United Kingdom & Ireland

SSWE has occurred, we now await split & downward response, CFSv2 sluggish with -AO/NAO through Jan 25

SSWE has occurred, we now await split & downward response, CFSv2 sluggish with -AO/NAO through Jan 25

The sudden stratospheric warming has now crucially progressed across the pole and headed towards the Davis Straits as we entered 2019. A split in the vortex is expected over the next day or so. Now we all know that there’s a delay or lag between the initial SSWE at 10mb and by the time the […]

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Cold 2nd half to Winter 2018-19? MJO expected to enter cold phases as SSWE causes vortex split!

Cold 2nd half to Winter 2018-19? MJO expected to enter cold phases as SSWE causes vortex split!

The pattern has been mild across most of the continents of the Northern Hemisphere with the aid of a continued amplified MJO progressing through phases 2,3,4 and 5 which supports a neutral to positive AO/NAO. Though NOTHING is certain until we see the pattern evolve, there are more favorable atmospheric drivers/signals/components coming together which supports […]

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A Rather Boring Christmas to New Year week but the calm before the cold?

Written by on December 26, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
A Rather Boring Christmas to New Year week but the calm before the cold?

Well I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Now we’re in that gap between Christmas and New Year festivities and the weather is not particularly exciting to say the least. No cold, no snow, no storms but parked between weather systems which aren’t moving that much due to a relatively slow upper flow. Briefly […]

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Europe January 2019 Outlook

Written by on December 22, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
Europe January 2019 Outlook

The month of December has panned out pretty much as expected, predominantly mild, often wet and driven by a mainly +AO/NAO. In the 30 day animation below, you can see the initial blocking then return to negative heights across much of the arctic (+AO) which has led to mild over the continents but note the […]

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Dreaming of a White Christmas 2018? Dream on….

Written by on December 22, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
Dreaming of a White Christmas 2018? Dream on….

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Thanks to a positive AO/NAO, it’s been a mild and wet December so far and it looks to remain that way for the last weekend before Christmas. As we head into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, high pressure builds over the UK settling things down. So, sunshine should […]

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If models prove correct with late month SSWE, a 1979 or 2010 style January-February is on the table!

If models prove correct with late month SSWE, a 1979 or 2010 style January-February is on the table!

The latest GFS ensemble continues to show an end of the month SSWE which could make for a very interesting January ahead. There’s still plenty of room of disappointment but our chances for cold is increasing. Note the temperature difference at 10mb over the Arctic between now and January 1st. https://twitter.com/MetmanJames/status/1074321968948760576 The amplified MJO is […]

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UK/Ireland: Pattern changing Storm Deirdre brings flooding rain, freezing rain, snow and severe gales

Written by on December 15, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
UK/Ireland: Pattern changing Storm Deirdre brings flooding rain, freezing rain, snow and severe gales

The Atlantic is making it’s comeback after a near week dominated by cool, easterly winds. Storm Deirdre is making the change from cold continent back to milder, stormier Atlantic as the jet stream strengthens. The tight thermal gradient marked by the storm is helping it deepen on final approach to the UK and so the […]

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Could Indian Ocean Thunderstorms Trigger a Late December Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event?

Written by on December 12, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
Could Indian Ocean Thunderstorms Trigger a Late December Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event?

I’ve held off for about a week or so on talking about the stratospheric polar vortex because we all know how modelling suggests one thing only to let us down with the opposite. We know the stratospheric polar vortex has been under a degree of stress and as a result it’s been stretching and flexing. […]

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Many a cold winter including 2009-10 saw a VERY wet November into December like we’re seeing now!

Written by on December 7, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
Many a cold winter including 2009-10 saw a VERY wet November into December like we’re seeing now!

The wet pattern continues for much of the UK with the Atlantic still firmly in charge as forecasted. This soggy pattern looks likely to remain from now up until Christmas, what happens after that remains to be seen. As you’re probably aware by now, I have called for colder late December onwards and the models […]

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-2C Aviemore, +14C in Somerset, Stormy weather returns Friday to Scotland

Written by on December 5, 2018 in Rest of Europe, United Kingdom & Ireland with 0 Comments
-2C Aviemore, +14C in Somerset, Stormy weather returns Friday to Scotland

The UK has been separated by two quite different air masses over the past 24 hours. Wednesday began with -7C in Aviemore but +13C in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and really through the day it didn’t change much with the south peaking at around 13-14C whereas northern Scotland struggled to get above freezing all day. In […]

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