The jet stream is about to become unusually strong.
The following chart shows the position and intensity of the jet stream this Sunday, the 9th of February 2020. Notice it’s intensity – indeed off the scale for this particular chart, indicating jet stream speeds likely near 200mph. Whilst these winds speeds are at jet stream level – 30,000feet, – it will be pretty windy on the surface, too. This unusually strong jet stream is in fact what will be powering the surface low pressure systems, allowing for some potentially very disruptive weather both this weekend and next week.
Severe Gales on Sunday
We look first to this weekend, however, when a very deep area of low pressure is likely to develop off the North West Coast of Scotland. This particular system has the potential to bring some very nasty conditions nationwide, with gusts of between 50 and 70mph likely on Sunday. Heavy rain will be an issue to, likely adding to the difficult traveling conditions. The Met Office has released a yellow, “be aware” weather warning for the entire country for both Saturday and Sunday for the likelihood of severe gale force winds.
Next Week: more gales likely, snow?
Next week looks very windy to. The jet stream looks set to remain active, helping to form and maintain potentially very powerful areas of low pressure. Some computer models are modeling a great increase in wind speeds around Tuesday and Wednesday of next week (11th and 12th of February), so keep a close eye on the forecast for that time.
The air is also likely to be somewhat colder, cold enough for showers on Monday and Tuesday, and there will be plenty, to be wintry in lower levels in the North and to high ground in the South. In the North, above 300 metres of elevation, some significant and disruptive accumulations of snow are possible for a time. With strong winds, at high elevations some blizzard-like conditions can’t be ruled out! So a very active few days of weather is on the way. Stay safe and aware.