Britain is on alert for a potential repeat of the infamous 2018 'Beast from the East', with weather models indicating a prolonged period of significant snowfall could strike by the end of January.
Forecasters Warn of Prolonged Snow Event
Senior meteorologist Jim Dale of British Weather Services has outlined a concerning scenario where high pressure over Scandinavia could funnel freezing easterly winds from Poland and Ukraine directly towards the UK. While not yet confirmed, this setup has the potential to develop into a major snowstorm.
Mr Dale stated that the crucial easterly winds are projected to begin around January 21. For the event to escalate into a true 'Beast', these winds need to be sustained and carry the necessary moisture to generate heavy snow, rather than just bringing dry, cold air.
Three Possible Scenarios for Late January
According to the expert, there are currently three possible outcomes. The first is a relatively minor event with cold winds but little snow. The second, and most severe, is a full-blown 'Beast from the East' that becomes entrenched over the country.
"All eastern counties would see snow first of all - Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, etc. - and then it then it extends because it becomes ingrained," Mr Dale explained. An Atlantic low-pressure system could then trap the cold air, leading to a prolonged freeze lasting up to a week-and-a-half, potentially into early February.
The third scenario would see any developing low pressure quickly blown away, resulting in a shorter, less impactful cold snap.
Current Warnings and Recent Disruption
This fresh alert follows a period of severe weather that saw rare Amber warnings issued last week, leading to hundreds of school closures and flight cancellations. The aftermath of Storm Goretti continues, with several flood alerts and warnings still active across the UK.
Currently, the Met Office has a Yellow weather warning for ice in place for western and northern Scotland until Wednesday morning, cautioning that icy surfaces may form where snow has melted or rain has fallen.
In the South East, a major incident was recently declared after approximately 30,000 properties in Kent and Sussex lost water supply due to burst pipes and power cuts, with South East Water apologising for the ongoing outages.
