claret047

Good Evening all I am really looking forward to the weather coming up over the next week or so if the models are anything to go by. By the early hours of tomorrow morning I am hoping to hear rain pitta patting on my roof tiles. We certainly need the rain, My allotment was like a dust bowl this afternoon and it was like trying to dig through concrete. The following couple of days thereafter look unsettled with showers, some heavy, but also with some sunny intervals. After tomorrow's very cool day it will gradually warm up and feel quite pleasant in the garden where it is sheltered. Next weekend looks like it will warm up further and early next week there is a chance of a Spanish Plume with a thundery breakdown. There will after tomorrow likely to be some great skyscapes at times as showers form so happy snapping. Kind regards Dave

Hello Rocheydub, I doubt it judging by the number of aircraft still flying. Please click onto the link below to give you an idea. Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24 WWW.FLIGHTRADAR24.COM The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information. If you wish to see other areas worldwide click on an aircraft and then click on either the departure or arrival location to see the amount of traffic in that area. It is fascinating to observe the diverse destinations. Kind Regards Dave

Hello Mark. I trust you and your family are well. My wife never concedes, but neither do I! We have had over an hour and a quarter of snow here in north Chelmsford, at times quite heavy, but none is settling as the ground must be too warm still. Kind Regards Dave

Hello Sleety thanks for your reply. No it wasn't a wind up but a genuine question. I could see the LP fairly south, but wondered if the "ouch" comment by the poster to whom I replied was astonishment at what he perceived to be a brilliant chart for snow or a "ouch" of disappointment or despair. I will take your advice and keep an eye on how it all pans out, Kind regards Dave

What does it mean? Snow or rain? I have to take my 90 year uncle to hospital that day, He is not at all mobile and I don't want to be stuck outside with him unable to push his wheelchair. Normally I love snow, but preferably any other day. Kind Regards Dave

Hello Tom Thanks for your reply on the SE/EA regional thread. If you incorporate the following additional information to my submission I would be very grateful. Last named storm sea area Trafalgar, barometric pressure 953mb Air temperature for the final air frost of the season -1.4C Many thanks Kind Regards Dave

Good Morning Tom Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding anniversary. I noticed that I have not given the temperature for the final air frost nor the central barometric pressure of the last named storm. I will attempt to add this information over on the Lounge Section. Enjoy the weekend in spite of Dennis Kind Regards Dave PS I have just visited the Lounge and can find no trace of the competition

Hello again Tom. Category 1- I will stick with 23 March Category 2 Exact date will be 7 April- but I can't open the link of storm names- I guess it will be the 6th named on the list whatever that is. Category 3 Last air frost 20 May Category 4 first 21C will be 3 May Many thanks Kind Regards Dave

Hello Tom, Just catching up with this thread, My date was 23 March, not 23rd February. I will enter the competition for the various categories, hopefully later today Kind Regards Dave

Good Afternoon MIA, Thanks for the information. I will read it when I get the chance. I have to go out shortly to check on my 90 year old uncle who lives alone the other side of Chelmsford. Kind Regards Dave

Where abouts is this? I am going out shortly to visit & check on my 90 year old uncle who lives alone in Writtle and getting him some shopping in. Kind Regards Dave

I don't believe the main squall line has arrived here yet. Apparently their are a number of them to pass through , some more potent than others,

Good Morning everyone. I remember it very well too. At the time I worked for Essex County Council in the Building Surveyor's Section of the County Architect's Department and was in charge of the admin for the central office in County Hall as well as our 5 area offices. When I got up I knew it was quite an event overnight, with the wind still very strong at just after 6 O'clock. What I noticed and found strange was the water in the toilet bowl was riding up and down in small waves. I have never worked out to this day why this should have been so! I decided to see the TV News and realised the impact it had caused in our region and decided to walk to work early, which was a good job I did. The road to town had a large tree across and there were trees and large branches everywhere. When I got into County Hall I found I was the only one in the section that had made it in and the phone was ringing continuously from properties that had incurred damage, At that time there were far more properties looked after by ECC than today. We had all the schools and colleges in the county, as well as all social services properties (inc Elderly Persons Homes and Childrens homes), 1100 police properties, fire stations and houses as well as court houses and country parks. We still looked after the schools in Southend and Thurrock and schools did not have their own budgets for maintenance. When it was all over, one of my tasks was to prepare a committee report on the extent and cost of the damage. Four schools had their roofs blown off and there was much damage, although less serious to many other properties. At today's prices the total cost would have run into at least £250M I believe. My then next door neighbour's son was due to go on a school trip that morning to France and was up at 3.30 for an early start. When they met at the school they found they were going nowhere. Walking back that evening and on subsequent days I recall seeing workers from other electricity companies working on overhead power lines including some from Northern Ireland. It was a case of all hands to the decks. Although such events are interesting from the sidelines, if tomorrow's storm approaches the level of intensity during daylight hours it will be one that could cause a great deal of problems and I would rather it didn't live up to it's potential. Stay safe Kind Regards Dave

Hello again. Many thanks for your reply. I had not thought about flow of waters into the arctic would be salty thus replenishing any deficit to a large extent. I also had not considered the upwelling aspect either. I realise now that my suggestion was far too simplistic and something else much more complex must be at play to result in the current situation. When you do get a chance I would be grateful if you could forward the reference to which you refer. You are probably like me insofar as since retirement I never seem to get a lot of time, with family commitments etc. Have a good weekend Kind Regards Dave

Good Evening MIA, I trust you and the family are well. As you know I am no expert, but wonder if the following has had an effect on increased ice buildup inspite of an above average temperature for the region. In October we started from a very low base, which means a lot of snow and ice had melted. The snow in particular would not have contained salt and I am not sure if ice will be as saline as sea water. If the salt is reduced substantially in the water will this dilution make it easier for the sea to refreeze. Apologies if I have made a complete idiot of myself with this suggestion. Kind Regards Dave

I was out in the garden a little earlier and noticed a large bee on the washing on the rotary line. I don't recall seeing one before in early February ( a bee that is- not a rotary line) Is it unusual? Also most of my plants are showing signs of life with buds and bulbs about to come out.

Hello Tom, Thanks for your reply. Apologies for the delay in responding but I have been out for most of the day. In answer to your question on considering it further I will take up your suggestion and have an each way bey instead please. Many thanks Kind Regards Dave

Good Morning Tom. Many thanks for all your hard work in getting the competition up and running. I know I am being "thick" but I don't know how to add my bet. Could you do it for me please. I wish to place a virtual £5 bet on snow falling in the north of the region on my chosen day, the 23rd March. Many thanks Kind Regards Dave

Hello Tom. I note you have also placed me in the South Thames group, but I am up Norf. Kind Regards Dave

Thanks Tom & thanks also for making me 2 years younger. I thought I felt more sprightly today.

Funny you should say that Pete. Before retirement I was based at Euston Tower a 31 storey office block in NW1. I was on the 27th floor and during cold weather I could see snow flakes outside my window, but at ground level it was falling as rain when the temperature was marginal for snow. Your November date for snow at the moment seems optimistic. We may have to wait longer than that! Kind Regards Dave

Did you attend Ockendon School? I was involved with the major refurbishment works there a few years back when Mrs king was the Headmistress and her husband the Deputy Head.

Good Morning Snowray. I am going for 23 March (My late mother's birthday) Please see my earlier post replying to TomSE. Many thanks Kind Regards Dave

Good Morning Tom. I have Ian's book on Essex Weather. Sadly I have never met or spoken with him, but my wife did many years ago when he visited her WI meeting to give a talk on the weather. Seeing the books he has written besides the one I have I will put the Ice Fairs one on my birthday list. As far as snow this year is concerned I think March 23rd might be the first and probably only day we witness any, if we get any at all. With regards to Monday/Tuesday's deep low will the depression on the Icon track once it exits the SE turn the winds to the northwest and given the strength of the wind and depth of the low result in a North Sea surge. BTW an excellent book on the tragedy that devastated the East Coast nearly 70 years ago is The Great Tide by Hilda Grieve and was obtainable from the Essex Record Office. I am nit sure if it is still available. Kind Regards Dave

Philippines counts cost of deadly typhoon WWW.BBC.CO.UK Typhoon Phanfone, with gusts of close to 190km/h, hit an area devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. My wonderful daughter in law is from the Island of Ilo Ilo which is in central Philippines and one of the hardest hit areas by this Typhoon. According to the latest BBC News broadcast at least 16 people have died and many homes destroyed by the 200KM winds. Communications are difficult because of the number of trees down. Hopefully her father who lives alone well away from the coast on a small farm is OK. We await news. What is the current situation with this typhoon? Is it continuing to remain strong & where is it making its way to now?