There is speculation that a severe weather event could be hitting Ireland and the UK later this month.
The UK Met Office is reporting an 80% chance of a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event occurring at the end of February or March.
The impact of such an event is variable, forecasters say. In 2018, however, the SSW brought the ‘Beast from the East’ to Ireland and the UK, causing major disruption in many parts due to snow.
The UK Met Office has stressed that the occurrence of an SSW does not always equate to a Beast from the East type scenario. Prof Adam Scaife, Head of Long-Range Forecasting, said: “Although the impact will become clearer nearer the time, any effect on UK weather is most likely to occur in late February and March.”
The UK’s current extended range forecast for mid-February suggests that the most likely scenario is for broadly changeable weather with westerly conditions and influxes of wind and rain at times, particularly in the northwest.
