kar999

Light snow here also. Temp 0ºC Dew Point 0ºC

No lying snow at 04:30 2cm lying at 07:30 but stopped falling. Snow grains cccasionally now falling. Temp +1ºC Dew Point 0ºC

Snow started here at 7:30am Initially light grains but now small flakes. Not particulary heavy and not really settling except on some cold surfaces. EDIT: Temp +1ºC Dew Point -2ºC

We could be already at the minimum now and not next year. "Contrary to popular belief," says Hathaway, "the solar cycle is not precisely 11 years long." Its length, measured from minimum to minimum, varies: "The shortest cycles are 9 years, and the longest ones are about 14 years." What makes a cycle long or short? Researchers aren't sure. "We won't even know if the current cycle is long or short--until it's over," he says. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/18...olarminimum.htm

Minus 5C at 07:50 Probably the hardest frost here of 2006 so far.

A nice sharp frost last night possibly the coldest night this year. Will have to check. Conditions at 07:50 Wind calm Temperature -5°C Humidity 100% Pressure 1025 hPa Visibility greater than 10 km Few clouds at a height of 1219 m

10 Years ago in the Midlands: Midlands ice hell gets worse Originally published: February 7, 1996 Express & Star West Midlanders spent today recovering from the coldest night of the winter and heaviest snow falls for more than five years. And Express & Star weatherman John Warner has warned: "More is on the way." Temperatures in parts of the region dropped to -9C last night as people continued to battle through the heaviest snowfall since 1990. But the coldest place in Britain was Madley, in Hereford and Worcester, where temperetures plunged to a biting -11.3C overnight. Mr Warner warned that snow would fall on Friday then thaw and return next week with 50-60mph winds. (Full article on link above)

I've put an extra log on the fire based on -273C as well!!

Conditions at 08:00 this morning Overcast Calm Temperature -1C 1025 steady Light Freezing Drizzle (not snow)

07:30 Dull and overcast 1021 steady Minus 2C (no visible frost but some ice on roads... as I found out!)

The 50 year-old beast from the East perhaps!

Midlands worst hit by freeze Originally published: Feb 1, 1956 Express & Star More snow fell in the West Midlands today after the coldest night in the region, and in other parts of Britain, for nine years. At Wolverhampton and the centre of Birmingham there were 15 degrees of frost, and at Dudley 14 degrees. Birmingham airport has the unenviable distinction of recording the lowest temperature to the Air Ministry. It had 22 degrees of frost........ .................And there is no sign of a change, say the experts. The frigid conditions will go on for at least another 48 hours. I haven't heard that term for cold being used by the met recently!

Thanks for the call Wibs. I'd also read on another forum that there was a watch alert. With the KP index at 6 there was every chance of some minor activity visible in Northern UK. I didn't see anything but solar wind blowing and KP as low as 5 can sometimes produce weak displays visible in the far north of the UK.

8am this morning. +1C (signs of earlier frost) 1027 mb steady Overcast with light drizzle. (Not good falling on frozen untreated roads.)

Hope at last!! Sunspot 848 has developed a complex magnetic field that harbors energy for strong solar flares. Credit: SOHO/MDI

Almost at solar minimum Shuggee. That's not to say there wont be the odd one or two isolated major events. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/15...minexplodes.htm

Drizzle turned to snow at approx 1pm. Snow stopped about 16:30 leaving a covering of approx 2cm.

11:54am +2C No snow or sleet but Light Drizzle from grey clouds 1023 steady. Much the same as yesterday, cold, damp, dark and horid.

+3C Overcast Light Drizzle 1021 rising slowly Thoroughly cold, damp, dark and miserable.

A right Pea-Souper..... Fog causes chaos in W Mids ...... One of the worst fogs in the history of the town made Wolverhampton a major bottleneck for road and rail transport....... Originally published: Jan 6, 1956 Express & Star

It's attempting to Graupel here (if there is such a verb).