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Issued: 0830 Friday 16th June 2006
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling
A mixed spell, then back to the sunshine (I hope!)...
I know it hasn't been fine for everyone, notably Scotland and parts of Ireland, but for the majority of the UK the past week or so has been dominated by high pressure. This has brought plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures.
The key to the fine weather was the displacement of high pressure further north than usual. This was bought about by a warm pool of water off the southwest of Portugal. The effect was to aid the development of low pressure west of Iberia and hence force the high pressure northwards.
The warmer water is now starting to cool down and the high is returning back south. As this happens the whole of the UK and Ireland may see a brief return to the westerlies for 4 or 5 days next week, with fronts moving eastwards bringing periods of rain. Most of the rain will be for the west of Ireland and Scotland with only light rain to the south.
By next weekend there are indications that the area of high pressure is likely to start building back northwards. This should settle conditions down once again in all areas, bringing a return to the sunshine and warmer weather.
Whatever the weather, keep the sun shining!
Simon