Why the weather has been gloomy in the UK recently

If the weather in your part of the country has been grey and dull, then it may be because of a meteorological phenomenon known as anticyclonic gloom.

The Great Smog of 1952 was an extreme example.

This week, while conditions are mostly settled, with high pressure in charge, there is a lack of blue sky and sun.

The UK can often experience anticyclonic gloom in late autumn, winter or early spring, sometimes lasting for many days and even weeks.

What happens is that high pressure allows air to sink, causing warming and compression, with the sinking motion trapping moisture and cloud near the surface.

A temperature inversion can occur, when colder air exists near the surface of the earth with a layer of warmer air above, acting as an atmospheric lid.

When the sun isn't as strong, it limits the breakup of cloud, along with a lack of wind from the area of high pressure.

Overnight, the cloud can often thicken, too, as moisture condenses, with drizzly outbreaks possible.

Anticyclonic gloom can often lead to higher levels of pollution, as that becomes trapped as well.

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The first half of November 2024 was the last notable instance of anticyclonic gloom, with virtually no sunshine recorded in many locations across the UK.

For now, it looks like things will change from Sunday, with wet and windy weather moving in from the west.

(c) Sky News 2025: Why the weather has been gloomy in the UK recently