anvil

In my humble and mainly ignored opinion the poster above has hit on a very valuable and worthwhile point. In the years before the 90's we could expect widespread falls of snow and regular freezing spells during winters where almost the entire country was affected. Now we see irregular localised cold periods, with even more localised snowfall which does not last beyond a few days. Those wishing for a return to the pre nineties style winter need to wake up now and look at the evidence. The earth is warming, the climate of Britain is at the forefront of that change and the required cold pooling doesn't occur close enough to these shores to give a chance of prolonged or widespread severe cold. People don't like to hear the term "even larger teapot" but they need to get used to it, as it is a reality. No matter how much the hopecasters tell you that this year is the big one and the synoptic charts remind them of 1947 or 1963 it won't happen. Even with an identical synoptic pattern the source of the air is nowhere near as cold during a even larger teapot as it was before the rapid warming period of the previous 15 years. If you want snow, move to canada or norway, but be quick because even they are noticing the change.

I will eat my hat if this winter provides a below average CET or above average snowfall. You can find statistics and forecasts to show whatever you want them to show at this stage as it is all speculation. The only fact that will count is once winter is over and yet again it has thrown more weight behind the argument that winters in the UK are not the same as they were prior to the 90's.