beast from the east case study gcse geography

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Beast from the East – Extreme weather in the UK

The causes, effects and responses to the Beast from the East

What caused the Beast from the East?

Under normal circumstances, winters in the UK are mild compared to some places on the same latitude because of the jet stream, a warm air mass travelling across the Atlantic Ocean from Mexico to the UK. However, in February 2018, a meteorological event called stratospheric warming disturbed the jet stream – allowing cold winds from Russia to travel as far as the UK.

At this time of year, there is usually a polar vortex – a large mass of cold air – in the upper atmosphere, also known as the stratosphere. This vortex is what usually causes air to move from west to east. However, there was a considerable rise in air temperature of around 50°C 18 miles above the Earth at the North Pole. Sudden stratospheric warming caused a weakening of the jet stream, leading to a change in the direction of the winds approaching the UK from west to east to east to west, allowing a cold air mass (polar continental air mass) from Russia to cover The UK.

Air masses affecting the UK – source: Met Office

When the air left Siberia, Russia, it was around -50°C. By the time it reached the UK, it was just below freezing, though this was still cold for the time of year. In addition, the air mass picked up water over the North Sea, which resulted in a heavy snowfall when it reached The UK.

The Beast from the East meets Storm Emma

Storm Emma was a weather system originating from the Azores and travelling north to the UK. On 1st March 2018, the weather front brought blizzards, gales and sleet as it hit the cold air brought down by the Beast from the East. As a result, the Met Office issued a series of red warnings for southern England. Storm Emma would instead have caused wet and windy conditions without the cold air if temperatures were closer to average.

Primary impacts of the Beast from the East

• Ten people died
• Up to 50cms of snow fell on high ground
• Rural (countryside) areas experienced temperature lows of up to -12°C

Secondary impacts of the Beast from the East

• Hundreds of schools were forced to close
• Thousands of schools were closed across the UK, including more than 125 in North Yorkshire and more than 330 across Kent, and hospital operations were cancelled.
• Many rail services were cancelled.
• British Airways cancelled hundreds of short-haul flights from Heathrow, and London City Airport also cancelled many services.
• The National Grid issued a ‘gas deficit warning’ prompting fears of a shortage, but households were reassured domestic supplies would not be affected.
• Nearly all train operators warned of cancellations and disruption, and hundreds of flights were cancelled.
• Hundreds of motorists on the M80 near Glasgow were stuck for up to 13 hours, with some spending the night in their cars and others abandoning their vehicles. Around 1,000 vehicles were at a standstill, tailing back eight miles in both directions.
• There was a shortage of food in some supermarkets.
• Drifting snow led to the isolation of several villages.
• Red weather warnings were issued covering parts of Scotland, Devon, Somerset, and South Wales, prompting Devon and Cornwall police to declare a major incident. The red weather warning was just the third in seven years.
• The Environment Agency issued flood warnings for parts of Cornwall’s south coast. Residents were told to expect tides to be around 400 mm.
• The Royal Air Force was drafted in to help relief efforts in snow-hit Lincolnshire. Ten RAF vehicles and their crews transported doctors and stranded patients after local police admitted they struggled to cope.
• High on the Pennines on the M62, the military provided support rescuing vehicles.
• In Edinburgh, soldiers were deployed to help transport about 200 NHS clinical and support staff to and from the Western General Hospital and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

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The 'Beast from the East' 2018

Case study of 2018's 'Beast from the East', with causes and impacts of the extreme weather

Teacher recommended

• Created by: FenellaMae
• Created on: 12-05-18 17:44
• Weather and climate Extreme Events in the UK

Report Wed 16th January, 2019 @ 08:18

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UK Storm Case Study - Beast from the East

Extreme weather event in the UK – The BEAST from the EAST, 2018

Key words Extreme weather - This is when a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern, and is especially severe or unseasonal. This may take place over one day or a period of time. Immediate responses - The reaction of people as the disaster happens and in the immediate aftermath. Long term responses - Later reactions that occur in the weeks, months and years after the event.

• The Beast from the East (25 February) was caused by a change to the northern polar jet stream, which twisted its direction unexpectedly, drawing in cold air to the UK from the east.
• This bending was caused by a jump in temperatures high over the Arctic, known by meteorologists as sudden stratospheric warming (During the winter, a blob of extremely cold air spins clockwise in the stratosphere above the Arctic. It is particularly cold due to the total lack of sunlight hitting the Arctic at this time.If the cold blob starts to spin slower, the air will rush back inwards. Think what happens when you are stirring a cup of tea very fast, and then stop. As it slows down, this air sinks through the atmosphere, becomes warmer, and then even starts to spin the opposite way. Reversing the Uk's normal westerly winds with an easterly. Source )
• This unexpected warming weakened the jet stream that brings warm air in from the Atlantic to Ireland and Britain , this allowed COLD air in from the East
• So cold air from thousands of miles away is dragged over to us, bringing a severe chill – though the air is a lot warmer when it arrives at our doorstep, having risen from -50°C.
• This air picked up moisture over the North Sea bringing SNOW
• This affected mainly the East coast and dumped a huge amount of snow on the UK
• Then on the 1st of March a depression called Storm Emma started to move in from the SE (from the Atlantic) across Cornwall causing even more snow as it hit the cold air sat over the UK.  This caused the Met Office to issue Red weather warnings.

Primary effects 1. A man died in London after being pulled from a frozen lake, whilst there were 3 other reported deaths 2. Huge amounts of snow where dropped on the East coast of the UK and in the Scottish Borders 3. Up to 50cm (19 inches) of snow in parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and uplands parts of south-east Wales accompanied by gales or severe gales in exposed areas. 4. Gusts of 60-70mph in parts of northern England and Wales. 5. Rural areas experienced temperature lows of -12°C 6. Snow drifts were as high as 7m in places 7. Many coastlines were also issued with flood warnings

Secondary effects 1. British Airways cancelled hundreds of short-haul flights from Heathrow, and London City Airport also cancelled many services. 2. Hospitals in Glasgow, Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole cancelled all outpatient appointments while Harrogate hospital asked staff who can walk to work to go in to cover shifts 3. Thousands of schools were closed 4. Scottish Premiership postponed its games 5. Police in Macclesfield said they arrested two suspected thieves after tracking their footprints through the snow 6. Hundreds of people were trapped in their vehicles for hours, on the A31 for example 7. There were many lorries that crashed or jack knifed 8. The weather cost the UK millions. The AA estimated that there were 8,260 collisions on Britain’s roads from the snow chaos in just three days, with the insurance cost  above £10m. Two thirds of them due to snow and ice. 9. Some supermarkets saw a rush of customers. There were reports of shelves being stripped of bread, milk and soup. 10. A baby was born on the A66 near Stockton-on-Tees after the parents failed to make it hospital as a result of the snow 11. There were multiple accidents on Britain's roads, including major incidents on the A1 in Northumberland 12. Major shopping centres and businesses closed early. 13. There were worries the UK could run out of Gas  

Management/Responses

• Stranded drivers were given foil blankets
• The Army were called in to help people when Storm Emma hit
• Councils had to send out gritters and snow ploughs to clear the roads
• Drivers of a Greggs Delivery van, stuck on the A1 near Newcastle, gave out free food to stranded drivers
• The Met Office issued "red Warnings" for several areas, including the belt between Edinburgh and Glasgow
• Public Health England (PHE) urged people to plan ahead to ensure they have enough food and medicine.
• Rail passengers were warned to avoid travelling to or from Scotland on Thursday while in Kent 50 stations closed.
• Cleveland Mountain Rescue took district nurses around rural elderly patients in East Cleveland and North Yorkshire Moors. They also ran NHS staff into James Cook at Middlesbrough to keep services running
• Army and Royal Air Force personnel were called in to ferry health workers through blocked roads in Lincolnshire and in Scotland. Ten RAF 4x4 vehicles with 20 airmen began transporting health staff from dawn in Lincolnshire after an urgent request from local police.

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GCSE Geography > Case Study - Beast from the East > Flashcards

Case Study - Beast from the East Flashcards

What is the Beast from the East

The ‘Beast from the East’ is a phrase used to describe cold and wintry conditions in 2018 in the UK as a result of a polar continental air mass.

What are the causes of Extreme weather

When pressure is high over Scandinavia, the UK tends to experience a polar continental air mass.

When this happens in winter, cold air is drawn in from the Eurasian landmass, bringing the cold and wintry conditions that give rise to the ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018.

Background and Location

A period of unusually cold weather which hit the UK in March 2018. The South of England was particularly affected.

Causes of the Beast from the East

A meteorological event called stratospheric warming disturbed the jet stream (which normally warms the UK) – allowing cold winds from Russia to travel as far as the UK.

When the air left Siberia, Russia, it was around -50°C. By the time it reached the UK it was just below freezing, though this was still cold for the time of year. The air mass picked up water over the North Sea which resulted in heavy snowfall when it reached The UK.

Storm Emma was a weather system which originated from the Azores and travelled north to the UK.

On 1st March 2018, the weather front brought blizzards, gales and sleet as it hit the cold air brought down by the Beast from the East.

Without the cold air, and if there were normal or average UK temperatures, Storm Emma would instead have caused wet and windy conditions.

Primary Social Effects

10 people died Rural (countryside) areas experienced temperature lows of up to -12 degrees Celsius

Primary Environmental Effects

Up to 50 cm of snow fell on high ground Ewes and new born lambs were buried by snowdrifts created by light, dry snow blown by the strong winds. Many were suffocated under the snow or died from hypothermia Huge amounts of snow were dropped on the East coast of the UK and in the Scottish Borders

. Up to 50cm (19 inches) of snow in parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and uplands parts of south-east Wales accompanied by gales or severe gales in exposed areas.

Snow drifts were as high as 7m in places

Many coastlines were also issued with flood warnings

Secondary social effects

Nationwide school closures Hundreds of schools were forced to close. Thousands of schools were closed across the UK, including more than 125 in North Yorkshire and more than 330 across Kent

Rail services and flights cancelled

British Airways cancelled hundreds of lights from Heathrow

Gas deficit warning from the national grid

Hundreds of motorists stranded on the M80 for 13 hours, with some spending the night in their cars and others abandoning vehicles. Around 1000 vehicles were at a stand still, tailing back eight miles in both directions

Hospital operations were cancelled

Fatalities were caused by falling through the ice and hypothermia, by traffic accidents and falling trees.

Electricity supplies were cut as power lines were damaged. Furthermore the sever weather prevented utility companies from making prompt repairs. As a result customers were without power for several days.

Secondary economic effect

There were an estimated 8000 or more road accidents over the three word days (of the beast from the East). This resulted in a cost to insurance companies of over £10 million.

Secondary environmental effect

Drifting snow led to the isolation of several villages

Immediate responses

Red weather warnings were issued covering parts of Scotland, Devon, Somerset, and South Wales, prompting Devon and Cornwall police to declare a major incident. The red weather warning was just the third in seven years.

Schools/businesses close earlier to allow people to get home

The Environment Agency issued flood warnings for parts of Cornwall’s south coast. Residents were told to expect tides to be around 400 mm.

Some areas provided temporary shelters for the homeless and rough sleepers

The Royal Air Force was drafted in to help relief efforts in snow-hit Lincolnshire. Ten RAF vehicles and their crews transported doctors and stranded patients after local police admitted they struggled to cope.

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