The beast from the east has arrived causing blizzard conditions, deep snow and temperatures plummeting beneath zero. With conditions set to get worse throughout the week with deeper snow forecast and lower temperatures a high possibility what exactly is the beast from the east.
The beast from the east is the phrase that has been adopted to describe the ‘polar vertex’ that has been swept from over Russia by the Siberian winds to the UK. Heavy snowfall in England is usually caused by bad weather in the rest of Europe because snow is unlikely to stay cold whilst passing over the Atlantic Ocean, as the ocean stays mildly warm in the winter due to its slow rate of cooling.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Tuesday the 27th and Saturday the 3rd of March. Whilst the days in between (Wednesday the 28th- Friday the 2nd of March) all have amber weather warnings.
Schools in the local area such as Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Dartford Grammar School and Longfield Academy had to close or close early at 2.20pm because of the blizzard conditions and with it seemingly only getting worse it seems many schools may follow suit.
Even though you cannot avoid the beast incoming you can try to prepare by gritting your driveways or pavements in a way to help you avoid slippery ice in the morning and help your journey to school or work. Grit is actually a rock salt, it stops the ice from forming by decreasing the point at which moisture freezes. This can also cause existing ice and snow to melt.
In the following days, temperatures are predicted to be below freezing and many modes of transport are anticipated to be cancelled so make sure to stay safe in this beastly weather.
By Charlotte Lee, Dartford Grammar School for Girls.
