Walsall Wood Snow

Well I wouldn't say I'm completely convinced by the 3 mild Winters then a colder one theme. But hey with this possibly ending up as the third mild Winter in a row I can't help but clutch to any straw I can in the hope that at least next Winter may be colder. Not that it would prove the theory though admittedly.

I'm starting to believe in the 3 mild Winters in a row theory and therefore next Winter will be a colder one. Examples include after Winter 1986/87 we had 3 mild Winters in a row then Winter 1990/91 was cold, also after Winter 1996/97 which was cold to start with we had another 3 mild Winters in a row followed by Winter 2000/01, which wasn't bad (there was quite a good, but short lived cold and snowy spell in late December 2000 as well as a fairly cold March 2001). So maybe with Winter 2012/13 being our most recent cold Winter and this being the third mild Winter (so far, though there is still some time left for this to change making this theory redundant) in a row since then, then maybe this gives some better hope that Winter 2016/17 will be a cold one. Just a thought.

Wow, just when you think it can't get any deeper it just keeps on going. So jealous.

Yes March might be the most interesting month of the year weather wise. It seems it can have almost anything weather wise. Take for example March 2012 which was quite warm, pleasant and almost Summer like and then a year later March 2013 which was the coldest and snowiest month of the 2012/13 extended Winter period (with many places including here having more snow than they've had in years) and was actually colder and snowier than January 2013 which was also a below average month and a snowy one, which is incredible.

Yeah there has undoubtedly been a decrease in snowy episodes in the UK and by extension north western Europe in general since around the late 80s (though there was a rather snowless period in the early to mid 70s from what I can gather). At the time I thought 2009 was perhaps the beginning of a new era out of that lull (Winter 2011/12 excepted, at least round here) but we haven't had anything of note since March 2013 now and that's almost 3 years ago. I know we can't expect a Winter 2009/10, a December 2010 or a Winter 2012/13 every year but 3 mild and almost snowless Winters in a row feels like a lot. Still even if we get nothing this Winter now surely Winter 2016/17 will at least be a bit colder. I remember reading a post on this forum a few weeks back (forget by who) that mild Winters often come in threes and then provided examples, though the only one I can remember from that list is that after Winter 1986/87 we had 3 mild Winters (1987/88, 1988/89 and 1989/90) then we had the cold snowy Winter of 1990/91 (at least in early December 1990 here then early February 1991 nationwide). So maybe next Winter will be better for us cold and snow lovers, even if this one ultimately doesn't produce (even though it still might, fingers crossed).

I'm starting to get a bit frustrated with this Winter now. Don't get me wrong I'm not giving up hope completely but it seems that we may have to wait till mid February now to get anything and to be fair that's way beyond the reliable so can't have great confidence. It was easier back in December and early January because at that point we were still only in the first half of Winter so felt we still had plenty of time left. Sure March 2013 proved how cold and snowy March can potentially be, but to be fair that was surely an exception so to expect that this year or any particular year for that matter is in the unlikely category. It's a bit annoying also how the north eastern USA is yet again for a third Winter running getting the depths of snow I would love to have here when the best i've had in that time is a transitory dusting. I know they're more prone to cold and snowy weather there so it's more normal and likely for them but it doesn't stop me feeling a little bit envious. Wish I was born there sometimes. It's annoying that our media feels the need to report on it though as if it is at all relevant to us. Their media would never report a heavy blizzard in the UK. I just have to hope that February and at a long shot March changes our fortunes, otherwise it's going to be a third Winter in a row that have been pants for snow round here.

Turned very light again now with just a few tiny flakes. It would have to come down really heavily to stick now though as apart from the surfaces that have retained half thawed snow on roofs and grass it's just wet on pavements.

It's just started snowing again with moderate flakes. Didn't expect that.

Still pinning my hopes onto February to deliver a more substantial cold spell with hopefully some heavy, deep and long lasting snow cover. Even back in December listening to the pros I ways attached my hopes to then. This cold spell I think is probably nothing more than a bonus (more so for some than others) and although it will probably get milder in the interim I think (or should I say hope) the main course is still yet to come.

Thawing rapidly now. Can't seem to get a covering that stays frozen for any length of time just lately.

Bit of a covering here on grass and roofs etc. Was more on pavements earlier but is now slowly thawing. What is lying though is say roughly a cm deep. Woke up about 4:00am and was snowing heavily again then, which helped turn the dusting from earlier to the cm we have now.

Went to the cinema this evening in Walsall to see 'The Revenant' (very good film and there's plenty of snow in that). Was nothing but drizzle when I went in and nothing but drizzle when I came out. However when I started heading back home the precipitation became heavier and turned to snow which was very fitting for the film I just saw. It's created a dusting despite being wet but unfortunately is now quite light which will add nothing. Don't know if it will get heavier again but would love a substantial cover. Hope there's more to come but not getting my hopes up as haven't had that since March 2013 which feels a long time ago now. But surely we're overdue one. Still we didn't get a decent cover here between December/January 2001/2002 and February 2007 (Maybe January 2004 but even that felt like a bit of a let down for me at the time for some reason even though that would be better than this).

My colleague at work who had to travel down from Liverpool said it was snowing there. I asked if it was settling and she said a bit. Still better than here right now. Maybe later though.

Nothing but light drizzle here. After such a good air frost last night I thought it may snow tonight. Looks like I'm too far west here though.

Proper air frost this morning. We truly went into the freezer last night. Starting to get cloudy now though. If it does snow later, provided it doesn't get to warm it should stick. Not getting my hopes up to much though.

What a gamble, get no snow tomorrow night but get a proper cold spell later or get snow tomorrow night and then have mild mush till Spring. I don't know which to choose . In all seriousness though as long as it was guaranteed I'd choose the first option. If it snows tomorrow night now you've certainly put a dampener on it, lol.

Well from what I've heard June 1975 (the first month of Summer) was more wintry than December 2015 because it actually snowed then, so there's one month that shouldn't be wintry that was actually more wintry than last month. I think it may even have settled, though I can't be sure as it's only something i've heard about and occured 10 years before I was born. But it also occurred after the apparently very mild Winter of 1974/75 which was strange.

Yes I do hope so. I suppose this cold spell still has time to redeem itself tomorrow, Sunday and Monday. But when you hear things in the MOD thread such as 'this is expected to be the coldest cold spell since March 2013' my expectations were quite high. It hasn't even really been that frosty which would have helped matters. Truth is it's been a pretty marginal affair so far. Onwards and upwards I suppose.

Was snowing really heavily on my walk home from work in Aldridge just after 5:00pm, with massive 50p sized flakes for a couple of short bursts. As nice as that alone was unfortunately it didn't last long and although it was starting to get slushy through the intensity it stopped and has just left everything all wet now. This mornings dusting melted throughout the day and though I'm not sure I think it may have briefly rained about 3:00pm which didn't help matters. If it was still snowing that heavily now though and for maybe a couple of hours more there's little doubt we may have got a half decent covering but it wasn't to be. I've got to be honest I'm starting to feel a little disappointed with this cold spell now. March 2013's cold spell was a real cold spell and that wasn't even in proper Winter. How is it that a cold spell in the heart of Winter is not a patch on a cold spell in Spring 3 years ago. I don't know. Heres hoping February will give something decent. Still I suppose I shouldn't complain as at least it's still alot more wintry than December 2015 was, which isn't hard I suppose.

Have a dusting this morning. Icy with crisp Winter sunshine. Beautiful.

Seems to have started again, but very light.

Actually just checked again and it's stopped. Left a few white speckles is all. Hope we get more throughout the night but not banking on it. Still who knows?

It's snowing here. Only lightly mind but it is sticking, so the grounds obviously quite cold.

Had a slight covering this morning. There was some on cars shed roofs and grass (may have been a better covering earlier than that but wasn't awake). Mostly melted now though.

As I've said before I think we are something of a nowcast region when it comes to snow and therefore it's rare that we get snow forecasts in advance of the event of much distance. I don't expect much next week but we may get the odd surprise at short notice. Thing is we won't know until the middle of next week whether we stand much chance. As I said I don't expect much except the odd flurry perhaps. Still we may get lucky and get a good dumping. Here's hoping . Even if we don't though I'm still hopeful there'll be more cold spells before Winter's over and we're still uncertain how long next weeks cold spell will actually last, so plenty to be hopeful for I think. Still it will be nice to get some frosts for once at the very least and it looks like January 2016 is looking like it will be far more worthy of the name of a Winter month than December 2015 was and things are looking on the up for us Midlands coldies.