Arctic air has descended upon Europe, casting a frigid grip on the continent's central and eastern regions. Temperatures plummeted to double-digit negatives, with heavy snowfall blanketing parts of Poland and Ukraine. The cold snap is expected to persist this week as an Arctic air mass continues its downward trajectory across Europe.
The drop in temperature will be significant, with areas such as central and north-eastern Europe experiencing a staggering 5C (41F) below average. When wind chill is factored in, the effects become even more pronounced, making the cold feel like biting frost.
Europeans in South Korea also braved the bitter cold, which brought snow to the island of Jeju, causing flight and ferry cancellations due to heavy snowfall and strong winds. The latter proved particularly hazardous, with gusts reaching 60mph in L'Île-Rousse and a staggering 100mph in the Cap Corse region.
While the strong winds on Corsica are not uncommon given the island's reputation for being battered by the Mistral wind, this particular storm is distinct from typical events. A high-pressure system positioned over the Atlantic, further north than usual, drove cold air southward across France, while a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Genoa added to the complexity of the situation.
As these two systems interacted, they created a Venturi-like effect that accelerated the wind in the Rhône valley. The gusts then burst forth over the Gulf of Lion, curving eastward around the low-pressure system before being redirected towards Corsica's Balagne and Cap Corse regions.
The powerful winds left their mark on the island, with residents and visitors alike taking precautions against the tempestuous weather.
The drop in temperature will be significant, with areas such as central and north-eastern Europe experiencing a staggering 5C (41F) below average. When wind chill is factored in, the effects become even more pronounced, making the cold feel like biting frost.
Europeans in South Korea also braved the bitter cold, which brought snow to the island of Jeju, causing flight and ferry cancellations due to heavy snowfall and strong winds. The latter proved particularly hazardous, with gusts reaching 60mph in L'Île-Rousse and a staggering 100mph in the Cap Corse region.
While the strong winds on Corsica are not uncommon given the island's reputation for being battered by the Mistral wind, this particular storm is distinct from typical events. A high-pressure system positioned over the Atlantic, further north than usual, drove cold air southward across France, while a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Genoa added to the complexity of the situation.
As these two systems interacted, they created a Venturi-like effect that accelerated the wind in the Rhône valley. The gusts then burst forth over the Gulf of Lion, curving eastward around the low-pressure system before being redirected towards Corsica's Balagne and Cap Corse regions.
The powerful winds left their mark on the island, with residents and visitors alike taking precautions against the tempestuous weather.
The cold snap in Europe is looking pretty intense this week 
! I'm not surprised to see temperatures plummeting to double-digit negatives across central and eastern regions - we've been seeing a lot of extreme weather events lately, especially with global warming and climate change being all over the news 
. It's interesting that the Arctic air mass is causing such significant drops in temperature, with areas like Poland and Ukraine experiencing a 5C (41F) drop below average 
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The strong winds, especially on Corsica, were pretty hazardous too. I'm glad people are taking precautions and staying safe 
. It's always fascinating to watch how different weather systems interact with each other, creating complex patterns and effects 
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️. Anyway, I'm keeping an eye on the forecast to see when this cold snap will end - fingers crossed for milder temperatures soon 
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anyway did u know that arctic air masses are getting more frequent & intense due to climate change? stats say since 1980, we've had 5 times more arctic outbreaks in europe 
i saw a vid of the winds on youtube and it was WILD 
100mph is crazy! 
and have u seen those charts of temperature drop? 5C below average is insane 
europeans in south korea are also braving the cold lol who knew jeju island could get snow 
its not just the cold itself but also the strong winds that are causing a lot of problems. i guess its just another reminder that our planet can be pretty unpredictable 
Oh man, this cold snap is insane! I mean, 5C below average in central and north-eastern Europe? That's like stepping into a winter wonderland, but not in a charming way 
. I'm just glad that the islanders are taking precautions and staying safe.
. The way the high-pressure system over the Atlantic is pushing those cold temps southward makes sense, but 100mph winds on Corsica? That's insane! 
. The Venturi effect sounds like some pretty wild science stuff going down... hope everyone stays safe and warm out there 
just had to cancel my plans for this weekend coz of the crazy cold snap hitting Europe... I mean, who needs a beach vacation when it's -20°C outside? 
and have you seen those wind speeds in Corsica? 100mph is INSANE! 
guess that high-pressure system over the Atlantic really packed a punch. and poor Jeju Island in South Korea... snow and strong winds making life hard for everyone. hope everyone stays safe and warm out there 
anyway, hope everyone's staying warm and safe out there