Reply #23: No weather extremes here (usually!) [View All]

[arenean]

Hi CC,

Yes, NW europe's temperatures are moderated by the Atlantic - we don't get continental weather patterns of hot summer and cold winter temps. Most of our weather comes from the west (maritime air masses from the Atlantic), so the air temps reflect the sea temperatures, especially in the winter, where the west coast stays at around 10-12C.

The main reason why we had a lot of snow the winter just gone, and a couple of weeks of hot temperatures now, is that we've had a lot of blocking weather systems since about November, preventing the usual Atlantic low pressure systems from coming over. When we do get heatwaves in the summer, it's due to the buildup of the Azores High, which force the depressions north of us (usually Iceland get them instead!)

You can tell I work in Meteorology can't you - and I'm totally baffled by Fahrenheit!

Thanks for the welcome!