UK weather: One hundred flood warnings with weather ‘stuck in a rut’
Low pressure weather systems have generally stalled over the UK and Western Europe, leading to days of rainy and cloudy skies.
This is because a large area of high pressure has become trapped in Scandinavia, acting as a roadblock preventing weather systems from moving eastward like we normally see.
This is a ‘blocked’ weather pattern and although it is quite common it is notable for its consequences on the UK so far this year.
Blocked weather conditions can take slightly different forms depending on exactly where high pressure areas may get trapped.
For example, if the area of blocked high pressure is located over the UK, rain-bearing weather systems are stopped from arriving and we are treated to a prolonged period of drought.
In summer, it can cause both drought and heat waves due to the hot air coming from the southeast.
It can make our weather dry, sunny and cold during the winter months.
But very small changes in location can make a difference.
If blocking is just north of the UK in winter, it would allow very cold air to arrive from north-east Europe, leading to similar conditions as the infamous ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018.
