“Beast From the East”: Temperatures May Reach -15C Next Week

Snow, Frost, and nasty wind. According to meteorologists, the “Beast from the East”, as it is nicknamed by the rapid cooling caused by the Arctic air, is likely to strike the Czech Republic as well.

According to the preliminary forecast, in some parts of the country temperatures could fall to -22 degrees Celsius during the night hours, while during the daytime the highest temperatures should reach only -15 degrees Celsius.

The upcoming spell of weather, whilst disruptive for some, is not expected to be as extremely cold as early March 2018, although there will still be a bitter wind chill.

“As early as Friday, the weather in the Czech Republic will begin to affect the distinctive frontal interface, which will separate the cold polar air in the north from the warm spring air in southern Europe,” meteorologist Dagmar Honsová said.

According to the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute, next week should also see snow, and not just in upland areas.

What is the Beast from the East?

The ‘Beast from the East’ is a phrase used to describe cold and wintry conditions as a result of easterly winds.

When pressure is high, the Czech Republic 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’ moniker.

Called also the “Siberian Bear” in Holland, “Snow Cannon” in Sweden and “Moscow-Paris” in France, in 2018 it has brought freezing temperatures and snow from Romania’s Black Sea ports to Spain’s Catalonia and France’s Corsica and Biarritz. Italy’s Naples saw the most snow since 1956.