On this day: 2018 Beast from the East

On this day in 2018, the UK and Ireland was struck by the ‘Beast from the East’, leading to weeks of freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and heavy winds.

The so-called beast, was actually the result of anticyclone Hartmut which brought a cold wave from a large arctic airmass to our shores. Although Hartmut was centred on Scandinavia its size ensured the impact was felt across Europe.

In total, 17 fatalities were recorded in the UK during the two weeks from Hartmut’s formation on February 22nd to its dissipation on March 5th. It mostly affected the UK and Ireland from around the 24th of the month however.

It was on this day three years ago that temperatures began to fall, within a week snow arrived and overnight lows nearing -12°C were recorded in some areas. Power cuts hit, airports halted flights and the first ever red warning for snow was issued.

By early March temperatures began to rise once again but soon fell with the arrival of Storm Emma impacting England, Wales, and Ireland from March 2nd bringing up to 50 cm of snow and more disruption.

With a Sudden Stratospheric Warming underway, we could be in for a cold spell once again in the coming weeks, though it is unlikely at this stage to amount to anything as severe as this Beast from the East event!