Weather Update: Dry Conditions and Upcoming Changes

This month, Northwest Europe is experiencing a notably dry spring, with areas like the UK, northern France, the low countries, and Germany receiving only about 10% of their usual rainfall.

However, that dry spell is expected to shift significantly this week as summer-like conditions, influenced by substantial high-pressure systems in the region, give way to much-needed rain.

The polar jet stream, which is a fast-flowing ribbon of air about six miles above the ground, is predicted to strengthen in the coming days as it moves from the US towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Wind speeds could reach over 124 miles per hour (200 km/h) over the weekend and into early next week, bringing in low-pressure systems from the Atlantic. As these systems reach northwestern Europe, they will disrupt the stable high-pressure areas, leading to more unsettled weather, with frontal rain expected next week.

In these low-pressure scenarios, warm and unstable air may lead to showers and thunderstorms, particularly in southern France and the Alps. Additionally, temperatures that could bring snow on Friday might see a sudden drop.

Meanwhile, the weather is also becoming quite unstable in parts of southern Africa and Madagascar. Deep low-pressure areas moving eastward through the continent’s southern tip are generating cold winds and snowfall in the mountains of South Africa.

Daytime highs may plummet to 10-12°C below typical levels, struggling to reach just 10°C on Wednesday, well beneath the average of 21°C expected for late May.

Winds exceeding 50 mph are anticipated to create hazardous ocean conditions along South Africa’s southeast coast, with wave heights exceeding seven meters. These strong winds and high waves pose threats to navigation in the waters between southern Mozambique and Madagascar, raising concerns for mariners.