An “anticyclonic gloom” which has brought dreary grey weather to the UK is set to finally subside, with sunshine making a welcome return.
The start of the month has been foggy thanks to a high-pressure system which is typically associated with warmer months.
Because high pressure supports light winds and clear skies, the fog in this period is stubborn to clear, which leads to daytime mist and grey skies – known as an “anticyclonic gloom”.
Some areas in the UK have seen fewer than an hour of sunshine this month thanks to the high-pressure system.
Some areas in the UK have seen fewer than an hour of sunshine this month thanks to the high-pressure system
PA/Met Office
Odiham, a village of around 5,000 people in Hampshire, recorded just 12 minutes of sunny spells in the past 11 days, and in Rostherne, Cheshire has had just 24 minutes of light this month.
“There’s not been anything hazardous that we have to warn for, so it’s not anything people need to worry about but constant grey skies and no sunshine probably doesn’t do any good for people’s mental health,” said Jonathan Vautrey, a Met Office meteorologist.
However, Britons can rejoice as forecasters now predict that most of the UK will enjoy sunshine and blue skies on Armistice Day.
Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: “After a gloomy and grey start to November, there is some sunshine on the way as we see high pressure redeveloping across the UK into the new working week.”
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The start of the month has been foggy thanks to a high-pressure system which is typically associated with warmer months
PA
She said that whilst it will be a chilly start in the north, the south west and southern coast of England will have a milder start.
“Plenty of sunshine on offer and plenty of blue skies in store as well,” she added, though said that parts of eastern England could be subjected to one or two isolated showers.
The mercury will also be average for this time of year, around 12C in the south and 10C in the north, though Plymouth will see highs of 14C.
And the sunny spells aren’t just limited to today, with the sunshine set to continue throughout the week.
A high-pressure system over the UK mapped last week
NetweatherA new weather front moving in from the north-west is responsible for the clearing of the fog, Vautery said.
“Behind that we’re introducing some much fresher conditions,” he added. “It will help clear out all the grot and the cloud that’s around at the moment.”
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon previously said “anticyclonic gloom” was when “high pressure traps a layer of moisture near to the Earth's surface and that brings a prolonged period of dull and cloudy weather, but with pockets of mist and fog as well”.
He said the “atmospheric gloom” is “unusual but not unheard of”.
