Is the British weather unique in the world?
- cronus
- Black Market Analyst
- Posts: 18122
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:09 pm
- About me: Illis quos amo deserviam
- Location: United Kingdom
- Contact:
Is the British weather unique in the world?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24305230
Is the British weather unique in the world?
It's often said by laymen that the UK's weather is unique. But what makes it so different from anywhere else?
Whatever you think of the British weather, if you don't like it one day there's always a good chance you might like it the next.
Weather, in meteorological terms, refers to the daily elements like temperature, wind and rain. And in Britain they can all change hour by hour and day by day.
It's this diversity and changeability that makes British weather so distinct, say meteorologists. While temperatures are fairly mild and there are four distinct seasons, you can also get warm weather in the middle of February and freezing rain in the middle of August - or both in one day.
"Other countries might have more dramatic weather," says Dr Liz Bentley, head of the Weather Club at the Royal Meteorological Society. "In India and Pakistan you get monsoon season, but you can usually predict the day it will start and the day it will finish.
"In the UK you sometimes have to look at the weather forecast several times in one morning just to plan a trip out that afternoon. Things can change that quickly."
Many meteorologists call the British weather unique, although some say you could argue the weather in all countries is unique because no two are the same geographically and geologically. But they agree it is hard to find another country in the world with weather that compares to the UK.
So what makes it so distinctly variable?
"Britain's unique weather is all down to the fact it is an island and where it's positioned on the planet, between the Atlantic Ocean and a large land mass, continental Europe," says Helen Chivers from the Met Office. "There is a lot going on meteorologically where we are."
Britain is under an area where five main air masses meet. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture properties throughout.
(continued)
Is the British weather unique in the world?
It's often said by laymen that the UK's weather is unique. But what makes it so different from anywhere else?
Whatever you think of the British weather, if you don't like it one day there's always a good chance you might like it the next.
Weather, in meteorological terms, refers to the daily elements like temperature, wind and rain. And in Britain they can all change hour by hour and day by day.
It's this diversity and changeability that makes British weather so distinct, say meteorologists. While temperatures are fairly mild and there are four distinct seasons, you can also get warm weather in the middle of February and freezing rain in the middle of August - or both in one day.
"Other countries might have more dramatic weather," says Dr Liz Bentley, head of the Weather Club at the Royal Meteorological Society. "In India and Pakistan you get monsoon season, but you can usually predict the day it will start and the day it will finish.
"In the UK you sometimes have to look at the weather forecast several times in one morning just to plan a trip out that afternoon. Things can change that quickly."
Many meteorologists call the British weather unique, although some say you could argue the weather in all countries is unique because no two are the same geographically and geologically. But they agree it is hard to find another country in the world with weather that compares to the UK.
So what makes it so distinctly variable?
"Britain's unique weather is all down to the fact it is an island and where it's positioned on the planet, between the Atlantic Ocean and a large land mass, continental Europe," says Helen Chivers from the Met Office. "There is a lot going on meteorologically where we are."
Britain is under an area where five main air masses meet. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture properties throughout.
(continued)
What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
- Clinton Huxley
- 19th century monkeybitch.
- Posts: 23739
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
Our weather is definitely the most unique.....
"I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
http://25kv.co.uk/date_counter.php?date ... 20counting!!![/img-sig]
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
- JimC
- The sentimental bloke
- Posts: 74202
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:58 am
- About me: To be serious about gin requires years of dedicated research.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
Actually, Melbourne has a similar level of changeability and unpredictability...
Nurse, where the fuck's my cardigan?
And my gin!
And my gin!
- Clinton Huxley
- 19th century monkeybitch.
- Posts: 23739
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
We need an Ashes of Weather Unpredictably - bring it on, Melbourne!
"I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
http://25kv.co.uk/date_counter.php?date ... 20counting!!![/img-sig]
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
- JimC
- The sentimental bloke
- Posts: 74202
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:58 am
- About me: To be serious about gin requires years of dedicated research.
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
Certainly summer thunderstorms are a clear and present danger...Clinton Huxley wrote:We need an Ashes of Weather Unpredictably - bring it on, Melbourne!
Nurse, where the fuck's my cardigan?
And my gin!
And my gin!
- Clinton Huxley
- 19th century monkeybitch.
- Posts: 23739
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
It's a bit of a nuisance when holidaying in the UK. When we go to Cornwall we have to pack clothes for every conceivable weather condition, which barely leaves room for the MHs in the car....
"I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
http://25kv.co.uk/date_counter.php?date ... 20counting!!![/img-sig]
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
- MrFungus420
- Posts: 881
- Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:51 pm
- Location: Midland, MI USA
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
Kind of sounds like Michigan. High of 90 degrees one day, 40 the next.
The best was waking up to 4 inches of snow and it being almost 80 degrees by mid-afternoon.
The best was waking up to 4 inches of snow and it being almost 80 degrees by mid-afternoon.
P1: I am a nobody.
P2: Nobody is perfect.
C: Therefore, I am perfect
P2: Nobody is perfect.
C: Therefore, I am perfect
- Horwood Beer-Master
- "...a complete Kentish hog"
- Posts: 7061
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:34 pm
- Location: Wandering somewhere around the Darenth Valley - Kent
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
AH, but the point is, was it predicted?MrFungus420 wrote:Kind of sounds like Michigan. High of 90 degrees one day, 40 the next.
The best was waking up to 4 inches of snow and it being almost 80 degrees by mid-afternoon.

- Hermit
- Posts: 25806
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:44 am
- About me: Cantankerous grump
- Location: Ignore lithpt
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
That was one of my early experiences in Australia. We were walking toward the Australian National Art Gallery in the drizzle and the cold early one afternoon, which was then located in Melbourne, when a local spotted our discomfort and asked: " you don't like our weather, do you?" We more or less nodded in unison. He continued: "Just wait a minute." Sure enough, before we reached the gallery, we found ourselves in sweltering heat.JimC wrote:Actually, Melbourne has a similar level of changeability and unpredictability...
I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. - Stephen J. Gould
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
Sounds just like Irish weather to me,
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
- Horwood Beer-Master
- "...a complete Kentish hog"
- Posts: 7061
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:34 pm
- Location: Wandering somewhere around the Darenth Valley - Kent
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
Well you are part of the British IslesAnimavore wrote:Sounds just like Irish weather to me,


-
- Posts: 32040
- Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:03 pm
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
The Brits clearly have the only proper weather, unlike the paltry, pre-packaged, commercialized, pasteurized processed cheese weather that they have here in Merka. 

- Audley Strange
- "I blame the victim"
- Posts: 7485
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:00 pm
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
You beat me to it. I blame Bush!Coito ergo sum wrote:The Brits clearly have the only proper weather, unlike the paltry, pre-packaged, commercialized, pasteurized processed cheese weather that they have here in Merka.
"What started as a legitimate effort by the townspeople of Salem to identify, capture and kill those who did Satan's bidding quickly deteriorated into a witch hunt" Army Man
- Clinton Huxley
- 19th century monkeybitch.
- Posts: 23739
- Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:34 pm
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
I thought weather had stopped in Merica owing to the Govt shutdown?
"I grow old … I grow old …
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
http://25kv.co.uk/date_counter.php?date ... 20counting!!![/img-sig]
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
- Faithfree
- The Potable Atheist
- Posts: 16173
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:58 am
- About me: All things in moderation, including moderation
- Location: Planet of the grapes
- Contact:
Re: Is the British weather unique in the world?
I lived in Hobart for a while - only place I've seen four seasons in ten minutes!Hermit wrote:That was one of my early experiences in Australia. We were walking toward the Australian National Art Gallery in the drizzle and the cold early one afternoon, which was then located in Melbourne, when a local spotted our discomfort and asked: " you don't like our weather, do you?" We more or less nodded in unison. He continued: "Just wait a minute." Sure enough, before we reached the gallery, we found ourselves in sweltering heat.JimC wrote:Actually, Melbourne has a similar level of changeability and unpredictability...
Although it may look like a forum, this site is actually a crowd-sourced science project modelling the slow but inexorable heat death of the universe.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests