For a third and last time this summer, we’ve a distinct NW/SE contrast over the UK both today and tomorrow with cloud, rain and cool dominating Scotland while hot sunshine sweats the Southeast.

The reason for the contrast is simple, low pressure near Iceland and high pressure over the Low Countries has a seperating fontal system sliding through N England. Fresher air to the north, steamy air to the south. Expect storms to blow up along that front later today and tonight.

When very warm to hot weather affects the UK, you know the near continent is toasty, after all that’s where our warm air typically comes from.

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As we progress through late week, another low slides in off the Atlantic. However, as we end August and commence September, the tropics are heating up with a much more robust African wave train. These systems coming off Africa are entering a much more favourable environment.

We’ve currently 3 systems on the radar at the moment and 2 out of those 3 may have impact on Western Europe in the 6-10 day.

This time of year in particular is a time when we up here in the UK watch the tropics as the pattern every 2nd or so year becomes favourable for lifting warm core systems north and transition to cold core, energising the upper winds blowing across the Atlamtic and with the aid of warm and cold air masses colliding, it’s not uncommon for systems that we’re originally hurricanes to strike the UK as a stronger low with deeper central pressure and stronger winds. Storms or hurricanes caught in the easterly trades can find the weakness between Bermuda and Azores high, often cycling around the Azores high and getting thrown our way.

See this morning’s video.

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