A massive cold wave hits North America. The freezing air causes the formation of a very rapid flow at altitude, which will cross the entire North Atlantic. At high altitude, around 10,000 meters, high winds, called jet-streamwill travel at nearly 250 km/h towards Western Europe, in particular the British Isles. In this context, the formation of deep depressions is expected with a risk of storms for the United Kingdom. France would be on the fringes of these bad weather.
A classic configuration, conducive to strong depressions in Europe
Stormy winds could hit the British Isles on Friday © The Weather Channel
The situation predicted for this week is classic. The very cold air which plunges from the Arctic over North America causes an acceleration of air masses and disturbances, which will then cross the North Atlantic. It is the principle of communicating vessels and the Coriolis force which deflects air masses to the right. Thus, Western Europe finds itself in the crosshairs of the arrival of these air masses and these disturbances. Remember that after flying over nearly 5,000 km of the Atlantic Ocean, these air masses soften and can never convey the American cold to us: it is impossible.
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A powerful jet stream will cross the Atlantic from North America to Europe © The Weather Channel
On the other hand, we are experiencing very unsettled weather, mild, rainy and windy, with a significant risk of storm formation, which is likely to happen for the British Isles on Friday. While we are in the same period as when the storm Klaus in 2009, a very deep depression could form, energized by the very fast jet stream. This depression, circulating quite far from France, could cause us a gale. This jet stream blowing from the west at nearly 250 km/h (which is fast but not exceptional) should shorten the flight time of planes crossing the Atlantic.
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