The Met Office has issued a rare warning over a weather phenomenon set to be seen in the UK in the days ahead as the temperatures plummet. Forecasters say that a combination of unusually low temperatures from the north and east and wet weather from the Atlantic will mean a higher chance of freezing rain.
Freezing rain turns to ice as soon as it hits a surface, causing a hazard for drivers, plane passengers and pedestrians. The Met Office website says freezing rain can bring down trees and power lines, reports The Mirror.
Alex Burkill, meteorologist with the Met Office, said: “We have something a bit warmer coming in, but underneath it closer to the surface, we have some colder air plunging through, and now that’s important because it brings the risk of some freezing rain… It can cause some very icy conditions and could cause some problems.”
Mr Burkill added: “There is this risk through this weekend and into the beginning of next week of various spells of freezing rain mixed in with some sleet and snow at times as well… Any snow, any freezing rain can cause some issues so we may need to issue some warnings for these nearer the time.”
Icy winds mean parts of the UK will feel as cold as -6C thanks to the wind chill.This isn’t expected to change until the end of next week for most regions, forecasters say.
Freezing rain will impact many regions across northern England, including the Northeast of England. The Met Office says on its website: “The weight of the ice can sometimes be heavy enough to bring down trees and power lines, and the glaze of ice on the ground effectively turns roads and pathways into an ice rink. The freezing rain can also prove extremely hazardous for aircraft.
“Freezing rain is more common in other parts of the world, for example in the USA, where weather systems produce a lot of freezing rain. These are called ice storms, and if enough glaze collects on trees or power lines, the weight of the ice can cause them to break and can result in disruption on a large scale.”