Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Feeling under pressure? Azores High making an impact

15:00
16 May 2023

Feeling under pressure?
Azores High making an impact

Air pressure map of Europe showing Azores High over the UK and Ireland
The UK and Ireland are currently feeling the effect of the Azores High.

The UK and Ireland are feeling the effects of the Azores High area of pressure currently sitting over the two countries.

High pressure is nothing new, but right now a very specific form is impacting our weather. The Azores High is a semi-permanent area of high pressure which typically rests over the Atlantic Ocean, named after the Azores Islands.

During summer, this high generally moves towards Bermuda, allowing warm air to push north and deliver warming temperatures to our shores. When it moves closer, it can suppress poor weather and redirect air flow.

With the high over us, the impact of the jet stream is lessened. In fact, right now we are seeing chillier temperatures because of the high's influence.

Air is being diverted north, around the pressure, towards colder climates before rushing back south bringing that chill with them.

Meanwhile, two low pressure systems currently affecting Scandinavia and Central Europe are being kept at bay. Resulting in largely clear but chilly days, particularly in the mornings.

High- and low-pressure areas have big impacts on our weather.

Air pressure refers to the force that the air is exerting on the ground. Within areas of high-pressure, air slowly sinks to the ground with air warming as it descends helping to suppress storms and showers.

See the impact of these systems for yourself with all weather conditions visible in our WeatherRadar.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Hurricane POLO remains dangerous. Many storms in the Pacific. . . Thursday, 24 September 2026
Thursday, 24 September 2026

Many storms in the Pacific

Hurricane POLO remains dangerous
Colourful skies and scenic clouds cover. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 20 September 2026
Split image showing a golden sunset over the sea beneath layered clouds and a pink-purple sunset reflected across calm riverside water.
Sunday, 20 September 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Colourful skies and scenic clouds cover
Huge low-pressure system off Iceland. Impacting the UK & Ireland. . . Wednesday, 16 September 2026
WeatherRadar showing a large low-pressure system over the North Atlantic between Greenland and Iceland.
Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Impacting the UK & Ireland

Huge low-pressure system off Iceland
All weather news
This might also interest you
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan. Up to 1,000 mm of rain. . . Wednesday, 8 July 2026
The image shows an intense tropical cyclone over the western Pacific, east of Taiwan and the Philippines. The centre of the system is depicted as a light purple and white vortex with a clearly visible eye, surrounded by a ring of red and orange areas indicating the strongest wind speeds. A white arrow marks the typhoon’s predicted track towards the north-west, in the direction of Taiwan. To the west of the storm lie the Philippines, with the cities of Manila and Cebu; to the north of these lies Taiwan, with Taipei. Further west, the Chinese coast, including Hong Kong, and parts of Vietnam can be seen. The coloured wind map shows predominantly green areas outside the storm’s core, indicating significantly weaker winds. White streamlines illustrate the typhoon’s anti-clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. The highest wind speeds are concentrated around the eye of the cyclone.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Up to 1,000 mm of rain

Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList