Synoptic situation
The set of WV images do give a better presentation of the 'dry slot' previously discussed. The battered large regions of Denmark and the south of Sweden as well as the north of Britain should also be blamed on a ‘sting jet’ within this storm. Sting jets are known to occur in low-pressure systems such as Gudrun, when there is a dramatic fall in pressure, and to be the cause of the most damaging winds at the surface. A sting jet occurs when a stream of very strong upper-level winds descends to the ground at the bent-back tip of the weather front at the centre of a low pressure. Viewed from above, this part of the weather system has a cloud feature which looks like a scorpion’s tail – hence the name sting jet (source Danish Meteorological Institute). This distinct shape and deepening of stratospheric air is seen well in the first phase of the case as the Storm still intensifies.
7 January 2005/12.00 UTC - Meteosat 8 WV6.2 image
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