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Issued: 0715hrs Monday 6th June 2005
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

A forecasting question...sunshine or cloud?

Isn't it nice to see high pressure centred over the British Isles? After what seems like weeks of unsettled conditions with strong winds and heavy rain, the weather is finally settling down.

Now, we'd normally associate high pressure with fine, warm and sunny weather, but there are occasions when the position of a high traps moisture within it, turning conditions cloudy. I'm afraid that the high building through us now, seems one of the latter.

The position of the high will be critical in deciding how much cloud there wail be over the next few days. It seems likely that with a southwest flow, originating in the Azores Islands, may drag in mild, moist air, bringing low cloud and drizzle to western Ireland and western Scotland.

This low cloud could last through Wednesday and Thursday. We tend to find that as the high pressure stagnates, so the moist air gets trapped below it, and is reluctant to move. It;s really a change in the position of the high which we need to look for before the cloud breaks.

Having said that, southern and central parts of England should enjoy some good spells of sunshine. Where the sun comes out it will be very warm with highs perhaps close to 24C on Wednesday and Thursday in the southern Midlands.

Whatever the weather, keep the sun shining.


Simon