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 /

    Why has it been so windy recently?

16:00
20 February 2022

Weather explained
Why has it been so windy recently?

With so much talk of wind recently, you may be left wondering exactly where it is all coming from.

All wind is the result of air moving. As the sun heats the planet, warmer air rises leaving an area of low pressure behind. Colder air is pulled into this area creating wind.

That is the simple explanation. This week, strong winds arrived due to a classic weather pattern sometimes referred to as the Atlantic Highway.

Atlantic Highway

A low pressure over Iceland and a high pressure over the Azores are throwing icy polar air and warm tropical air at each other.

The dramatic temperature differences create a veritable Atlantic wind highway, running from far out in the Atlantic and into Europe, over the UK and Ireland.

This, in conjunction with an active jet stream, combined to deliver gale force winds for much of our two countries.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Forest fires spread to south-east Europe. Heat and strong winds. . . Thursday, 30 July 2026
Split image showing an active wildfire with flames and thick smoke on the left, and a wind forecast map of Greece on the right with gusts of 25–35 mph around the Aegean Sea, alongside a wildfire warning symbol highlighting elevated fire danger.
Thursday, 30 July 2026

Heat and strong winds

Forest fires spread to south-east Europe
Heavier rainfall over the week for some. Ireland & Scotland. . . Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Split image showing a Europe rainfall accumulation forecast map on the left with the highest totals across the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia, and a satellite weather map on the right with a broad band of rain stretching across Ireland, Scotland, and northern Britain, highlighted by a rain cloud icon.
Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Ireland & Scotland

Heavier rainfall over the week for some
June records rise after verification. Multiple new highs. . . Thursday, 30 July 2026
Temperature map of the UK and Ireland highlighting verified June temperature records, with 38°C in England, 35.1°C in Wales, and 30.8°C in Ireland. A large thermometer icon emphasizes record-breaking June heat across the UK.
Thursday, 30 July 2026

Multiple new highs

June records rise after verification
All weather news
This might also interest you
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday, 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday, 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday, 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
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