Area of Interest - This module focuses on the area of North Western Atlantic. This area is a breeding ground for Atlantic depression during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere. Although rapid cyclogenesis events are not common, they occur regularly in this area.

Broad Scale Pattern - An upper low is positioned over the UK. A large scale upper ridge is positioned over the mid-Atlantic with a diffluent trough downwind over the Labrador Straights.

Surface Features - A complex area of low pressure extends from western Europe to the Mid-Atlantic. A frontal system extends into northern France curving back to a cold front wave around 22 DEG W 48 DEG N.

Satellite imagery - Infra red - The frontal system is showing signs of decay over France and western Europe with cloud tops warming out. However, the frontal system over the mid-Atlantic is still showing signs of development. We see a cold air outbreak from Newfoundland.

Satellite imagery - Water Vapour - The broad scale pattern is easily seen, with the polar front jet coincident with the back edge of the frontal system over the Atlantic. There is also a clear PV anomaly moving west to east around 50 DEG N.

Signals - Given the current situation development will occur in the Atlantic, but we need to keep a close watch on this to determine how rapid this development is likely to be.