Weatherwatch: Tropical Cyclone Zelia and Global Cold Weather Patterns

Western Australia is under a tropical cyclone alert as 18U intensifies into cyclone Zelia, expected to bring heavy rain and winds. Canada suffers from a polar cold spell, with temperatures well below average in western cities. Europe prepares for a cold snap, forecasting significant temperature drops across northern regions.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a tropical cyclone alert for the north coast of Western Australia due to a tropical low known as 18U. This system has been observed near the Kimberley region, leading to expectations of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges in northern Australia starting Sunday night. A flood warning has also been announced. Forecasts predict that 18U will move south-westward into the upcoming week, likely intensifying into a tropical cyclone named Zelia, which may make landfall in the Pilbara region, bringing rain totals of 150mm-250mm (5.9in-9.8in) and wind gusts reaching approximately 100 mph.

In Canada, a significant cold spell has gripped the region as polar air has descended, causing temperatures to plunge by 5C-10C (41F-50F) below seasonal averages. Western Canada is particularly impacted, with cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon facing maximum daytime temperatures of -10C to -15C this week. Nighttime temperatures are projected to drop to -20C to -30C, with the possibility of even lower values, reaching -35C, approximately 10-15C below seasonal averages. Notably, Saskatoon shares latitude with Cambridge in the UK, where the record low is -13C.

Europe is also bracing for a cold snap, with temperatures expected to gradually decline across northern regions this week. Following this, a more significant drop in temperatures is anticipated, with predictions of a decrease between 2C and 5C below average, except in southern and south-west Europe, where drops between 5C and 10C are likely in parts of Scandinavia. This bitter cold is fueled by the development of a high-pressure system over eastern Europe, which will enable an easterly flow of cold polar continental air. However, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the severity and duration of this weather phenomenon.

In summary, Western Australia faces an imminent tropical cyclone named Zelia, with forecasts indicating heavy rainfall and strong winds impacting the region. Concurrently, Canada is experiencing significant cold temperatures well below seasonal averages, particularly affecting western provinces. Europe is also preparing for a cold snap with dropping temperatures expected in the coming days, attributed to shifts in atmospheric pressure patterns.

Original Source: www.inkl.com