Britain is bracing for a potential repeat of the infamous 'Beast from the East' as forecasters warn the same weather phenomenon that caused the 2018 deep freeze could be just days away.
This alert comes as the Met Office has issued a series of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across the nation, effective from today until Thursday. An even more severe amber snow warning is active for parts of Yorkshire and the North East on Thursday, where some areas could see accumulations of up to 25cm (10 inches).
When Could the 'Beast from the East' Return?
The looming threat stems from a potential sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event. Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon confirmed that signals indicate this event could occur near the end of November, which he described as being "very early in the season."
Echoing this timeline, Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis suggested the event could happen around November 25 and 26. He explained it would be triggered by a significant warming from the Canadian side of the polar region, displacing the polar vortex towards northern Russia and north-east Europe.
What Impact Will This Weather Event Have?
While the 2018 SSW event led to a historic cold snap that dumped up to 20 inches of snow in some parts of the UK, officials are cautious about making direct comparisons this early.
"It's too early to be definitive about precise impacts on the UK at this stage," stated Dixon, tempering immediate expectations of a repeat blizzard.
Finnis offered a similar perspective, indicating that the UK may see an "increased chance of further bouts of colder and perhaps wintry conditions" from late November through December if the SSW takes place. However, he crucially added the caveat that "there are no guarantees of colder weather because of a SSW."
Understanding Sudden Stratospheric Warming
So, what exactly is this complex-sounding phenomenon? The Met Office explains that SSW refers to a rapid warming – as much as 50°C in just a couple of days – in the stratosphere, high above the Earth's surface.
This dramatic temperature shift disrupts the polar vortex, which can in turn cause cold Arctic air to rush southwards. It often alters the jet stream, creating blocking weather patterns that can lock cold and snowy conditions over the UK for an extended period, much like the sustained freeze experienced in 2018.
