Britons are bracing for more snowfall and a rare, potentially hazardous weather event this weekend. The Met Office has issued weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK, with temperatures expected to plummet to -12C in certain areas.
The national weather agency has cautioned about the likelihood of power outages, slip-and-fall injuries, and communities being isolated. Adding to the concerns, a weather phenomenon described as “extremely hazardous” by the Met Office is anticipated to affect the UK in the coming days.
According to the GFS weather model, freezing rain, depicted in orange on maps, is forecasted to hit northern regions of England, including the Peak District, Greater Manchester, and parts of Yorkshire, around 6pm on Saturday. Concurrently, snowfall, shown in white, is expected in eastern and northern England, as well as in Scotland.
By midnight on Saturday, extensive areas of orange indicating freezing rain are projected to fall over southern Scotland, with potential impact on the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. Subsequently, freezing rain is forecasted to intensify in Scotland around 3am on Sunday, notably in Glasgow, accompanied by additional snowfall in northern Scotland.
Freezing rain, a rare form of liquid precipitation that freezes instantly upon contact with a cold surface, is a phenomenon that occurs under specific conditions not commonly observed in the UK. It forms when snow melts into rain in warm air, then refreezes upon encountering colder air, creating supercooled droplets that freeze upon contact with sub-zero surfaces, forming a layer of clear ice.
The National Weather Service in the United States highlights the risk freezing rain poses to elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses, emphasizing the potential for ice accumulation on structures and vegetation, leading to breakages and power outages.
The Met Office underscores the extreme hazards freezing rain presents to aviation and infrastructure, with the weight of ice endangering trees, power lines, and transforming surfaces into hazardous icy conditions.