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UK Braces for Rare Freezing Rain Event
19 Dec
Summary
- Freezing rain is expected along the English-Welsh border on December 30.
- The phenomenon involves supercooled rain freezing instantly on cold surfaces.
- Freezing rain can cause power outages and hazardous road conditions.
A rare weather event is anticipated across parts of the UK in the coming days, with WXCharts predicting freezing rain on the morning of December 30. This phenomenon is expected to primarily impact areas along the English-Welsh border, including Herefordshire and Shropshire. Freezing rain occurs when liquid precipitation, formed from melted snow high in the atmosphere, becomes supercooled and freezes instantly upon contact with surfaces that are at or below freezing point.
The Met Office notes that freezing rain is more common in countries like the USA, where it can cause widespread disruption known as ice storms. The weight of accumulated ice can bring down power lines and trees. In the UK, the conditions required for this event are specific, making it an infrequent occurrence. The resulting clear ice coating can create striking visual effects but also leads to extremely slippery conditions on roads and runways.
The national weather service's long-range forecast indicates a general trend towards more settled conditions with building high pressure. However, this may bring colder temperatures and a strengthening easterly wind. While dry weather is expected, wintry showers are possible, especially in eastern and southern parts, with frost potential. Towards New Year's, a shift in high pressure could allow for increased chances of wet weather spreading into the UK.
