A sudden stratospheric warming over the North Pole could bring east-to-west winds, sparking speculation about much colder weather next month.
Storm Otto
MORTEN STRICKER/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Storm Otto is the name given by the Danish Meteorological Institute to a low-pressure system that will bring high winds and rain to parts of the United Kingdom, as per Wales Online.
Storm Otto will move east across the far north of the UK beginning Friday morning, bringing gusts of up to 75mph to some northern areas.
Storm Otto will bring high winds and rain to the UK, according to Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page, with some northern parts of Scotland and the northeast of England likely to experience the strongest gusts of wind, possibly exceeding 75mph.
Warnings have been issued, and they may be updated as Storm Otto progresses.
There is a risk of travel disruption, and high-sided vehicles may be especially vulnerable to disrupted plans in this scenario.
Storm Otto is bringing rain, with 40 to 50 mm expected to fall over parts of western Scotland.
Potential consequences highlighted in the warning include the possibility of large waves, particularly along the North Sea coasts, as well as some damage to buildings and infrastructure.
While Storm Otto will have an impact on the UK, Denmark is expected to experience more severe weather on Friday afternoon, prompting them to name the system, which has now been adopted by the Met Office in accordance with storm naming procedures.
Otto is the first named storm to make direct landfall in the United Kingdom this storm season, which started on September 2022.
Storm Antoni will remain the first storm named by the Met Office, Met Eireann, or KNMI this season.
On Twitter, one user stated that there was no sign of the "so-called Beast from the East," as the media had speculated.
The official Met Office Twitter account responded to this, as per Gloucestershire Live.
According to the forecast, the current extended range forecast for late February and early March increases the chance of easterly winds at times, with temperatures most likely to be near average for the period overall, though colder interludes are possible at times.
Though it appears unlikely at the moment, we cannot rule out the possibility of a more significant spell of colder weather later in the period.
According to the BBC Weather's forecast, it could be colder in the UK by mid-March.
Because of the major sudden stratospheric warming event above the Arctic, the polar vortex is being 'disrupted' and pushed away from the pole.
And this could affect Europe in three weeks - though, as the Met Office has also stated, an SSW does not always result in harsher conditions.
According to the forecast for Monday, March 6 to Sunday, March 19, high pressure may move north and northwestwards, while low pressure develops across southern and western Europe, causing wind flows from colder directions.
Although confidence is still low, it has increased slightly in the last week, with models beginning to reflect the possibility.
More strikes to impact Wales this week
Ambulance workers in Wales will go on strike beginning Monday.
In their ongoing pay dispute, members of the Welsh Ambulance Service will strike for three days on February 20, 21, and 22.
The strike only affects non-life-threatening calls, and people are advised to dial 999 in an emergency.
Ambulances will still be dispatched to the most critical calls, known as category 1, which includes cardiac arrests.
Patients who require urgent care, such as kidney or cancer treatment, will also be transported.
Less urgent calls, known as category 2, which include some strokes and major burns, may have to wait longer than usual.
