A powerful snowfall event, dubbed the UK snow bomb, is poised to impact the country on January 28, bringing not only heavy snow but also two rare and hazardous weather phenomena: freezing rain and ice pellets.
WX Charts, utilizing data from the Met Desk, reveals Britain transforming into a snowy landscape on that day. The maps highlight areas in northern Scotland where freezing rain, shown in shades of orange, is expected to develop. This freezing rain will then shift east and west across Scotland throughout the day, with a further patch forecasted for Yorkshire overnight.
In addition to freezing rain, the northern parts of Scotland will experience ice pellets, indicated by green on the weather maps. By midday, this phenomenon will expand to central Scotland before fading by night.
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The Met Office offers an explanation: ice pellets form when snowflakes partially melt as they descend, then pass through sub-freezing air where they refreeze into small, grain-like particles. Sometimes, snowflakes become encased in a thin layer of ice. Ice pellets are typically smaller than hailstones and have a distinctive bounce upon hitting the ground. While usually short-lived, these showers can accumulate a dense, compact layer similar to snow.
Freezing rain, on the other hand, is a rare type of liquid precipitation that freezes instantly upon contact with cold surfaces. The specific conditions required for freezing rain make it an uncommon occurrence in the UK. When it happens, the rain spreads out momentarily across surfaces before freezing, forming a clear, icy glaze that poses significant hazards.
Looking ahead to the immediate weather, the BBC Weather forecast for the weekend of January 17-18 predicts overcast skies with occasional heavy rain moving northward on Sunday. Monday will remain cloudy with light rain for most areas, while southeastern regions may experience sharp showers. By Tuesday, a windy day with a band of heavy rain is expected to hit western parts of the country.
Residents should prepare for potentially dangerous travel conditions next week as the UK snow bomb unleashes rare wintry weather across Britain.