Weather maps have turned bright orange as they show the rare freezing rain event could strike near the English-Welsh border on December 30
An extremely uncommon weather phenomenon is set to strike the UK within days, ushering in further wintry conditions before the year concludes. The most recent meteorological charts from WXCharts have shifted bright orange, signalling the likelihood of extraordinary conditions battering the nation.
Based on the weather forecasts, multiple regions across the country will encounter Freezing Rain, an exceptionally rare meteorological occurrence that’s predominantly seen in America rather than Britain. This weather event is predicted to affect the nation on December 30, according to the charts, but what makes it particularly unusual is its appearance across southern England.
The maps reveal that the freezing precipitation will descend near the English-Welsh boundary in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Freezing rain represents an uncommon weather occurrence where liquid precipitation contacts frigid surfaces and instantly solidifies.
The Met Office clarified: “The conditions needed for freezing rain are quite specific and we don’t see this phenomenon very often in the UK.
“It can produce striking effects, as the rain drop spreads out momentarily across the surface before it freezes, encasing the surface in a layer of clear ice.”
It starts as snow, ice, sleet, or hail high up in the atmosphere, but during its descent it travels through a warmer air layer above 0C, transforming into liquid droplets, reports the Express.
Just before hitting the ground, these droplets pass through a thin layer of sub-zero air, becoming supercooled. Upon contact with surfaces at or below freezing point, they immediately freeze, forming a sleek, icy coating.
The Met Office explained: “Freezing rain is more common in other parts of the world, for example in the USA, where weather systems produce a lot of freezing rain. These are called ice storms, and if enough glaze collects on trees or power lines, the weight of the ice can cause them to break and can result in disruption on a large scale.”
The Met Office’s extended weather outlook between December 23 and January 1 states: “A gradual transition to more settled conditions is expected, as high pressure builds to the north of the UK and low pressure eases away to the south.
“This will bring a strengthening easterly wind over the Christmas period, making it feel noticeably colder than of late. Whilst there will be a fair amount of dry weather, a few showers will still be possible, particularly across eastern and southern parts which may be wintry in places, more especially over high ground.
“Temperatures will likely trend below average with the potential for frost, especially in the north where winds will be lighter. Towards New Year, high pressure may become centred more towards the west of the UK, allowing a greater chance of some wet weather to spread into parts of the UK.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.