What is causing A SEVERE COLD IN EUROPE?

ATTACHMENTS-

TOP IMAGE- HIGHWAY SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE COVERED WITH INTENSE SNOW COVER

SECOND IMAGE- THE 00UTC,DEC 1 SURFACE AIR PLOT.HIGH PRESSURE IS THE 1037MB OVER BALTIC AND MULTIPLE LOW PRESSURE SETUP IN SOUTH. COLD FRONT ALSO SWEEPED ACROSS MUCH OF EUROPE DROPPING DOWN TEMPERATURE ALSO

METD WEATHER

Akshay Deoras

Severe weather Forecaster

Intense bulk of cool air has gripped Europe causing very very heavy snowfall, extreme low

temperatures, strong winds ( Typical Blizzard conditions) in most of the Europe including UK

Extreme low temperatures were recorded in Scotland,Poland,UK and in Trondheim,Norway ( after 222 years almost!!)

Temperature of -21C was recorded in Poland. Rest of the Europe continues to shiver with day time temperatures in negative range with INTENSE WINDCHILL

( SEE THE LEFT IMAGE- WINDCHILL MAP OF 12AM UTC,2ND DEC 2010)

Airports like Gatwick airport and Edinburg airport,Geneva International Airport were closed as the runway was covered with snow. Delays in flight schedule were there in Frankfurt,Zurich ,UK's Glasgow airport also! Around one third of total rail network in UK came faced cancellations and delays. Official reports indicate more than 10 cm now in parts of southeast England, locally more, with between 20 and 30, locally 45 cm in parts of North Lincolnshire.

The Reason for such intense conditions in Europe!

During the month of November, Europe receives winds from West which

bring mild winters in this period. In last week of November, an active High pressure area (1030mb) got formed over Baltic states. This happens during the winters and had happened last year.. Multiple low pressure systems were created in Southern and South Eastern Europe. As Winds blow from high pressure area to low pressure area,westerly winds have turned to North-westerly winds and have brought cool arctic air over mainland of Europe. As seen from this attached Surface plot and the jet streams, jets have been blocked due to high pressure. They are now moving through the southern areas carrying moisture from Atlantic and Cool arctic air from the north.

(RIGHT- THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWING JET STREAM BLOCKED BY HIGH PRESSURE. NOTE THE STRONG 140MPH JET BLOWING THROUGH SOUTHERN STATES CARRYING COOL AIR FROM NORTH

SECOND IMAGE-

COURTESY- ACCUWEATHER.COM

A BETTER GRAPHICAL IMAGE DEPICTING THE TEXT I WROTE ABOVE)

Such severe condition is now in final stage. Normal conditions are expected in Europe from Friday onwards... Sunshine again will be there in many areas as the winds return back in westerly track! WEEKEND SNOWFALL EXPECTED IN SOME AREAS IN EUROPE

FOR DAILY WEATHER, visit Europe Meteorological Dept websites.