Weather explained: What are monsoons?

Monsoon season is an annual occurrence in some areas of the world. But do you actually know what a monsoon is?

A monsoon, by definition, is a seasonal shift in prevailing winds within a region bringing a sudden and marked difference in weather conditions. Some regions have monsoon seasons which bring a permanent change.

The best-developed monsoons occur in the subtropics with the Asian monsoon perhaps the most well-known. Both wet and dry monsoons exist depending on the shift in winds which mark changes in the season.

So, what about the UK and Ireland?

Although the term monsoon is used in our countries there is no defined monsoon season in Europe. It is instead a term used to describe the westerly winds which return to our region in June and July bringing a monsoon-like shift in conditions.

In the UK, the primary wind direction blows westerly. These are strongest in winter and begin to slow through spring. As summer arrives these winds begin to regain strength and can result in a sudden change in the weather.