A cold front wave is visible mid-Atlantic on 19 April 2004. You are concerned about the potential development of this wave. Your first task is to familiarise yourself with the weather situation for the area, based on actual data for the past day, and NWP information from the 12Z model run. As the case progresses you will need to use this information as new data becomes available.

There is a possibility that this wave will develop rapidly to produce a deep depression. We will need to determine the track of the depression, and should it deepen the weather impacts that may affect Europe.

Before we look at the day’s events in more detail, first consider the following aspects:-

• Location
• Time of year
• Surface synoptic situation
• Upper air situation

A map and some "quick-look" images are shown below to get you started. Click the arrow beside the charts to cycle through the charts. Use the arrow at the bottom left of the page to move on to the next page.

The forecast area for this case study is the Eastern Atlantic and Western Europe, as shown in the box.

300hPa contour chart for 1200 UTC 19 April 2004.

IR Meteosat 8 image for 1200 UTC over the Atlantic.

UK Met Office surface analysis chart for 1200 UTC on 19 April 2004.