Peter H

After a run of really promising charts for the next couple of weeks, it's now flip flopped again with the Atlantic braking through. Still, at least all the weather forecasts are going with the persistant cold spell theme now, so at least that's something. We'll just have to wait and see how things devlop.

The BBC weekly forecast is now quite positive for next weekend: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/

Some interesting thoughts on that weekly forecast video.

March '74 was also vey good. We had a reasonable summer that year too !

Yep, they seem to be flip flopping all over the place, at least that's what I'm reading into them I can't see anything particularly cold either, and certainly not until the 20th: http://www.ukweather.freeserve.co.uk/nwp.htm

This prediction is totally up the left. though it hasn't updated for a while. Just how wrong can yopu be ? http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-app/reports?MENU=Seasonal-outlook I think if I were Captain Bob I'd get that one down ASAP, considering the weather we have right now, as it's highly embarrassing. Still, maybe he just got the position of the high pressure wrong !

The weather Outlook's update today: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/

One word describes the weather today: Murk. Yuk Current temperature 13.1C I hate this.

The weather Outlook, in their update today, does not share the optomism of some who are posting on this discussion forum: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ I would tend to agree.

Yep, exceptionally mild here tomorrow (13C) and for the next few days (up until Monday at least). No sign of anything particularly cold on the horizon either (up until the 18th now), so this could go down as one of the mildest Januarys on record if this keeps up. Dunno what everyone else is looking at, but they must be on the happy pills.

I dunno what everyone else is looking at, but I can't see anything special for the next two weeks, right up until the 18th. Dream on

Current weather: Cloudy with patches of light drizzle. Murky Wind: Calm Current temperature: 12.6C Yuk. How I long for something like January 2010

Yep, slushy snow's horrible to ski in.

Personaly, I think we should forget about the models for a couple of weeks and simply enjoy the mild weather over the next few days. Up to 13C tomorrow, which is really mild for early January. The models today aren't showing anything for the next 14 days so what's the point ? As I have repeatedly said, this extends well into Europe now so things aren't looking good. Still, at least Moscow remains immune !

The models changed this evening and they're even worse than they were this morning. Still, I'll have a look tomorrow to see if the cold scenario is back.

Careful now !

It's funny how the models flip every so often to give us hope, and then flip back again to the same old set up. It's almost as if someone is teasing us.

BBC monthly outlook: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635167#outlook

Well, not according to either the BBC or Met Éireann, with temperatures up to 12/13C by Friday.

As suspected, the models have flipped this morning and it's not as good as it was last night. Still, at least the BBC are picking up on the cold theme later in January. If it does materialise, I hope it gets a bit further west this time.

Current models look encouraging for later next week.....but I'll not hold my breath. They'll probably be flipped by the morning. Still..............

Current conditions here in Jordanstown Co. Antrim: Tempt +10C Weather:Heavy rain and strong winds

Nothing here in Jordanstown Co. Antrim, even over the hills. Temperature a short time ago was +10C

P.S Some blame the run of cold winters in the 1980's on the Mt. St. Helens eruption. We did of course have the Icelandic volcano eruption in 2010, so maybe the exceptional weather in December 2010 was a result ?

Yep, I remember 1977/78 well. After a run of several very mild (particularly 74/75) largely snowless winters, 77/78 was something of a relief. We also had some snow at the start of February that year, but I don't think it lasted all that long due to the strength of the sun being that much greater. It was of course followed by 78/79, which was another truly memorable one. The cold spell that started on the 28th December and which lasted into early january was quite exeptional. Snow cover on that one was somewhat patchy, but there were some truly remarkable cold nights with temperratures well below -10C. The winter of 78/79 started early in late november, which was followed by a cold dry December with a brief mild incursion around the Christmas period and a cold snowy January. The following two winters were mild in comparison i.e 79/80 and 80/81. The next realy cold one was 81/82 which again started in early December. This was then followed by a run of really cold snowy winters, apart from 86 which was cold and dry The cold spell of January 87 was again exceptional but the rest of the winter was mild, and the following winters the same. 90/91 meant nothing to us here in Northern Ireland, and I don't remember any major snow event here that winter. I think 93/94 was the next colder than average winter, with snow at the end of January and lasting well into February. Who knows. Maybe this winter will be the same ? December 2010 was quite amazing, and a week with a foot of lying snow here was rare, though it did cause some disruption. Strangely, the whole thing stopped suddenly on Boxing Day, which I suppose was something of a relief since we couldn't get out of the house for a week. We never experienced the severe snow of 2008/09 although it was very localised. The best winter in recent years really has been 2009/10, in my opinion. Still, I always live in hope at this time of the year. It ain't over until the fat lady sings, as they say !