UK Weather Forecast: Omega Block to Bring Long Summer
The warm and dry weather may be coming to an end, but it’s not all doom and gloom for the months ahead. According to the Daily Record, weather experts predict that the record-breaking sunshine could continue for most of the summer due to a weather pattern known as an ‘omega block’.
April was the UK’s hottest ever, with mini-heatwaves at either end of the month and less rain than usual. However, the prolonged spell of dry, sunny weather is predicted to end in about a week, with the Met Office forecasting a shift towards cloudier skies and cooler temperatures.
An Omega Block is most common in spring but can exceptionally persist for months around mid-summer. The Met Office explained that an Omega Block occurs when "an area of high pressure [is] sandwiched in between two lows to the east and west, and also slightly to the south". This weather pattern can lead to easterly flows to the UK and means that under the high pressure, the weather will remain mainly dry and settled for a few days or perhaps weeks.
Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore said that the recent warm spell is due to the ‘Omega Block’ weather pattern. As described, this occurs when the North Atlantic jet stream weakens, typically after the Stratospheric Polar Vortex breaks down following a cold winter. Moore further explained that this leads to "high pressure [systems] to re-establish over and over again" and indicated that for this summer, it implies "June, July, and August, has a strong signal for higher than average temperatures… during the summer months".
The Met Office’s long-range forecast, covering Thursday to Saturday, states that "Thursday will most likely be dry with some sunshine and light winds across much of the UK. A few showers are possible, but the majority of places will remain dry. Temperatures during this period are expected to continue being above average for this time of year." Moving into the bank holiday weekend and the following week, a shift in weather patterns is anticipated. More unsettled conditions are likely to develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic.
While this breakdown usually happens in mid-April, it occurred earlier this year, around the second week of March. According to Moore, "the influence of the breakdown of the Stratospheric Polar Vortex on the troposphere can last for two to three months". This means that the UK can expect a warm and dry summer, with temperatures potentially being above average.
As reported by the Daily Record, the omega block weather pattern is expected to bring a long summer to the UK. The weather pattern occurs when an area of high pressure is sandwiched between two areas of low pressure, leading to dry and settled weather. The Met Office has forecast that the warm weather will give way to more unsettled conditions, but forecasters predict a warm summer ahead.
The Daily Record reported that the recent warm spell is due to the ‘Omega Block’ weather pattern, which can lead to high pressure systems re-establishing over and over again. This, in turn, can lead to a strong signal for higher than average temperatures during the summer months. As the weather pattern continues to affect the UK, residents can expect a warm and dry summer.
The UK’s warm weather is set to continue, despite a shift in weather patterns anticipated in the coming weeks. According to the Daily Record, the omega block weather pattern is expected to bring a long summer to the UK, with temperatures potentially being above average. The Met Office has forecast that the warm weather will give way to more unsettled conditions, but forecasters predict a warm summer ahead.
