UK Weather: Beast from the East' to bring unusual cold snap, disruptive ...

Beast from the East' to bring unusual cold snap, disruptive snow to UK next week

(By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. February 23, 2018, 10:39:54 AM EST) accuweather.com

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The "Beast from the East" will bring not only unusual late-February cold to the United Kingdom next week but also several opportunities for disruptive snow.

The "Beast from the East" refers to a strong area of high pressure that sets up over Scandinavia and pulls frigid air from Siberia to Europe and the U.K.

Temperatures will fall gradually this Sunday into Monday as the frigid air plunges in. That will set the stage for temperatures to be held generally 4-8 degrees Celsius (7-14 degrees Fahrenheit) below normal through most of the upcoming week.

Highs on Monday will range from 2-4 C (36-40 F) across the U.K. However, temperatures in some communities of England and Wales will stop short of reaching 2 C (36 F).

With the frigid air in control, highs will be within a degree or so of the freezing mark at midweek.

A chilly breeze will create even lower AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures on most days.

Widespread air frost will have a firm grip on the British Isles at night. While nighttime temperatures may drop to around freezing at the immediate coast early in the week, lows well below that mark are expected by midweek.

Lows at midweek may bottom out between 7 below zero and 3 below zero C (19-26 F) in most communities. The homeless should be urged to head to warming centers, while care should be taken to ensure livestock have proper shelter.

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Residents will also notice an increase in heating costs to combat the cold.

"On average, you get a ‘Beast from the East’ that impacts the U.K. twice a year. However, what makes this situation unusual is the intensity of the cold air for this time of year that is getting pulled down from Siberia," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

The impending frigid air will have residents questioning if the calendar has been turned back to December. Across Wales and England, such prolonged cold in February has not been experienced since early February 2012.

With the cold air in place, there will be several opportunities for snow to fall across the U.K.

"Sea-effect snow will stream from east to west over the U.K. Monday into Thursday," Roys said.

The snow will be most prevalent along the east coast of Scotland and England, where there can be pockets of 2-8 cm (1-3 inches) daily. Heavier squalls may also occur, dramatically reducing visibility and causing snow to rapidly settle on roads.

"Possible impacts include snow-covered roads and transportation delays," Roys said.

More significant disruptions to travel and daily routines may unfold on Monday night and Tuesday if a band of heavier snow sweeps in from the North Sea.

Latest projections put areas from southeastern Scotland to the East Midlands at greatest risk for this snow, which can settle 8-15 cm (3-6 inches) in 12 hours or less.

Travel may become difficult on a stretch of Motorway A1. Air and rail travel may have some cancellations. Schools could be delayed or closed.

Snow showers and flurries may occasionally sweep across the rest of the U.K. next week, coating the ground and roads.

"The bitter cold can allow snow to accumulate on any surfaces," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Eric Leister said.

AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to monitor the potential for other incidents of more substantial snowfall across the U.K. as the cold air hangs on later next week.

Looking ahead to March, the AccuWeather long-range forecasters anticipates lingering chill to delay the onset of spring. However, a turn to milder-than-normal conditions are expected.