead to dangerous travel situations on untreated roads and pavements. <strong>Freezing rain<\/strong> forms when <strong>supercooled droplets<\/strong> of water freeze upon contact with surfaces, creating a layer of ice. This can quickly build up and cause significant disruption.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Winds<\/strong>: <strong>Strong winds<\/strong> will accompany the snow, exacerbating the chill and causing <strong>blizzard-like conditions<\/strong> in some areas. Winds are expected to reach <strong>60-70 mph<\/strong> in coastal areas, with gusts even higher in the <strong>North West<\/strong>. The high winds could contribute to <strong>tree falls<\/strong>, power outages, and difficult driving conditions. These strong winds are characteristic of the <strong>polar maritime air mass<\/strong> moving down from the <strong>North Atlantic<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Boxing Day Brings a Wall of Snow Across the UK<\/h2>\n<p>On <strong>Boxing Day<\/strong>, a <strong>wall of snow<\/strong> will likely move across much of the UK, with up to <strong>3cm of snow per hour<\/strong> expected in certain areas, according to the latest forecast from <strong>WXCHARTS<\/strong>. The <strong>North West<\/strong>, <strong>Yorkshire<\/strong>, and <strong>Mid-Wales<\/strong> are expected to bear the brunt of the snowfall, while parts of <strong>London<\/strong> and the <strong>South East<\/strong> may only experience lighter snow, sleet, or rain. <strong>Weather experts<\/strong> warn that the conditions could lead to <strong>disruption<\/strong> for travelers heading into the Christmas weekend.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Paul Gundersen<\/strong>, chief meteorologist at the <strong>Met Office<\/strong>, remarked that the <strong>intensity<\/strong> and <strong>speed<\/strong> of the snow are likely to cause travel headaches in <strong>rural areas<\/strong> where snow accumulation could be faster and heavier. He added that <strong>frost and ice<\/strong> will persist even in regions where snow does not accumulate, especially overnight.<\/p>\n<h3>Weather Patterns and Snow Intensity<\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>wall of snow<\/strong> expected on Boxing Day is the result of an incoming <strong>polar maritime air mass<\/strong>. This weather system is typical of winter storms originating from the <strong>North Atlantic<\/strong> and can cause rapid temperature drops and heavy snowfalls. The <strong>cold front<\/strong> arriving on Boxing Day will trigger <strong>frontogenesis<\/strong>, a process where air converges along a boundary between warm and cold air masses, intensifying upward motion and causing moisture to condense into heavy snow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Southern England<\/strong> will likely experience lighter snow, with a mix of <strong>sleet<\/strong> and <strong>rain<\/strong>. The <strong>South East<\/strong> will be on the <strong>warmer side<\/strong> of the front, where the air is less conducive to snowfall. Temperatures in this region will be around <strong>0\u00b0C to 2\u00b0C<\/strong>, causing <strong>sleet<\/strong> or light <strong>rain<\/strong> rather than heavy snow.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10824\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10824\" style=\"width: 880px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10824 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-snow-storm-could-hit-as-far-south-as-Plymouth-on-Englands-Devon-coast-1.jpg\" alt=\"A Snow Storm Could Hit As Far South As Plymouth On England's Devon Coast\" width=\"890\" height=\"712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-snow-storm-could-hit-as-far-south-as-Plymouth-on-Englands-Devon-coast-1.jpg 890w, https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-snow-storm-could-hit-as-far-south-as-Plymouth-on-Englands-Devon-coast-1-380x304.jpg 380w, https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-snow-storm-could-hit-as-far-south-as-Plymouth-on-Englands-Devon-coast-1-520x416.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10824\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A snowstorm could hit as far as Plymouth, on the Devon coast in southern England (Image: WX Charts).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Anticyclonic Gloom: A Persistent Weather Phenomenon<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Anticyclonic gloom<\/strong> occurs when a <strong>high-pressure system<\/strong> (an <strong>anticyclone<\/strong>) settles over an area, preventing upward motion in the atmosphere and leading to the formation of <strong>stratus clouds<\/strong> or <strong>fog<\/strong>. This weather pattern typically occurs in <strong>winter<\/strong>, when <strong>solar radiation<\/strong> is minimal, and the sun\u2019s rays are too weak to lift the air and dissipate the clouds.<\/p>\n<h3>Mechanism Behind Anticyclonic Gloom<\/h3>\n<p>An <strong>anticyclone<\/strong> is a weather system characterized by <strong>high atmospheric pressure<\/strong>. In such systems, air tends to sink towards the ground, which inhibits the formation of clouds at higher altitudes. As a result, <strong>low-level cloud formation<\/strong> (fog or stratus clouds) becomes dominant. These clouds block sunlight and keep temperatures lower than they would be under a <strong>low-pressure system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>During the winter months, the <strong>sun\u2019s angle is low<\/strong>, which means its rays have to travel through a thicker portion of the atmosphere. As a result, the sun has less power to break up the cloud cover or fog. <strong>Daylight hours<\/strong> are also shorter, which increases the likelihood of persistent gloom.<\/p>\n<p>This type of weather is often associated with poor <strong>air quality<\/strong>, as pollutants such as <strong>nitrogen dioxide (NO2)<\/strong> and <strong>particulate matter<\/strong> become trapped under the dense cloud layer. Cities such as <strong>London<\/strong> and <strong>Birmingham<\/strong> may experience increased levels of <strong>air pollution<\/strong> during periods of <strong>anticyclonic gloom<\/strong>, as the lack of wind prevents the dispersion of these pollutants.<\/p>\n<h2>Impacts and Outlook: What to Expect<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Snow and Ice<\/strong>: The <strong>heavy snow<\/strong> expected in the <strong>North West<\/strong> and <strong>Mid-Wales<\/strong> will cause disruptions, particularly for <strong>road transport<\/strong>. <strong>A roads<\/strong> and <strong>minor routes<\/strong> in areas such as <strong>Yorkshire<\/strong>, <strong>Cumbria<\/strong>, and <strong>Scotland<\/strong> may become <strong>impassable<\/strong>, especially during overnight conditions when temperatures are expected to drop further. Drivers in these areas are urged to carry <strong>winter gear<\/strong>, such as <strong>snow chains<\/strong>, and ensure their vehicles are equipped for snowy conditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Air Travel<\/strong>: <strong>Flight delays<\/strong> are expected, particularly at airports in the <strong>North<\/strong> and <strong>Scotland<\/strong>, where <strong>freezing rain<\/strong> could create hazardous conditions on <strong>runways<\/strong>. <strong>London airports<\/strong>, being on the southern edge of the front, are expected to experience lighter disruptions, but travelers should still anticipate delays and disruptions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Power Outages<\/strong>: In areas affected by <strong>high winds<\/strong> and <strong>heavy snow<\/strong>, power lines could be brought down, leading to <strong>local outages<\/strong> in <strong>rural regions<\/strong>. The <strong>Met Office<\/strong> has warned that these outages could last several hours, particularly in areas where the snow is wet and heavy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Clearing Weather: Low-Pressure Systems and Windy Conditions<\/h3>\n<p>Later in the week, a <strong>low-pressure system<\/strong> will move in from the <strong>Atlantic<\/strong>. This will break up the <strong>high-pressure system<\/strong> and bring rain and stronger winds. The <strong>anticyclonic gloom<\/strong> is expected to clear by <strong>Saturday<\/strong>, with <strong>winds<\/strong> reaching up to <strong>40-60 mph<\/strong> in some areas. These winds are expected to come from the <strong>west<\/strong>, bringing <strong>colder air<\/strong> from the <strong>polar regions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the clearing skies, temperatures will remain below average, especially in the <strong>North<\/strong> and <strong>Midlands<\/strong>, where <strong>frost<\/strong> and <strong>ice<\/strong> will persist. In the <strong>South<\/strong>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/weather\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weather<\/a> will become somewhat milder, with temperatures rising to around <strong>5\u00b0C to 8\u00b0C<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gear up for a <strong>rare three-day weather warning<\/strong> across the UK. Snow, ice and freezing rain will disrupt travel and daily life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":10829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weather","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10822\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}