Northerly winds

[Ashling]

In west wales we have been subject to almost continuous north winds since January. This is unusual, we are used to SW wind. Does anyone konw the meteorological reason for this? I'm looking for upper atmosphere / jet stream explainations rather than the rotation of air around centres of high or low pressure.
Cheers, Keith

[artdemole]

I think that it it is to do with air masses coming over higher ground and being forced up.

[salinpembs]

I also live in West Wales and have noticed a prolongued blast of Northerly winds. The met office informed me that it is simply down to an area of high pressure south of Greenland which is blocking the normal South Westerlies.... The Jet stream has split in two, and it won't be until the Jet Stream re establishes itself that we return to a more Westerly flow.

It would be really interesting to here other peoples views on this!

[brendaward]

Perhaps James Lovelock's Theory that has been nicknamed 'GAIA' is right. Mother earth may be fanning herself because she is a little bit too hot and she wants to keep your beautiful valleys green. It is probably the wrong direction for that but she's and old gal and can't get it all right.