The role of the wind-driven ocean gyres on the midlatitude climate variability is investigated using an idealised, eddy-resolving, coupled quasigeostrophic model. The model consists of a double-gyre box ocean and a periodic channel atmosphere which are coupled together by mixed layers. Our findings reveal a coupled interaction that involves positive feedbacks between meridional shifts of the ocean eastward jet extension and downstream displacements of the atmospheric westerly jet. The displacement of the atmospheric jet is resolution-dependent and caused by north-south shifts in the low-level baroclinicity, while meridional shifts of the ocean eastward jet are controlled by the propagation of baroclinic Rossby waves that form in the eastern basin. Effects of mesoscale turbulence and intrinsic variability of the ocean jet disrupts the arrival of Rossby waves at the western boundary and thus reduces its predictability. In addition, the ocean gyre response is shown to be dependent on forcing location, with a dynamically-distinct, inertial recirculation zone response found for western basin wind-curl anomalies.