UK Braces for Rare Freezing Rain Event

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.