UK weather maps show season's first snow in 12 areas after Polar Vortex forecast

UK weather maps show season's first snow in 12 areas after Polar Vortex forecast Snow could be just days away from returning to the UK as weather models show some regions face a wintry blast - following a warning over the Polar Vortex Weather forecasting models suggest the first snow of the season could arrive in the UK in two weeks’ time. This comes after forecasters warned this year’s extremely powerful El Nino could lead to a “breakdown” of the Polar Vortex, potentially leading to dramatic wintry weather conditions in the coming months. The GFS weather model shows areas of purple - denoting snow - emerging over northern parts of Scotland on October 14. Although the wintry weather is expected to impact higher ground in the main, the maps show cities including Inverness and Aberdeen may also see some of the white stuff. By the evening of October 14, the data shows more significant snowfall in the north-east of Scotland, with flakes falling at a rate of around 1cm per hour. As much as 4cm could settle on higher ground, although it is expected to melt away quickly. The GFS model suggests a total of 12 counties could see some snow on October 14. They are all in Scotland. UK counties facing snow - Orkney - Caithness - Sutherland - Ross-shire and Cromartyshire - Inverness-shire - Nairnshire - Morayshire - Banffshire - Aberdeenshire - Argyllshire - Kincardineshire - Angus El Nino and Polar Vortex This year’s El Nino should be the strongest ever and will have varying impacts in different places around the world. It occurs every few years when temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5C above the long-term average. It generally leads to an increase in global temperatures in the summer, while autumn and winter tend to be stormier. But it can also produce extreme cold. The Met Office explains: “Through the latter part of the winter, following a peak in El Niño, the stratospheric Polar Vortex can become weaker, leading to an increased chance of Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) events unfurling, increasing the potential for cold weather.” SSW refers to a rapid warming (up to about 50C in just a couple of days) in the stratosphere, between 10km and 50km above the earth’s surface. This occurs due to changes in the Polar Vortex, and can cause cold air to rush downwards, impacting the jet stream and potentially creating a blocking pattern which can keep snow and cold locked in place for an extended period of time.