Vortex shedding occurs when the wind hits a mechanical system at a specific frequency, causing the system to “excite” and produce a high vibrational load, explains Sparta Engineering.
Windspeeds on Wednesday reached 108mph in some parts of Britain, the Met Office said.
Much of Britain has been lashed with thundersnow storms in recent days – that is normal thunderstorms but with snow rather than rain.
A rare phenomenon, it is caused in the same way thunder and lightning are triggered during the summer, when a pocket of warm air at ground level rises and collides with the colder air above it.
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Britain is being lashed with thundersnow storms
Even though temperatures in the UK are, in places, a little over freezing, the air above it is still significantly cooler. In the summer, this process creates heavy rain showers and lightning storms.
In the cooler winter, the country is pelted with snow instead. The snow contained within the thunderstorm acts to dampen the sound of the thunder and while the thunder from a typical storm might be heard many miles away, the thunder during a thundersnow event will only be heard if a person is within two to three miles of the lightning.
When thundersnow occurs at night the lightning seems brighter - this is because the lightning reflects off the snowflakes.
On Thursday up to 9 inches of snow fell in parts of Britain.
Snow
(01 of17)
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A walker makes his way through the snow in the grounds of Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Heavy snow falls have swept across many parts of the UK and Ireland closing hundreds of schools and bringing traffic nightmares for motorists. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:Peter Morrison/AP)
(02 of17)
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A family play in the snow at Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Heavy snow falls have swept across many parts of the UK and Ireland closing hundreds of schools and bringing traffic nightmares for motorists. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:Peter Morrison/AP)
(03 of17)
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Children play in the snow in the grounds of Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015. Heavy snow falls have swept across many parts of the UK and Ireland closing hundreds of schools and bringing traffic nightmares for motorists. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (credit:Peter Morrison/AP)
(04 of17)
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People try to make their way through a blizzard in Durham as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(05 of17)
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Snow on the ground in the fields near Consett, County Durham as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Tom White/PA Wire)
(06 of17)
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Snow on the ground in the fields near Consett, County Durham as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Tom White/PA Wire)
(07 of17)
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Snow on the ground in the fields near Consett, County Durham as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Tom White/PA Wire)
(08 of17)
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A cyclist makes his way through a blizzard in Durham as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(09 of17)
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A snow covered Durham Cathedral as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(10 of17)
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A light covering of snow on Tynemouth beach in Tyne and Wear, as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(11 of17)
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A light covering of snow on Tynemouth beach in Tyne and Wear, as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(12 of17)
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A light covering of snow on Tynemouth beach in Tyne and Wear, as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(13 of17)
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Cars make their way through the snow in the Loxley area of Sheffield, as Britain was due to be hit by a week of snow and freezing temperatures as the country's "yo-yo" weather continues. (credit:Dave Higgens/PA Wire)
(14 of17)
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An owl flies through the snow in Northumberland, as motorists were warned to take extra care on the roads in icy conditions as Britain froze on the coldest night of the winter so far. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(15 of17)
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Horses in the snow near Carrshield in Northumberland, as motorists were warned to take extra care on the roads in icy conditions as Britain froze on the coldest night of the winter so far. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(16 of17)
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Horses in the snow at Carrshield in Northumberland, as motorists were warned to take extra care on the roads in icy conditions as Britain froze on the coldest night of the winter so far. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(17 of17)
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Deep snow on the Northumberland border, as motorists were warned to take extra care on the roads in icy conditions as Britain froze on the coldest night of the winter so far. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)