We have been fearing the arrival of the ‘Beast of the East’ a week and in the end an Atlantic front has sneaked into the squad

In recent days, the big topic of weather conversation has been the ‘East beast‘. Many things have been said: from Nieves generalized throughout the country to a simple decrease in temperatures. What we did not expect was the “extraordinary turn” that the situation has taken.

What do we talk about when we talk about the ‘Beast of the East’? As we explained yesterdaybeyond the controversy by name, the phenomenon is very simple: a mass of polar air that takes advantage of an Atlantic blocking situation to move from the northeast of the European continent to the southwest. That is, towards us.

From ‘beast’ a ‘bestiecilla’. Unlike the ‘Beast’ of 2018the mass that was approaching had no capacity to form a cold and snow storm worthy of that name. However, since these situations are rare and difficult to model, there were many doubts and uncertainties.

Beyond that We were going to notice the closeness of that mass of cold airnobody was very clear about what was going to happen.

The unknown is clearing. On the one hand, the mass of air has started doing something that was as far as possible: cycloogenesis. These types of masses are very dry, but on their way to the southwest they can generate cold danas or storms.

On the other, an Atlantic Front It has sneaked by the northwest and is on the way to the Southeast leaving generalized rains throughout the Peninsula (less on the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands).

And what will happen? The interaction of the two phenomena will leave a lot of snow in the Pyrenees (already very low levels). The front will leave some water in most of the country. However, the great turn is that the instability that the front is creating will help moderate the cold peaks.

That does not change the general image (it will be colder than usual), but it does make The worst forecasts are diluted Between the rain. In fact, as the front passes the temperatures will tend to rise.

Be that as it may, care in the north third: snow, fog and ice will roast a few days between us.

Image | ECMWF

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