Severe Weather
The United Kingdom experiences severe weather due to its
maritime temperate climate with occasional continental and arctic
influences. These can bring with them heavy rain or snow, strong
winds and extreme temperatures. As experience has shown, severe
weather can take a variety of forms and at times can cause
significant problems and disruption to normal life.
Over the coming years, we are likely to see rising temperatures
and sea levels, and an increase in the frequency and severity of
extreme weather events in the UK. Weather forecasting can now give
warning of most events and offer general advice to the public.
There are many types of severe weather that can have a serious
local impact in the UK. The main types of severe weather that we
need to plan for include storms, gales, low temperatures, heavy
snow, heat waves and drought.
HISTORY
The summer of 2003 is estimated to have resulted in more than
2000 excess deaths, mainly among vulnerable people. Since then, the
Heat Health Watch system has been introduced and during the hot
weather of July 2006 significantly fewer excess deaths were
recorded. A storm struck many parts of the UK in January 2007, with
gusts of wind up to 77mph. This caused 9 deaths and widespread
damage to trees and buildings across the UK along with power
disruptions. The winter of 2011-12 was a weather event which
brought heavy snowfalls, record low temperatures, travel chaos, and
school disruption. It was referred to as The Big Freeze by national
media.
During late 2010 and 2011 the UK
experienced spells of severe winter weather with very low
temperatures and significant snowfalls. December 2010 was
exceptionally cold across the UK. Mean temperatures across the UK
were 5.0c below average. This occurred unusually early in winter,
with the snowfalls judged as the most significant since November
1965.
The weather conditions caused numerous widespread impacts. The
emergency services, local authorities, transport organisations and
utilities were all put under great pressure. Snowfalls caused the
most problems with transport; road, rail and air all badly
affected.