Wednesday 26th November
The ridge of high pressure that had extended over the UK on Tuesday gave us a gloriously sunny day, if cool, thanks to a brisk run of chilly northerly air, that meant the thermometer struggled to reach a maximum of 6.6C at 13.14, being 3.7C below average. The downside of high pressure in the winter is clear skies at night, which last night saw the thermometer eventually drop to a minimum of -4.7C at 07.49 early Wednesday. The minimal warmth only slowly subsided last night as the air temperature only dropped to freezing (-0.1C) at 00.16 early Wednesday.
Wednesday started with clear skies and weak sunshine after sunrise, the sun being low in the morning sky at this time of year. The ridge of high pressure will be the dominating factor this morning that will give us a sunny few hours until around midday. A warm weather front is edging closer from low pressure systems in the eastern Atlantic, that at 08.00 had pushed cloud over Cornwall and will begin to arrive over southern England around midday. After that time we will lose the sunshine as the cloud thickens from which rain is likely to fall during the evening. The cloud and warmer air stream will mean a much warmer night ahead than last night, as the temperature will begin to rise during the late evening.
The barometric pressure is currently at its highest (1023.4mb at 08.00) and will this morning begin to drop as the ridge of high pressure visits the Continent whilst at the same time low pressure systems edge in from the Atlantic. The depression over Iceland will deepen over the next two days dominating our weather before it edges away over Scandinavia, which will mean a cloudy day on Thursday but significantly much less cold, in fact the temperature is likely to climb a degree or two above the average under the influence of a southwesterly airstream.
With just a month to go before Christmas arrives, questions are already being asked if it will be a white Christmas. I attach below, the first part of a recent article from the Met Office that explains why it is difficult to predict snow over the UK. More tomorrow.
While it can create picturesque scenes and a sense of seasonal charm, forecasting snow remains one of the most challenging tasks for meteorologists. Understanding why snow is relatively rare here and what makes predicting it so complex helps explain why forecasts can change at short notice.
In this article, we explore why snow is rare in the UK, what conditions are needed, and how the Met Office works to keep people informed and safe
The UK’s maritime climate plays a big role in limiting snowfall. In winter, land cools quickly, but the surrounding seas remain relatively warm. This moderates the air temperature as it approaches our shores, often turning what could have been snow into rain or sleet. While inland areas of large continents experience prolonged cold spells, the UKs exposure to milder Atlantic air means that snow is usually confined to short-lived events or higher ground.