Snow UK: Can it be too cold to snow? Britain's temperatures PLUNGE as snow forecast to hit
SNOW could fall on almost every part of the UK this week as temperatures in Britain plummet in the coldest week of winter. But what is the turn behind the saying it is too cold for snow?
Weather chart predicts SNOW is set to blanket the UK
England and Wales recorded some of the coldest nights of the year last night as there mercury fell to -9.9C in Shap, Cumbria, and -7.6C in Sennybridge, on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons.
The Met Office revealed the coldest temperature overnight was seen in Tulloch Bridge, in the Scottish Highlands, where the mercury plunged to -10.1C.
But the plunging temperatures are still some way off the UK's coldest night of 2018 so far at -13.7C.
Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice were in place for vast swathes of the UK on Wednesday morning, including western areas of England, the southeast, Wales, Scotland and northern Ireland.
But can it ever be too cold to snow?
Meteorologist get asked all the time during the cold winter months whether it can ever be too cold to snow.
In short, the answer is no however - with experts saying only at absolute zero would the chance of snow be possible.
According to accuweather, the ingredients needed for snow are:
1. A temperature profile that allows snow to reach the surface
2. Saturated air
3. Enough lifting of that saturated air to allow snow to develop aloft and fall to reach the surface
UK weather: Norwich covered by blanket of SNOW
Adrienne Green said: “The phrase ‘it’s too cold to snow’ probably originated as a misapplication of the relationship between temperature and the maximum amount of water vapour that can be in the air.
“When temperature decreases, the maximum capacity of water vapour that can be in the air decreases.
“Therefore, the colder it gets the less water vapour there will be in the air.”
Most heavy snowfalls happen when there are relatively warm air temperatures near the ground and so when the temperature drops into single digits, or below zero, heavy snow is unlikely.
This is not because it is too cold, but actually because the air is too dry and the air’s capacity for water vapour becomes very small.