Causes of UK weather
Two different pressure systems bring different types of weather to the UK. They are In meteorological terms, a depression is an area of low air pressure. and High-pressure systems, giving clear skies and gentle wind..
Depressions
A depression is an area that has low atmospheric pressure. Air rising causes the formation of clouds, which brings rainfall. Depressions often move eastwards across the UK, bringing changeable weather as they travel.
There are usually frontal systems associated with depressions. The diagram below shows the changing weather that the warm and cold fronts bring as they move towards the east.
Anticyclones
Anticyclones are areas of high pressure which form when cool air sinks. Anticyclones spin around in a clockwise direction. Anticyclones make skies clear and cause different weather in summer and winter. In summer, anticyclones bring hot, sunny weather. During winter, anticyclones cause cold weather including fog and frost.