Met Office says UK's 'anticyclonic gloom' set to clear with sunshine expected early next week

The "anticyclonic gloom" that has left parts of the UK with virtually no sunshine for over a week is set to clear from Sunday, forecasters have said. As dramatic weather events make headlines worldwide, the UK's meteorological talking point has been the windless, rainless, sunless murk that has enveloped much of the country since the start of the month.

The Met Office has dubbed these conditions "anticyclonic gloom", stating that this phenomenon has led to the UK experiencing an average of only three hours of sunshine in the seven days leading up to Thursday. Stephen Dixon, a spokesman for the Met Office, explained that "atmospheric gloom" occurs when "high pressure traps a layer of moisture near to the earth’s surface and that brings a prolonged period of dull and cloudy weather, but with pockets of mist and fog as well".

He added: "We’ve been locked into this weather pattern for a few days now and we’ve got a bit more of it to come. However, there is a change on the way, with brighter skies early next week."

The UK has been enveloped in an "atmospheric gloom" that's rare but not completely unknown, leading to a drastic reduction in the expected levels of sunshine for November. ITV weather presenter Becky Mantin highlighted the extreme lack of sunshine, noting, "For some, there has been no respite at all – Odiham in Hampshire has recorded zero minutes of sunshine so far this November."

She added, "Wales takes the unenviable second place spot with an average of just 12 minutes! Forty-eight minutes recorded in Northern Ireland and only a touch more in southern England with 54 minutes."

Peering into the near future, Mr Dixon said, "By the time we get to Sunday, we start to see this change on the way, with fronts moving in from the north-west bringing periods of rain to the west of Scotland through Sunday."

He continued, emphasising a shift in conditions, "But it also allows a change of air mass across the UK which invites another area of high pressure from the west – but, this time, with much less cloud on it."

Mr Dixon concluded with a hopeful outlook, saying, "What it means for the UK’s weather is that, by Monday, it’s looking like a widely dry and fine day for many with good spells of sunshine, albeit with a touch more patchy cloud in the north of the country. " He assured, "But, for the vast majority, a dry and fine day for many with some sunshine, which will feel like it’s much needed after the recent week."

Mr Dixon noted "it’s not all settled in the outlook", mentioning that more cloud and rain are anticipated, particularly in northern regions, starting Wednesday.

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