There are air masses that move across the surface. Temperatures closer to the poles are colder than temperatures near the equator. To attempt to balance these temperature differences there are movements of air and water. These movements produce the ocean currents and jet streams. The weather you experience will depend on the air mass over the area and the pressure system associated with it. Air masses that originate from closer to the poles will bring in cold air. Air masses that originate from closer to the equator will bring in warm air. The boundaries of these air masses are where the fronts are found. Low pressure systems often develop along these boundaries and contribute to moving air. High and low pressure systems move. Since they move the weather a place has will change. Low pressure tends to bring in cloudy conditions and precipitation. High pressure tends to bring in fair weather. A high pressure from the polar regions will bring in cold air while high pressure from the tropical areas will bring in warm air. Low pressures tend to bring in cooler air, especially once a cold front moves through. Tropical low pressures do not have fronts thus the air stays mild when weather gets unsettled. Below are some other factors that can change the weather: Wind Direction: The direction the air is moving from will bring its weather with it. For example, air from the ocean will bring in more humid air. Air from the desert will bring in dry air. Air from the polar regions will bring in colder air. Elevation: Weather will be more unsettled when air is flowing from a lower toward a higher elevation. Weather tends to be more fair when air is flowing from a high toward a lower elevation. Clouds moving in: Weather tends to be cooler during the day with clouds and warmer at night than it otherwise would have been. |