Will the cold spell continue? Could it bring more snow?

Terminology, in bold is defined below

There's a trend towards further upgrades the longevity of the cold spell by having a more distinct shortwave (see the curves on the sea level pressure isobars)

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This flattens the eastern side of the Atlantic ridge as it glides over it, towards the UK, where it may create a snow event. This shortwave then combines with the trough, allowing it to push more strongly against the Atlantic ridge.

The combination of the flattening of the east side of the ridge and it getting more of a pushback by the trough keeps it further west, where increased amplification forces it northwards, creating an area of weaker high pressure in the high latitudes

gensnh-31-5-132.png

Arctic highs, even if they're weak often cause the jet stream to push south and weaken to the east of them, so cold air still manages to cling on to the north of the UK, and likely the south as well. While this doesn't create an easy path back into very blocked weather, it can allow the cold spell to continue to take hold of the UK, especially the east, and a weakened jet stream creates new potential for blocks to form later on

Shortwave - a little ripple within the overall weather pattern

Atlantic ridge - an area of anomalous high pressure in the Atlantic ocean stretching into the mid, or even the high latitudes

Trough - an area of lower pressure that pushes the jet stream south

Arctic high - an area of high pressure in the high latitudes

Block - a persistent anomalous high pressure system that blocks the jet stream

Blocked - refers to weather patterns under the block, or just to the east of it, where the jet stream doesn't reach

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