High is Happy, Low is Lousy

By Grace Muller, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

November 26,2012; 8:45PM,EST

When meteorologists talk about pressure, they talk about it in terms of "high" and "low." High-pressure systems are usually indicative of clear skies and nice weather. During low-pressure systems, rainy and cloudy weather dominates, making for a dull and dreary day outside.
An easy way to remember that high pressure systems are associated with good weather and low-pressure systems with bad weather is to think of high as "happy" and low as "lousy."

High pressure is normally associated with really nice weather, but in the wintertime, systems that come down from Canada and the Arctic are very cold and can cause extreme chilly conditions. In the summer, lingering high pressure systems can lead to some really hot days. For example, during the summer in Texas, high pressure systems lead to temperatures in the triple digits.