Anticyclone — Weather Glossary
A region of relatively high atmospheric pressure with outward-flowing winds at the surface (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere). Anticyclones are often associated with more settled conditions, lighter winds and reduced precipitation, though they can also bring fog, low cloud or poor air quality when stagnant. In the UK, persistent anticyclones can produce winter temperature inversions with fog and frost, or summer spells of warm, dry weather. A UK meteorological reference entry designed for clear forecast interpretation.
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Anticyclone — Definition
A region of relatively high atmospheric pressure with outward-flowing winds at the surface (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere). Anticyclones are often associated with more settled conditions, lighter winds and reduced precipitation, though they can also bring fog, low cloud or poor air quality when stagnant. In the UK, persistent anticyclones can produce winter temperature inversions with fog and frost, or summer spells of warm, dry weather.
A Closer Look
If the extended explanation is not provided for this entry, the key takeaway is still practical: Anticyclone clarifies how a forecast is framed, not just what is happening outside at one moment.
- Concept → implication, not concept → certainty.
- Trend matters more than snapshot.
- Regional exposure matters in the UK.
How We Use This Term in UK Forecasts
Anticyclone can feel abstract until you see it used in a forecast. In UK practice, it helps connect the map-scale pattern to what you experience at street level: cloud cover, visibility, rainfall type, or wind exposure.
Because local geography matters in the UK, we avoid implying a single outcome on the basis of one term alone.
We keep glossary definitions consistent across our UK pages to support clear comparisons between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How It Appears in Forecast Reports
In operational UK forecasting, terms earn their place by being actionable. If Anticyclone is mentioned, it should be followed by a clear implication for cloud, precipitation, wind, visibility, or temperature trend.
- Helps explain timing windows (between bands, after a frontal passage).
- Often used alongside geographic cues (coasts, hills, north/south).
- Used consistently so different locations remain comparable.
Using the Term Day-to-Day
If you are using the glossary mid-forecast, treat this section as a quick calibration of expectations rather than extra commentary.
- Consider exposure: coasts and hills often see the first and strongest effects.
- Where showers are involved, timing is usually less exact further ahead.
- Trends (rising/falling, strengthening/easing) often matter more than a single value.
Why Location Matters
A useful split is west versus east. Atlantic-driven patterns typically bring more cloud and rain to western coasts and uplands first, with eastern areas sometimes drier or brighter between fronts, although this varies with the exact track.
North–south differences can also matter when air masses originate from clearly different source regions.
Associated Terms to Check Next
Use the related terms as a map of nearby concepts. This helps turn a single definition into an operational understanding.
Return to the main glossary for quick browsing: Weather Glossary (A–Z).