Prolonged cold about to begin - Snow, Ice and Frost

darkman2

As Winter begins it picks up on where last Winter left off only this time the synoptics are even more impressive. A very early cold period is about to begin. Initially the frost and icy patches will be an issue - but later in the period through next week showers will be turning distinctly wintry with hail and sleet and also snow on high ground. This snow should reach low levels with the North and East most at risk later in the week toward the weekend. This is a very unusual pattern coming mostly from Scandinavia. Expect ground temperatures to drop significantly (this will have an impact further into Winter in terms of potential daytime ice and semi perma frost - both becoming more likely as soil temperatures drop - this will also have a marked effect on sea suface temperatures - expect those to plummet esspecially in the Irish sea where they are currently at the dizzy heights of double figures at times, that's going to change). ATM it's still an evolving situation and changes can't be ruled out but the model concensus is robust - very unusual coldness for the time of year is pretty much certain at this stage after a few days of speculation. If this was the middle of winter we would probrably have another "national emergency". But it's not. Expect winds to veer between Northerly and Easterly for the forseeable future. High ground always favoured for snow as usual. Things are about to get interesting!;)