Forecasters warn of possible ‘Beast of the East’ storm as freezing fog and -3C temperatures hit UK

Forecasters are warning of a weather event that could lead to harsh winter weather, similar to the ‘Beast from the East’ storm that hit the UK with 22 inches of snow in 2018.

There is an 80 percent chance that a Sudden Stratospheric Warming event — which could bring extreme weather events — will occur by the end of the month, the Met Office warned.

The long-term forecast comes as more than a dozen flights at London City Airport have been canceled today due to widespread freezing fog.

Much of southern England has been placed under a yellow weather warning due to poor conditions, which have caused poor visibility across the area. The temperature is expected to reach about -3°C.

The north will experience ‘very windy’ conditions today as a swath of heavy rain moves through Scotland and Northern Ireland and turns to snow in the Highlands.

The temperature is expected to rise to -3°C today. Pictured: Cars drive through icy fog in central London today

A yellow weather warning is in effect this morning because the fog has limited visibility to 50 to 100 meters in some places. Pictured: Fog in Woodford Green early this morning

The long-term forecast comes as much of southern England has been placed under a yellow weather warning today due to widespread freezing fog. The temperature is expected to reach about -3°C

It’s a cold and icy start to the day in the south of Britain with mist and fog slowly lifting before revealing extended spells of winter sunshine.

A yellow weather warning is in effect this morning because the fog has limited visibility to 50 to 100 meters in some places.

The Met Office warned that some travel disruption is likely, due to slower travel and delays on buses and trains.

Many flights have been canceled or delayed due to the ‘current adverse weather conditions’. London City Airport has warned travelers to check the status of their flights before showing up at the airport.

Great Britain will see a mostly dry evening with clear spells tonight, but clouds will form from the north and it will rain from the northwest.

A band of clouds and rain moves southeast at night, but then becomes progressively lighter and patchier. Meteorologists predict there will be clear spells and showers in northern Scotland by morning.

Tomorrow it will be cooler with clear spells from the south to reveal sunny spells and variable cloud cover. It will be windy across Scotland with a threat of showers and a wintry mix.

Rain will break out in northern and western Scotland on Friday, which can be heavy at first. Further south it will become drier and clearer.

The Met Office also predicts there will be Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) later this month, which could result in bad weather similar to the famous “Beast from the East” storm.

Meteorologists say there’s an 80 percent chance of a ZZW event happening in late February, but they’re not sure if it will cause extreme conditions.

The north will experience ‘very windy’ conditions today as a swath of heavy rain moves through Scotland and Northern Ireland and turns to snow in the Highlands. Pictured: People climb the windy path to St Michael’s Tower at the top of Glastonbury

Cyclists brave freezing fog in Richmond Park, southwest London, this morning as the Met Office issues yellow weather warnings for ice and fog

London City Airport has warned travelers to check the status of their flights before showing up at the airport today

SZW events cause the jet stream to ‘meander’ more, which forecasters say could create a ‘large area of ​​blocking high pressure’ over Europe and the UK, making mild, wet and windy conditions more ‘likely’.

But a ZZW does not always bring winter weather. Conditions can also be benign.

“There is now more than an 80 percent chance of a major SSW,” Prof Adam Scaife, head of long-term forecasting at the Met Office, said in a blog post yesterday.

“While the impact will become more apparent closer to time, any effect on UK weather is likely to occur in late February and March.”

The so-called ‘Beast of the East’ storm hit the UK in 2018, making it one of the coldest winters on record.

The cold snap was caused by a rise in temperatures high above the North Pole, known by meteorologists as “sudden stratospheric warming.”

The storm wreaked havoc across Britain, producing up to 22 inches of snow in some areas.

Temperatures of -11°C hit parts of the country, the lowest since 1986.

The wind chill, which made parts of the UK feel as cold as minus -15°C, rivaled temperatures in parts of Northern Norway and Iceland.

The cold weather was so severe in the Brecon Beacons that an entire waterfall froze.