Ice Storms/widespread Freezing Rain Event Possible

[lukemc]

Hi,

With the surface cold deeply embedded across the UK at the moment, I am interested if say we get an inversion situation with milder upper temperatures encroaching over this upper air would it be possible for us to get North American style ice storms or widespread freezing rain events that could cause havoc with power supplies etc.?

Luke

[Guest]

No, perhaps some freezing rain sometimes but nothing like they get over the other side of the pond. You need a big temperature differential for this to happen. Since we have a maritime climate our temp differentials rarely if ever get that great.

[LomondSnowstorm]

Last January here was fairly infamous for ice storms (well not quite) - we had about 3 falls of freezing rain! Pretty bad black ice for a week or two due to warm sectors in polar maritime air. It's a possibility early next week in the south but I doubt it would be anything like in the US.