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
Parts of England inching towards drought. Low rivers & reservoirs. . . Wednesday, 22 July 2026
People relaxing in a park during hot weather ,with one person sunbathing on dry yellow grass beneath large leafy trees under a blue sky with scattered fair-weather clouds.
Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Low rivers & reservoirs

Parts of England inching towards drought
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. Heading over 40°C?. . . Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Heading over 40°C?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Drought for North Wales and Upper Severn. 2% of average rainfall. . . Thursday, 23 July 2026
Split image showing a July rainfall anomaly map of Europe on the left with below-average rainfall across the UK, Ireland, and much of western and central Europe, and an active moorland wildfire on the right producing flames and thick smoke near homes.
Thursday, 23 July 2026

2% of average rainfall

Drought for North Wales and Upper Severn
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
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday, 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday, 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
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
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