UK Weather: High Pressure Dome U-Turn Causes Temperatures to Plunge
A bitter easterly wind sweeping an autumnal chill off the North Sea has put spring’s sultry start on hold, with Britons in parts of the country back in winter coats as the mercury drops to single figures. According to GB News, the abrupt U-turn in weather is attributed to the same stubborn high-pressure dome that triggered the freakishly hot start to spring.
The high-pressure dome, which had previously brought warm weather to the UK, has settled north, opening the gates to the Arctic and allowing a cold easterly wind to dominate the weather. This wind has brought a chill to the air, with temperatures plummeting to single figures in some parts of the country. GB News reports that the Met Office’s Aidan McGivern said: "High pressure is setting up shop just to the north of the UK, and that high pressure simply stays where it is, and it is not going anywhere for an entire week and perhaps even longer."
The Met Office has warned that the cold weather will continue throughout the weekend, with a nationwide split bringing the coolest temperatures to the east coast. Aidan McGivern added: "Very little changes day-to-day, and we will see cloudy conditions to start off with, but by the afternoon it is the North-Sea coast where the cloud will persist." The GB News article quotes McGivern as saying that even inland, chilly Britons can hope only for highs in the low-20Cs – a far cry from the early May near-30C temperatures.
The cold weather is expected to continue into the middle of next week, with northerly high pressure holding fast. McGivern said: "Into the weekend, it is more of the same with perhaps a lot of cloud to begin with temperatures limited towards the east with 22C or 23C where we have sunnier skies towards the west of the UK." The GB News article also reports that Honor Criswick, a Met Office meteorologist, said: "There is more of a northeasterly breeze along the east coast, and that is going to make things feel a little chillier here."
The dry weather, which has been a feature of the UK’s weather recently, is expected to continue, with some parts of the country facing drought. Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: "The dry weather in parts of the country which are now facing drought will continue to be an issue with no significant rain on the cards for the next week or so." The GB News article quotes Dale as warning that this could become a problem as we go into summer, as it is this time of year that we rely on rainfall to fill the reserves.
In conclusion, the UK’s weather has taken a dramatic turn, with cold easterly winds and high pressure dominating the forecast. The GB News article provides a detailed analysis of the weather situation, with expert commentary from the Met Office and British Weather Services. As the UK continues to experience this cold snap, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest weather forecasts and warnings.
