An exceptionally strong jet stream blowing at 230 miles per hour across the North Atlantic could lead to a few five-hour flying times between New York and London on Thursday. Unfortunately for fliers headed in the other direction, eight hour-plus flight times, with a possible fuel stop, might be the result.
This powerhouse jet stream will also give rise to a series of storms that will bring heavy rain, high-elevation snow and damaging 100 mile per hour winds to northern England, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The UK Met Office has issued "amber" weather warnings for northern parts of the country on Thursday and Friday as rapidly intensifying storms pass to the north, from the North Atlantic into Scandinavia.
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/GFSMSLPUK1-640x480.png" caption=""Computer model forecast for sea level pressure on Friday, showing a strong area of low pressure north of the UK (blue) with a big high pressure area to the southwest (red)." credit="WeatherBell Analytics" alt="GFS Sea Level Pressure"]
These storms will set up a tight air pressure gradient between the low pressure centers north of the UK and a sprawling, strong area of high pressure to the west of Spain. Such gradients result in strong winds, as air rushes in to try to equalize the pressure differences.
After the first storm passes by on Friday, another intensifying storm will bring strong winds and high waves again on Friday night and into the day on Saturday. Heavy rain, and possibly snow in higher elevations, is also likely as a plume of moisture from the Caribbean extends northeastward toward Western Europe.
Unsettled weather is typical in the UK and Ireland at this time of year, when the jet stream, which s powered by the differences between air masses in the tropics and the poles, gives rise to powerful non-tropical storm systems. Last year, many of these storms hit central England, including severe flooding in and around London. So far this winter, more populated parts of the UK have managed to dodge the most severe storm impacts.