A rare weather phenomenon is expected to impact the United Kingdom in the upcoming days, as current weather maps display vibrant orange colors.
According to WXCharts using MetDesk data, freezing rain is forecasted to occur in various regions of the country on December 30. The occurrence is anticipated along the border between England and Wales in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Freezing rain is a hazardous event where liquid precipitation freezes rapidly upon contact with cold surfaces, posing risks such as downed power lines, fallen trees, and icy roads and runways.
The Met Office noted that while freezing rain is more common in other parts of the world like the USA, where it can lead to ice storms causing significant disruptions, its occurrence in the UK is less frequent. The process begins with precipitation forming as snow, ice, sleet, or hail high in the atmosphere. As it descends through a warmer air layer and then encounters sub-zero air close to the ground, the droplets supercool and solidify upon contact, creating a layer of clear ice.
Describing the unique nature of freezing rain, the Met Office mentioned that the raindrop spreads out briefly before freezing, creating a captivating effect as it encases surfaces in a clear ice layer. The long-range forecast from the national weather service indicates a transition to more settled conditions from December 23 to January 1, with high pressure building to the north and low pressure moving away to the south. This shift is expected to bring colder temperatures, especially over high ground, with a possibility of wintry showers in eastern and southern regions.
As temperatures are projected to trend below average, frost may occur, particularly in the north where winds are lighter. Towards the New Year, there is a likelihood of wet weather spreading into parts of the UK as high pressure potentially shifts towards the west of the country.