Centre Of Low Pressure Systems?

[tugmistress]

I thought when you were in the middle of a low or even high pressure system, it was not supposed to be windy? ie it is usually the calmest place to be.

looking at the charts i am in the centre of a low, my baro is reading 979mb the charts indicate the centre is 980mb and the net weather forecast for my area is saying just a nice gentle single figure breeze (put in postcode KW14 to see what i mean) yet we have winds of 20+mph - why?

[johnholmes]

I thought when you were in the middle of a low or even high pressure system, it was not supposed to be windy? ie it is usually the calmest place to be.

looking at the charts i am in the centre of a low, my baro is reading 979mb the charts indicate the centre is 980mb and the net weather forecast for my area is saying just a nice gentle single figure breeze (put in postcode KW14 to see what i mean) yet we have winds of 20+mph - why?

depends on the exact position of the low in relation to you, only a few miles and there will be wind. I'm not sure that to say it will be calm in the middle of a low is correct. it is possible that as the low goes over the top of you the wind is much less than before or after, so seems relatively calm.

John

[Thundery wintry showers]

To some extent it is also dependent on the shape of the low. A low with a big flabby centre will have little wind in the centre of the low:

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/archive/ra/20...00120010330.gif

but a low with a tight centre will have strong winds all the way around:

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/archive/ra/20...00120050112.gif

[tugmistress]

ah right, ok now i understand why we are windier than expected (and it's nothing to do with the amount of baked beans )