Sudden Stratospheric Warming

A Sudden Stratospheric Warming was what led to Ireland's beast from the east in March 2018.

[signing up to our newsletter](https://www.irishmirror.ie/newsletter-preference-centre/) [potentially chilly and icy winter weather](https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/met-eireann-temperatures-drop-subzero-29142339?recirculation_test=true) events. [take effect on our weather systems](https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/met-eireann-gives-subzero-blast-29148903?recirculation_test=true). [broken up by normal weather patters](https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/met-eireanns-latest-forecast-pinpoints-29133767?recirculation_test=true) or disturbances, for example, high pressure in the northern hemisphere. SSW's typically relate to [extreme cold or winter events, such as the beast from the east](https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/weather-expert-gives-beast-east-29151251?recirculation_test=true) in 2018.

UK weather forecast latest: Britain braced for Arctic freeze with weeks of heavy snow.

He said: “This does increase the risk of a cold start to spring, without question. While this does not ‘equate to a Beast from the East’, it said, potential impacts on Britain’s weather will now be urgently monitored and updated. “It is now a case of watching the models to see how they evolve over the coming days and weeks as this develops.” Mr Madden said: “This particular event could significantly stretch or even split the Polar Vortex, and this significantly increases the risk of a major cold spell of Beast from the East later in February into March. “It means we are now facing extensive cold and snow later in February and into the start of March. The start of spring is under threat from a crippling Beast from the East snow blast as the Met Office announces a ‘major’ disruption of the Polar Vortex.

Following a minor Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event in January, the Stratospheric Polar Vortex (SPV) has now recovered however there is now renewed ...

Experts are suggesting that the extended range forecast for mid-February is broadly changeable weather with westerly conditions and influxes of wind and rain at times, particularly in the northwest. 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 Met Office has reminded Brits however that just because there may be an SSW , this does not necessarily mean another ‘Beast from the East’. The phenomenon is now also indicating a cooler spell in late February. This can then lead to cold, dry weather for the country. A major SSW often causes the jet stream meander more leading to a large area block of high pressure over the UK.

New long-range forecasts from the Met Office have indicated the beginning of a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW), which could cause a repeat of the ...

Mostly dry elsewhere, with some sunny spells and becoming milder. Frost and fog in the south. [Met Office](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/met-office) [weather](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/weather) warning is in place for southern England and East Anglia from 3am until 11am on Wednesday morning. [weather](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/weather) in the north of Europe, including the UK, with mild, wet and windy conditions more likely for southern areas of the continent. In the meantime, freezing fog and frosty conditions are expected to cause disruption on Wednesday. A SSW in February 2018 was responsible for the 'Beast from the East', a winter storm which saw as much as 22 inches of snow fall in some areas and an estimated £1.2 billion in damage caused to the national economy

A repeat of the 2018 blizzards that sent the country into chaos could be on the cards with the beginning of a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) indicated.

Thursday: A cloudy start to the day with occasional light rain and drizzle and murky conditions over higher ground. Today (Wednesday): Dense freezing fog in places for the rush hour, but gradually brightening up for most during the morning. In the meantime, freezing fog and frosty conditions are expected to cause disruption on Wednesday. The start of a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) could soon bring on snowy conditions in the UK, according to long-range forecasts from the Met Office. Back in February 2018, a SSW was responsible for the 'Beast from the East'. However, this is not always the case and impacts on UK weather can also be benign when an SSW occurs."

Weather forecasters have said that a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) could affect conditions across the country. The SSW weather event means snowy 'Beast ...

However, this is not always the case and impacts on UK weather can also be benign when an SSW occurs." According to the latest Met Office blog, there is a 80% chance that we will see another SSW towards the end of this month. The Met Office's long-range forecast has indicated the beginning of a SSW which sees rapid warming occur high up in the stratosphere. However it remains unclear whether this will have the kind of knock-on effect which previously caused extreme weather. "This blocking high pressure can lead to cold, dry weather in the north of Europe, including the UK, with mild, wet and windy conditions more likely for southern areas of the continent. The forecaster wrote: "A major SSW often makes the jet stream meander more, which can lead to a large area of blocking high pressure over northern Europe, including the UK.

The Met Office said in a blog that the Strataspheric Polar Vortex (a circulation of winds high up in the stratosphere) has recovered after a SSW last month. A ...

However there is currently no signal for any extreme temperatures in the UK associated with this." Although the impact will become clearer nearer the time, any effect on UK weather is most likely to occur in late February and March.” This blocking high pressure can lead to cold, dry weather in the north of Europe, including the UK, with mild, wet and windy conditions more likely for southern areas of the continent. A Sudden Stratospheric Warming describes an event when rapid warming occurs high up in the stratosphere, which can lead to changes in our weather at the surface. The Met Office has said that a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming is likely to take place. While its latest forecasts for the coming week suggest conditions will become milder, there is a 'low probability' of colder conditions.

Despite the name, Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) can cause very cold conditions similar to five years ago, when the UK saw up to 22 inches of snowfall.

Temperatures overall will be relatively mild, with any frost mostly likely across southern areas earlier in the period.” Typically this will form over the North Atlantic and Scandinavia. It is so high up that we do not feel it but it has a knock-on effect to the jet stream, which in turn effects weather lower down.

The Met Office said chance of a SSW was now at 80% but it was not certain that the warming would affect the jet stream.

Some of these frontal systems perhaps spreading further to the southeast, although much of the south and southeast will likely be relatively drier. The north and northwest will likely be most unsettled, with often strong winds accompanying periods of rain, which will be heavy at times. Although the impact will become clearer nearer the time, any effect on UK weather is most likely to occur in late February and March." Sunday and Monday will be mostly dry with variable and at times large amounts of cloud, with any fog patches clearing through the morning. So while the rest of this month is expected to be frosty, this is not necessarily all down to events high above us, The Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) is likely to occur at the end of February, forecasters say.

Basically speaking, an SSW sees rapid warming occur high up in the stratosphere. This then can lead to snowfall and wintry temperatures, such as when an SSW ...

The full statement read: "Some of these frontal systems perhaps spreading further to the south-east, although much of the south and south-east will likely be relatively drier. So although a SSW is likely to occur in the upcoming weeks, it doesn't mean that we will necessarily have heavy snowfall. However, this is not always the case and impacts on UK weather can also be benign when an SSW occurs." Another SSW led to the month-long "Deep Freeze" in 2010, which saw thick snow on the ground for weeks, even in low-lying areas. It is the weather system that brought weeks of snow to Britain back in 2010 - and again in 2018. Basically speaking, an SSW sees rapid warming occur high up in the stratosphere.

A Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) is in the long range forecast according to the Met Office - and one of them caused the Beast from the East in 2018.

Broken cloud and sunny intervals first thing with increasingly lengthy sunny periods developing for the rest of the day. The Met Office put a yellow warning in place for freezing fog for the West Midlands area this morning (February 8). This blocking high pressure can lead to cold, dry weather in the north of Europe, including the UK, with mild, wet and windy conditions more likely for southern areas of the continent. Dense freezing fog in places for the rush hour, but gradually brightening up for most during the morning. Professor Adam Scaife, Head of Long-Range Forecasting at the Met Office, said "any effect on UK weather" is most likely to occur in late February or March. Cloud amounts increasing this evening with some patchy light rain moving south during the early hours. [Met Office](https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/all-about/met-office) forecast predicts a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) is likely - and one of these sparked the chaotic 'Beast from the East' in 2018. [The Mirror has reported](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-major-incoming-weather-29160380) that a SSW sees rapid warming occur high up in the stratosphere. It comes as freezing temperatures continue to grip our region with many waking up to frosty cars and streets again this morning. The winter storm saw up to 22 inches of snow descend in some areas, while roads were left blocked for days and the economy lost £1.2 billion. The latest Met Office blog says there is an 80 per cent chance that we will see another SSW towards the end of this month. Many places will see some sunny spells by the afternoon.

Britons will remember the so-called Beast from the East which brought heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures to the UK back in 2018 - that weather event was ...

This event can impact the shape of the jet stream as the cold air sinks - sometimes leading to a "long spell of dry, cold weather" across the UK and northern Europe. [Seven of the extreme weather records broken in 2022](https://news.sky.com/story/how-2022-kept-breaking-new-extreme-weather-records-in-more-volatile-and-unstable-world-12764266) [Cold weather alert across England as 'snow moon' set to delight sky-gazers](https://news.sky.com/story/cold-weather-alert-starts-today-as-snow-moon-set-to-delight-uk-sky-gazers-12803670) "The cold air then descends very rapidly in the polar vortex and this causes the temperature in the stratosphere to rise very rapidly, as much as 50C over only a few days; hence the term sudden stratospheric warming," the Met Office says. SSW describes an event when "rapid warming occurs high up in the stratosphere", according to the Met Office, but it can have consequences in our weather down on the surface in the weeks that follow. A major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event is "now likely" to take place, according to forecasters - and could bring the return of bitterly cold conditions before spring. Britons will remember the so-called Beast from the East which brought heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures to the UK back in 2018 - that weather event was linked to sudden stratospheric warming.

A major weather event, which led to prolonged Arctic conditions and record snowfall in 2018, is likely to happen later this month says the Met Office.

Although the impact will become clearer nearer the time, any effect on UK weather is most likely to occur in late February and March." Until then the predictions are for 'changeable' conditions with bands of strong rain and winds expected at times. The Met Office believes a rapid heating up of a layer of the Earth's atmosphere - known as a Sudden Stratospheric Warming - is expected in the next couple of weeks.

Prof Adam Scaife, Head of Long-Range Forecasting at the Met Office, said: “There is now over 80 per cent chance of a major SSW occurring.

Sometimes the temperature can drop and result in snow. The warming occurs so high up that we don’t feel it, but it often has consequential effects that impact the weather. [Beast from the East](/topic/beast-from-the-east).