High pressure, or an anticyclone, is currently influencing our weather.
Such areas of high pressure block rain-bearing fronts and often mean extended dry periods. In the summer this often leads to warm, dry and sunny days with light winds. In autumn and winter, while sunny, clearer days are possible, high pressure can also result in “anticyclonic gloom”.
This is when high pressure traps an area of moisture close to the surface of the Earth. The moisture forms low cloud, mist and fog, which then cannot lift and clear as the winds are so light and the sunshine at this time of year is so weak.
As the high persists, the low cloud continues to feed itself by re-thickening overnight as temperatures drop and moisture condenses. The quality of the air can also deteriorate as pollutants build, especially in cities.
Some parts of the country recorded no sunshine at all during the first week of November.
There is one part of the country that has fared much better than most, though. Eastern Scotland, sheltered by the Scottish mountains, has seen the cloud break up at times. On 3 November it was sunny all day in Leuchars, which is why this location is at the top of the sunshine chart below.
