Australia faces severe weather as Tropical Cyclone Megan, now a category-three storm, charges towards the Northern Territory and Queensland with winds up to 220km/h. Concurrently, the UK anticipates significant snowfall and freezing temperatures, evoking memories of the ‘Beast from the East’.
Tropical Cyclone Megan has intensified to a category-three storm and is headed towards the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia, with expected wind gusts of up to 220km/h. Initially classified as a category-two system when it formed over the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday, it is forecasted to potentially reach category-four as it nears the coast on Monday. The cyclone threatens to bring heavy rain and flooding, particularly impacting remote Indigenous communities on Groote Eylandt, with projected rainfall totals between 300-400mm. Authorities have issued warnings for residents in the affected area to prepare for strong winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous flooding. This cyclone marks the fifth named system in Australian waters this season, signaling an active monsoon period with increased cyclonic activities and related impacts.
Meanwhile, the UK is bracing for a significant snow event predicted to sweep across a 475-mile stretch of the country. Weather forecasts indicate dropping temperatures below freezing towards the end of March, with Northern Scotland expected to experience up to three centimetres of snow per hour. Meteorologists have issued warnings about a possible return of conditions reminiscent of the “Beast from the East” seen in 2018, affecting various regions including Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and others, with temperatures plunging to as low as -7C in Scotland. The Met Office highlights unsettled conditions with a possibility of overnight frost in the coming days. The weather is expected to remain changeable but generally mild, with drier spells in the south and southeast, and heavier rain in western regions. Residents across the UK are advised to prepare for potentially chilly conditions in the weeks ahead.