The models are showing little run to run consistency regarding where the low heights move about beyond the middle of next week. This morning's ECM and GFS runs are focusing it to our NW, which favours a continuation of mostly mild conditions with spells of rain...
...but not nearly as mild as we've been getting used to, with maximums in the low teens, and also not persistently unsettled.
The reason? A major blocking high to our east. This feature has been upgraded substantially over the past few days, and is now being shown to be of the magnitude needed to have an impact on the Arctic height pattern, for the most part attempting to displace the low heights from the pole toward the Pacific or U.S.
If it succeeded, the pattern would likely shift westward as GFS shows late on in the 00z run.
A classic slow burner and infamous for bringing deep continental cold our way only for something to cut it off before it reaches us
What's more interesting to me is the potential for the stratospheric vortex to come under attack from wave breaking related to such blocking (waves of relatively warm air being deflected upward by mountains or colder surface air, pushing up into the stratosphere and leading to anomalous warmth there).
With so much uncertainty regarding where the polar vortex focuses in the 7-10 day timeframe, this blocking to the east could be a red herring. On the other hand, it could turn out to be even stronger than the 00z runs show.
Meteorology would be no fun if we could see it all coming
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T-Max: 30.2°C 9th Sep (...!) | T-Min: -7.1°C 22nd & 23rd Jan | Wettest Day: 25.9mm 2nd Nov | Ice Days: 1 (2nd Dec -1.3°C in freezing fog)
Keep Calm and Forecast On