Areas of high and low pressure are essentially responsible for creating our weather conditions. The movement and interaction between each makes up our weather patterns- which sometimes can become seemingly “stuck”.

Earth’s atmosphere can be described as a fluid of free-flowing gases that form areas of high and low pressure. The evolution of these high and low pressure systems account for the wide range of weather conditions that occur daily, from warm and sunny days to cool and wet ones.

The jet stream facilitates in transporting areas of high and low pressure from place to place, which helps keep weather patterns balanced and dynamic.

However, when the jet weakens, it becomes more wobbly or wavy, which more or less “traps” these areas of high and low pressure in its radical bends.

The result causes these systems to stall over a particular area for a period- and that’s when a blocking pattern is born.

Blocking patterns are responsible for the many weather extremes we encounter. From dangerous heat domes and severe drought conditions to excessive rainfall and flooding, blocking patterns can come with serious impacts.

Blocking patterns can cause or worsen drought conditions like seen in the photo above, which was taken out of California. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

It all depends on where it is situated and the type of blocking pattern it is. Depending on the type of blocking pattern and where it is situated. 

Three of the most common types that impact the U.S. include: the Omega block, the Rex block and the blocking high weather pattern.

To learn more about each, please click on each of the above links. 

While a blocking pattern may make forecasting easier for meteorologists, the impacts associated could be significant. After all, too much of anything is almost never a good thing.

Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.