Beginners Guide for Summer Charts

Gallee

In order for decent sunshine and higher temps to take place we need High Pressure over Ireland. This is called an Azores high due to where it comes from. These High Pressures will only result if the Jet Stream moves North (at the moment) it over France. Is any of what I said true? I read the Reading weather charts for beginners thread but it focuses only on Winter Charts. Apologies for asking what may seem like a very amateur question. What in lay mans terms do we need for some sunshine?

Strangegravy

I think the Azores high drifting up over us normally means sunny weather and above average temperatures, but not all the high pressure systems that we get come up from the Azores.

Maybe one or two of the more knowledgeable posters on here might do up a little guide to show what to look out for during the summer months, as the winter one was a great help.

eskimocat

Strangegravy that scenario you posted would generally give us a shot at some nice weather here. In very very simple terms, (as far as I understand them anyway..!)

We end up with cool, wet weather when there is low pulling colder air, over Ireland. How cold, windy the weather gets, depends on the strenght of that low and where it is pulling the cold from. Look out to see if its turning into the classic comma shape, the edges of the comma can bring driving rain and wind as the wind speeds etc are faster on the outside of the comma when making the turn.

Occasionally we might be on the edge of the high (azores high and other highs coming in from Europe) (red, orange on charts) and the low (blues and greens) meeting.. and the clash between the two often bring rain and wind depending on which side we are, if we are on the line between the two, the sunny south east could be bathed in sunshine, and the northwest could be rained out of it!

Some times we are lucky and sit on the red side (High temps)... and those are the days the sun shines. The jet stream often affects which side of the colours (BluevRed) Ireland is under. In recent weeks, as you may have noticed, there was a fair bit blue/green in the charts, and good clear commas developing, and the red colour stayed well down the charts.

Hope this helps

Harps

A good guide here from netweather that explains what to look for on the charts

http://forum.netweather.tv/topic/56303-guide-to-uk-summer-setups/

Gallee

Harps wrote: »

A good guide here from netweather that explains what to look for on the charts

http://forum.netweather.tv/topic/56303-guide-to-uk-summer-setups/

Thanks Harps - this is an excellent guide for the beginner.