What is a blocking high pressure system?

Low pressure will remain centred over the UK for the next few days. This is a result of a ‘blocking’ area of high pressure centred over Scandinavia and Northern Russia.

What is a blocking high pressure system?

Meteorologists refer to a 'blocking' high when a large area of high pressure becomes stationary, resulting in the blocking or redirection of low pressure systems.In our case, the high is located close to Scandinavia, to the northwest of the UK, resulting in very slow progression of weather fronts across the UK, as the high pressure blocks their movement.So during the first working week of the year, a number of weather systems will move in off the Atlantic bringing showers or longer spells of rain, however their slow progression will mean persistent and prolonged steady rain at times.As well as the wet conditions, it will be windy at times too.

The unsettled conditions stay with us into next weekend with further spells of rain and with colder air in the north, models suggest we might see some wintry weather over high ground in the north. It could be a good week for Scottish ski resorts.