Britain is preparing for a significant weather event as forecasters predict a colossal winter storm, spanning an impressive 650 miles, will hit the country in a matter of weeks.
Storm Timeline and Path
According to data from WXCharts, the intense 24-hour weather system is scheduled to make landfall on Tuesday, December 9. The storm is projected to blanket the entire nation, stretching from the northernmost tip of Scotland all the way down to England's southern coast.
On Tuesday afternoon, the initial band of precipitation will begin, delivering 5mm per hour of both rainfall and snowfall. This will first impact the Perth and Kinross area in Scotland before tracking down the UK's west coast.
Peak Intensity and Met Office Outlook
The system is forecast to rapidly intensify as it progresses. By the evening of December 9, rainfall rates in Scotland are expected to accelerate to a substantial 30mm per hour as the storm moves across the country's eastern coastline.
The Met Office's long-range forecast for the period covering December 1 to December 10 supports this prediction. It states: "The greatest chance of snow will probably be over northern high ground." The forecast also warns that "strong winds are likely at times" due to the dominance of low pressure.
Context and Recent Weather
This major storm follows an unseasonably cold November, where temperatures plummeted to as low as -12C. That earlier cold snap brought widespread snow, leading to school closures and causing significant disruption on major roads and rail networks across the UK.
The impending December storm is expected to slowly decrease in intensity throughout Wednesday, December 10, but not before delivering a potent blast of winter weather to the British Isles.
