Snow has fallen unexpectedly in a Merseyside town.
Yesterday people in Liverpool reported snow on the ground across the city, with a wintry blast also felt in Wirral. One area that rarely sees snow is Formby.
The coastal town has what is known as a maritime climate or oceanic climate, which essentially gives the town milder seasons, with the last significant snowfall coming to the town 12 years ago, according to residents.
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However, today people reported a light dusting of snow carpeting the cars and pavements of Formby. The news comes as a Level 3 Cold Weather Alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) covering all of England. This is currently in place until Friday, December 16.
It was during the evening of Friday, December 17, 2010, that snow last fell heavily in Formby. At some points, it was two feet thick across Formby, from the beach to the bypass.
This week, we are likely to see more "freezing fog" and ice in Merseyside as temperatures could reach as low as -4C. Temperatures are expected to remain very cold towards the end of the year and into 2023.
According to the Met Office, it is a myth that it needs to be below zero to snow. The heaviest snowfalls tend to occur when the air temperature is between zero and 2 °C. On average, you are actually more likely to see snow between January and March than in December.
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