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Polar Continental Air – A Winter Phenomenon

With an easterly wind developing through Sunday we see the arrival of a different air mass over the UK and Ireland. The northerly winds we've been exposed to lately have brought us an Arctic Maritime air mass. This type of air mass can occur at any time of year and brings unseasonably cold temperatures whatever the season. This brings the coldest temperatures to Scotland in particular. Additionally, as it has a track over the sea, it is a moist air mass and produces rain, sleet, snow and hail around coastal areas exposed to the north wind as well as over much of Scotland. Inland areas tend to remain cloud free under the influence of this air mass.

With winds veering to the east through Sunday we'll see the arrival of what is know as Polar Continental air. This is a winter phenomenon as it only occurs from November through April. This is due to the area of origin of the air mass - over the snow-covered ground of Scandinavia and eastern Russia. In the summer months these areas are snow-free and, as a result, air that originates here during the summer is classified as a Tropical Continental air mass.

Anyway, I digress, back to Polar Continental air. As this air tracks over the (relatively warm) North Sea it collects moisture and becomes unstable. This generates wintry showers predominantly along eastern coastal areas of England and Scotland. These showers can make decent progress inland falling over more central areas as well. This air mass brings the coldest temperatures in winter to England and Wales and we'll see this as we go through this week. Daytime highs will generally struggle into the low single-digits as easterly winds develop and prevail.

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