Net-Weather Weather Alert - Issued on 22/11/2005 22:48

[Netweather forecasts]

Gales and Snow

Valid Period: 22/11/2005 22:45 to 26/11/2005 12:00

Valid For: Scotland, Northern Ireland, North England, Wales, Midlands, East Anglia, South England

Category: 2

Weather: Onset of Arctic weather - Gales and Snow

Locations: see text


Onset of Arctic winds - warning of gales and snow

Valid from 0900z Thursday until 12z Saturday, initially.
This Alert is certain to be both amended and extended.

Situation
Deep and very cold arctic air will sweep south behind a developing depression during Thursday. This low will track into the southern North Sea by Saturday with strong to gale force north or north westerly winds behind it and snow for much of the high ground and some low ground.

Winds
These will increase to just about our Alert limits in northern areas from Thursday on, 35-45mph with gusts 50-60mph around all our northern coasts and over some inland hills. These conditions will extend down both the west and east coasts as the low tracks south. However, it does appear that it’s the west that will see the strongest winds, during late Friday, possibly 10-15mph higher than just quoted in the worst case. Inland winds, away from the higher hills will pick up to 20-25mph with gusts 30-40mph, possibly higher in some exposed places.

Snow
By Thursday afternoon rain will be turning readily to snow over most of the high ground in Scotland and then Northern Ireland. Ground above 2,000ft initially but by the end of the day down to about 1,000ft with some wet snow at lower levels.
During Thursday evening and overnight into Friday snow is likely over many hilly areas of England and Wales, later down to about 1,500ft, possibly 1,000ft. Again into Saturday some wet snow is likely at times on lower ground in the more northern parts of England and Wales, possibly rather further south.
Over the high ground of the northern areas, blizzard like conditions are possible for a time. However, snow totals seem unlikely to be high; perhaps 10cm on the higher hills and 1-3cm on lower hills (heights as mentioned above). By Saturday most of any precipitation will be in the form of showers and they are likely to be largely confined to coasts and hills exposed to the wind from the north west or north.

This Alert will be amended as the Net Weather team feel appropriate and in any case a new Alert will be issued during Thursday.


Issued by: John Holmes for Net Weather forecast team

Confidence: 80%%


Read full alert here