Large-scale context for the UK floods in summer 2007

Blackburn, M., Methven, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7636-6872 and Roberts, N. (2008) Large-scale context for the UK floods in summer 2007. Weather, 63 (9). pp. 280-288. ISSN 0043-1656 doi: 10.1002/wea.322

Abstract/Summary

This paper shows how the rainfall distribution over the UK, in the three major events on 13-15 June, 25 June and 20 July 2007, was related to troughs in the upper-level flow, and investigates the relationship of these features to a persistent large-scale flow pattern which extended around the northern hemisphere and its possible origins. Remote influences can be mediated by the propagation of large-scale atmospheric waves across the northern hemisphere and also by the origins of the air-masses that are wrapped into the developing weather systems delivering the rain to the UK. These dynamical influences are examined using analyses and forecasts produced by a range of atmospheric models.