UK

An unsettled week with low pressure dominating. A frontal system went through during Monday night with another front on Tuesday bringing rain. Towards the end of the week more unstable air dominated with some showers and thunderstorms before a ridge of high pressure became established which lead to a fine and dry Sunday, the day which saw the maximum temperature.

Falklands

Severe gales to start the week with some snow showers. Less windy by Wednesday but still a mobile westerly setup. More snow showers with some hail with gales on Thursday before high pressure built to give a largely fine end to the week.

Ascension

A fine and mainly dry week. A few light showers inland and around Green Mountain. It was generally cloudy in the mornings with more sunny spells in the afternoon. 

St. Helena

Mainly cloudy especially in the mornings. There were a few light showers during the beginning of the week, but dry during the second half of the week.

Hurricanes and the Jet Stream.

As many of our American friends are well aware, we are now in the middle of the North Atlantic hurricane season for 2010. Quite a quiet season so far, at worst slightly affecting the Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean-up/repairs to the ruptured well. There have been five storms so far this season with only one, Hurricane Alex, which has fully developed (25^th June to 2^nd July). As mentioned in the Met Chat 6 weeks ago the storms are categorised according to their severity (1-5 where 5 is the most severe). Alex was a category 2 at worst with maximum wind speeds up to 105 mph. The season still has three months to go, however, so plenty of time for more hurricanes to develop. One potential positive of more hurricanes is the shift of the polar jet (The jet stream that sends strong westerly winds high in the atmosphere towards the UK). The last few weeks of the UK summer has been unsettled with showers. This is due to the position of the jet stream; the UK currently being on the cold side of the jet. The jet needs to move further north so that the UK is on the warm side, to bring back the UK summer. A major event has to occur (i.e. increase in the frequency of hurricanes in the Atlantic) to shift this jet to have a desirable affect on the UK weather. Otherwise we may as well accept that there will be no more BBQs this season! Except, of course, here in Ascension.