The US has been facing some pretty extreme cold weather over the past week or so, with a so-called ‘bomb cyclone’ causing extreme blizzards and killing 49 people.
This rare weather phenomenon has essentially caused the principal storm – named Elliott – to pick up strength, and now it seems it could have an impact on the UK too. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is a bomb cyclone?
According to AccuWeather, a bomb cyclone is a storm that undergoes rapid strengthening. All storms are cyclones and the word ‘bomb’ is used to convey ‘explosive’ development.
Will the US storm affect the UK?
While Storm Elliott is not heading to UK shores, we could still experience extreme weather.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: ‘Very cold air driving south is pepping up the jet stream, and the impact for the UK will be that as that cold air sinks south and hits that warm air, we get a contrast that drives the jet stream.
‘This powers it even more, and that highly invigorated jet stream will then spread off into the Atlantic to perhaps switch up our weather systems.’
What is the weather forecast for the New Year?
Meteorologist Deakin added: ‘Between Christmas and New Year the weather patterns are likely to be quite changeable.
‘There is the potential for low-pressure systems to bring wet and windy spells with the potential for brief colder spells in between. It’s all tied in with what’s happening across the United States.’
So, we’re all likely to see spells of rain, with heavy showers in many parts of the country over the weekend. In the north, there is also likely to be some snow.
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