Why Is It So Windy Today? Where Met Office Weather Warnings Are In ...

Much of the UK is experiencing strong winds today, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning in southern England.

Heavy April showers are also falling across northern parts, with hail and even a smattering of snow in high areas.

Here are full details of the week’s weather warnings and the latest Met Office forecast.

Why is it so windy?

Wind is caused by differences in atmospheric pressure.

The Met Office explains: “Pressure at the Earth’s surface is a measure of the weight of air pressing down on it. The greater the mass of air above us, the higher the pressure we feel, and vice-versa.

“The importance of this is that air at the surface will want to move from high to low pressure to equalise the difference, which is what we know as wind.”

The current winds are being caused by a passage of low pressure over the UK.

What weather warnings are in place?

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind in southern England.

It covers London, East Anglia, the Home Counties and parts of the Midlands. It also stretches west towards Bath.

A yellow wind warning means to expect:

• Some delays to road, rail and air transport
• Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
• Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges

There is also a yellow warning for ice in northern Scotland for both Thursday and Friday.

This means to expect:

• Probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths
• Some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services

What is the latest weather forecast?

For Thursday the Met Office says: “Bands of rain or showers will move southwards across many parts with some snow on northern hills. Some drier, sunnier interludes, especially in the south this morning. Windy for many with gales affecting some coasts, and feeling cold.”

Sunshine and #AprilShowers for some of us Thursday as shown in the latest #radar sequence👇 Some of the showers are heavy in places and with a wintry mix across the high ground in the north🌦️ pic.twitter.com/B2mGR4EsUQ

— Met Office (@metoffice) April 7, 2022

Rain will affect southern England on Friday morning, but should clear by the afternoon.

Elsewhere, there will be a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some heavy with hail, sleet, and snow on hills. Temperatures will be in the high single figures.

The outlook for the weekend is “plenty of sunshine but still cold with a few showers on Saturday. Feeling milder from Sunday but with cloud and rain moving in from the west overnight and through Monday”.