This Sunday, February 15, three regions in the UK—Inverness, Wales, and Lincolnshire—are bracing for a rare and potentially hazardous weather phenomenon: freezing rain. WX Charts, utilizing Met Desk data, has predicted this unusual event amid temperatures dropping to as low as -8°C.
Freezing rain occurs when raindrops pass through a layer of cold air, becoming supercooled—liquid water below freezing temperature. Upon touching surfaces that are at or below zero, these droplets instantly freeze, coating everything in a slick glaze of ice. This creates beautiful yet dangerous ice formations on leaves, car mirrors, roads, and aircraft surfaces.
The Met Office warns that freezing rain is rare in the UK and can pose significant safety risks, especially for air travel and road conditions.
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BBC Weather forecasts for the weekend indicate that overnight rain and snow will clear eastwards on Sunday, leaving bright spells and occasional showers. Monday will see similar conditions, with showers becoming mostly confined to northern regions and turning to snow at all levels. Despite gusty winds throughout the weekend, Tuesday is expected to bring settled and brighter weather, though clouds and rain may approach from the southwest by evening.
Meteorologist Nick Finnis from Netweather TV explains that colder air is advancing across Scotland and northern England, causing precipitation from the North Sea to fall as snow and sleet inland. Snow will accumulate over higher ground, while southern coastal areas may see rain.
Looking ahead, a low-pressure system near Ireland is expected to bring more rain to England and Wales by the end of the week, as it draws cold air from Norway before moving southeast.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to prepare for slippery surfaces and take extra caution during travel on Sunday.