Weather maps shows parts of the UK hit by rare weather events (Image: WXCharts)
Parts of Britain are likely to be blasted by three as the maps turn orange, green, white and purple at the same time. The unusual suggest that some areas in the UK will witness freezing rain, ice pellets along with some on January 4, making it an extremely rare occurrence.
WXCharts suggest that areas around Fort William in Scotland will be hit by the rare weather phenomenon, as per the maps.
Temperature levels are likely to plunge to freezing -15C in these areas during this period, maps have suggested.
According to the , freezing rain is a rare type of liquid precipitation that strikes a cold surface, and freezes almost instantly.
The conditions needed for freezing rain are quite specific and we don’t see this phenomenon very often in the UK. It can produce striking effects, as the rain drop spreads out momentarily across the surface before it freezes, encasing the surface in a layer of clear ice.
Some areas are likely to experience heavy rain with some ice pellets (Image: WXCharts)
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.
On the other hand, ice pellets are a type of solid precipitation that have a diameter of less than 5mm. They are spherical or irregular and rarely conical.
The forecaster explained that ice pellets form when snowflakes start to melt as they fall from the cloud, then fall through sub-freezing air where they re-freeze into grain-like particles. Sometimes the snow may only partially melt and fall as snow pellets encased in a thin layer of solid ice.
Don’t miss… [REVEAL] [SPOTLIGHT]
Temperature levels will plummet to -10C in some areas, maps suggest. (Image: WXCharts)
The UK weather forecaster, the , doesn’t yet forecast such low temperatures for the beginning of the new year.
The ’s long-range forecast between December 29 and January 7 reads: “After a reasonably benign start with many places dry on Sunday, the UK is expected to see more widespread unsettled and cooler conditions develop in this period.
“Fronts or low-pressure areas are increasingly likely to cross the country, bringing an increased threat of heavy rain.
“As colder air from the north progresses southwards, the risk of sleet and snow increases, especially in northern areas.
“Temperatures will start around average but will become slightly below average for most, though milder interludes are possible in the south.
“While there is moderate confidence in this trend, confidence is low for the exact positioning of any systems, which will be crucial in determining which areas see rain or snow.”