High pressure watch

Quantum
Advanced Member Topic Starter

22 December 2025 19:00:05

The all time record is 1053.6hpa set in Aberdeen, while the December record is only 1051.9hpa. A handful of the ensembles are breaking that record so I think its enough to be worthy of a thread. You might recall we had a record breaking anticyclone back in 2020 that broke many regional records.

25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

+1

Quantum
Advanced Member Topic Starter

23 December 2025 18:26:09

#2

P22 on the GFS12z has the rare 1055hpa contour off the west coast of Scotland appear.

25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

Chunky Pea
Advanced Member

23 December 2025 18:49:10

#3

Icon going with 1050 (perhaps a touch above?) for a brief period around noon on the 27th.

Patrick,

East Galway, Ireland.

Quantum
Advanced Member Topic Starter

23 December 2025 19:03:18

#4

Icon going with 1050 (perhaps a touch above?) for a brief period around noon on the 27th.

Originally Posted by: Chunky Pea

If we get anywhere recording above 1050 it might not be record breaking but it will be truly exceptional.

Think the all time NA high record is not too far off either, isn't that upper 1050s?

25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

+1

Chunky Pea
Advanced Member

23 December 2025 19:16:36

#5

If we get anywhere recording above 1050 it might not be record breaking but it will be truly exceptional.

Think the all time NA high record is not too far off either, isn't that upper 1050s?

Originally Posted by: Quantum

No idea what the record is, but given that we'll get a 1050 hPa high in a region where 950hPa would be more common at this time of year, is certainly exceptional.

Patrick,

East Galway, Ireland.

Quantum
Advanced Member Topic Starter

27 December 2025 11:29:49

#6

OK the hype is real guys.

1046hpa in Tulloch bridge.

This is exceeding what the models have predicted. Is 1050hpa+ on the cards? Perhaps the record may even be yet in reach!

25/26 (850hpa temp) 11 days snow/sleet falling

18/11 (-4) 19/11 (-6) 20/11 (-6) 01/01 (-7) 04/01 (-10) 10/01 (-7) 11/01 (-3) 30/01 (-1) 13/02 (-6) 15/02 (-4) 18/02 (-6)

24/25 10d

18/11 (-6) 19/11 (-6) 23/11 (-2) 22/12 (-5) 04/01 (-5) 05/01 (0)14/02 (0) 15/02 (0)12/03 (-6) 13/03 (-6)

23/24 8d

29/11 (-6) 30/11 (-6) 02/12 (-5) 03/12 (-5) 04/12 (-3) 16/01 (-3) 18/01 (-8)08/02 (-5)

22/23 7d

18/12 (-1)06/03 (-6) 08/03 (-8) 09/03 (-6) 10/03 (-8) 11/03 (-5) 14/03 (-6)

21/22 12d

Bolty
Advanced Member

27 December 2025 11:35:11

#7

According to Wikipedia, the record for the highest air pressure in the UK is 1053.6mb, recorded at Aberdeen on 31 January 1902. So definitely a long-standing record to go, if it falls.

Winter highs are often more intense than summer highs. 1040mb is fairly common in winter, but such a pressure would be unheard of in the summer months.

Scott

Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.

My weather station

johncs2016
Advanced Member

27 December 2025 11:44:32

#8

According to Wikipedia, the record for the highest air pressure in the UK is 1053.6mb, recorded at Aberdeen on 31 January 1902. So definitely a long-standing record to go, if it falls.

Winter highs are often more intense than summer highs. 1040mb is fairly common in winter, but such a pressure would be unheard of in the summer months.

Originally Posted by: Bolty

That’s true. When we get a heatwave in summer which is caused by high pressure, the pressure is usually always in the region of 1024 to possibly 1030mb, and I can’t remember the air pressure being any higher than that at that particular time of the year.

The north of Edinburgh, usually always missing out on snow events which occur not just within the rest of Scotland or the UK, but also within the rest of Edinburgh.

+1

Chunky Pea
Advanced Member

27 December 2025 11:56:16

#9

OK the hype is real guys.

1046hpa in Tulloch bridge.

This is exceeding what the models have predicted. Is 1050hpa+ on the cards? Perhaps the record may even be yet in reach!

Originally Posted by: Quantum

The high center, near Iceland, is down on the 9am Vedur N. Atlantic synoptic chart as being 1047hPa. I find that reading in Scotland a bit curious but not saying it didn't happen either. High likely 'shaped' a bit weird.

Patrick,

East Galway, Ireland.

Bolty
Advanced Member

27 December 2025 12:00:56

#10

The high center, near Iceland, is down on the 9am Vedur N. Atlantic synoptic chart as being 1047hPa. I find that reading in Scotland a bit curious but not saying it didn't happen either. High likely 'shaped' a bit weird.

Originally Posted by: Chunky Pea

Aren't those the kind of highs that get called "Omega Blocks"? Due to their apparent similarity with the Greek Omega letter (Ω).

Scott

Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.

My weather station

Chunky Pea
Advanced Member

27 December 2025 12:03:33

#11

Aren't those the kind of highs that get called "Omega Blocks"? Due to their apparent similarity with the Greek Omega letter (Ω).

Originally Posted by: Bolty

Not sure Bolty. My understanding, which may be well flawed, is that 'Omega blocks' don't have an undercutting 'cut off' low to their south, but I am open to correction on that.

Patrick,

East Galway, Ireland.

The Weather Outlook