A top weather and climate expert has a message for Reading and Wokingham areas – don’t be surprised if you wake up to snow on Sunday (December 3) morning.
Professor Liz Bentley, a visiting professor at the University of Reading, is the European Meteorological Society’s new president.
News of very early snow in the UK has some excitedly preparing their sledges – and others fearful of travel chaos.
A previous early December snowfall caused both the Reading Half-Marathon and the Reading Toy Run to be cancelled.
In another weather event, there was enough snow in Wokingham for sledges to pressed into action in Joel Park, but nothing but rain in Reading, showing how localised snow can be.
Prof Bentley said: “On Saturday we have a weather system coming in from the west which is forecast to turn to snow on the leading edge as it bumps into the cold air – so we could see some snowfall later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday.
“So don’t be surprised if you wake up to a covering of snow on Sunday morning.”
This is not common.
“It is unusual to see snow this early in the season – especially lying snow – as temperatures are usually too high and the ground is too warm for snow to settle on the ground for too long,” she said.
“We are more likely to get snow in February and March than in November and December. In fact, there is a greater chance of snow at Easter than there is at Christmas, which may come as a surprise to many.”
Forecasters have been talking about snow in the UK.
Prof Bentley explained: “There are several weather warnings for snow and ice over the next few days as the northerly winds have caused the temperatures plummet to well below average.
“It is cold enough to snow but we need some moisture in the air in the form of showers or bands of rain that bump into the cold air and readily fall as snow.
“If the air comes from the north the showers tend to be confined to the east or west coastal areas – so not across our patch.”
To read about Prof Bentley’s work visit: https://wokingham.today/leading-climate-expert-from-wokingham-prepares-for-new-role-heading-up-the-european-meteorological-society
