Cut-off Low: What is it and how is it formed?

Arab Weather - God willing, it is expected that the eastern Mediterranean basin region will be affected by a low pressure system accompanied by a very cold air mass of polar origins on Wednesday and Thursday, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures and a clear activity in wind speed, in addition to rainfall in various countries of the eastern Mediterranean basin and the Levant and snow on the high mountainous elevations, especially in Lebanon and Syria.

Experts at "Arab Weather" said that the weather system comes as a result of a cold air mass separating from the mother polar mass in northern Europe, to settle for several days over Turkish territory and continue to rotate so that its effects include the countries of the eastern Mediterranean basin and the Levant.

What is low cut?

A shear depression is a low-pressure system that is separated from the main jet stream, causing it to move slowly and affect the weather for relatively long periods. This separation occurs when a retreat occurs in the jet stream, isolating a cold air mass in the upper atmosphere from the general weather system.

Mechanism of formation:

As a result of changes in wind speed and direction in the upper atmosphere, the cold mass separates from the jet stream to become an independent low-level trough. Due to the absence of the influence of the jet stream that usually drives weather systems, the low-level trough moves slowly or remains stationary in a particular location.

Low Cut Features:

• slow movement
• Heavy rain for several days

Accompanying weather phenomena:

• heavy rain
• Thunderstorms
• flash floods