philglossop

May the 1st. Gas fire on and car like a ice lolly? Ridiculously cold. Temp dropped yesterday to 6.8c in a rain shower at 3pm..

Well, as someone who remembers the cold April of 1989, I'd say its come mighty close to it, but it's been slightly warmer (just) here. But trees even this far south of far far behind last few years, with only the cherry trees sticking to normal plan. Everything in the City Centre is about a month behind now. Amazing to look at photos on Facebook timehop which during lockdown last year by now were green are still just in bud this year. More worryingly is the amount of fires we've seen on Dartmoor this Spring- the latest was near Moretonhampstead last night and given the dryness of the moors it's going to take weeks of rain to bring the moor back to normal.

I remember moving house at the end of March 2012 and it was a lovely sunny period for it. April was much much colder and set the pattern for the Summer of 2012 which was dreadful. Funny enough I only lived in that house for just over 12 months, moving in the May 2013 following the collapse of my Civil Partnership, so personal memories of 2012/2013 aren't good to put it mildly!

Perhaps- but trust me, we didn't get more than a smattering in December 2010- let alone this winter. I found this- and it's a terrifying read- people not being able to walk from Devonport to Pennycomequick because of snow and hurricane force winds. Look up Stuart Road on google maps today to see how how unique that was. The blizzard in the West : being a record and story of the disastrous storm which raged throughout Devon and Cornwall, and West Somerset, on the night of March 9th, 1891 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive ARCHIVE.ORG I

"March came in like a Lion," The Great Blizzard of 1891 If you had read the Meteorological Office's summary of observations for February 1891, you could hardly be blamed for assuming that spring would be sunny and delightful. The weather in February had been exceptionally dry, although there was a more than usual amount of fog, particularly towards the latter part of the month. There was surprisingly little rain; according to the Met, less than one-tenth of an inch over the whole of England. There was, however, enough bright sunshine to suggest that fine weather was on its way. The amount of bright sunshine was upon the whole very large, especially over England where the per-centage of the possible quantity was in some places nearly twice as much as the average. March, however, was to prove a different matter. The first few days of the month were chilly, with none of the badly needed rain which farmers must have hoped would follow such a temperate February. During the first week of the new month, the weather turned colder but, on the whole, remained fair. In fact, the forecast for Southwest England and Wales, for 9 March, issued at 8:30 the previous evening, called for "North-easterly winds, moderate; fair generally." Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse saw sporadic snowfall in the late morning of Monday the 9th along with a rising wind. By six in the evening, in the three towns some four or five inches of snow lay upon the ground, and the wind had increased to a hurricane. Slates began to start from the roofs of houses, and chimneys to fall, and in a very short time the streets assumed a deserted appearance, and all vehicular traffic was stopped. Advertisement hoardings were hurled from their positions with some terrible crashes.

Ah, but look what happened in the March of 1891? The snow events of 9th to 13th March 1891 will never be matched here again. I'll dig around the web but I've seen some photos of Plymouth after the Great Blizzard and it's unrecognisable (even allowing for the post WW2 rebuild).

Well, I'm going to say of our 3 cold snaps - the one around 27th to 29th Dec was the colder here. I went to Dartmouth on that Holiday Monday for the last football game of the season as it turned out and my new winter gloves weren't a lot of help. I was cold down at St Blazey again on 5th Dec, but that was down to wind tunnel down the Par valley. Feb was cold, but not cold cold here. No real ice days as forecast and just some snow grains. So now, here's Spring. Here's to warmth and a thundry May.

Today if we get some sunshine- the sun will set here at 1745hrs, so even 1800hrs it'll still be pretty light in the West. We've now got the same daylight length as 19th October We've broken the back of it now here, so tomorrow's forecast of sun and warm temps in the teens will help enormously - especially with this lockdown.

So we've got SE winds today. Bit like last Saturday when we got a few snow grains here. Today its almost mild in the strong winds. I think we can happily put Winter to bed here now, it will take a miracle to give us cold again.

Well that was very sleety in Plymouth City and suburbs about 45 mins ago. A real wintery mix!

The more runs showing that Scandi high, the more its a sensible evolution. Just a gentle reminder, that cold December 2010 had a milder spell mid month before the brutal set in. Could this be going the same way?

Remember December 2010- weekend before Christmas with possible channel low? Which slid South and whilst we got a dusting and little more? I'd expect much the same this week...

Can't say I can get enthusiastic about this spell. It all seems to far East for us and then when the Atlantic will come up, we hit 7c by Thursday according to the Met with rain. I'd like to be wrong. Bit I ain't hopeful.

Whilst not unexpected, going to bed with the hope of seeing snow only to wake up to a wet dark Sunday in January wasn't on the cards. Mount Batten jumped from 1c to 5c between 1am and 2am and that did it for us. Wind veered into the South from East at the same time.

I wake up for work. And its been raining......

Well there are daffs out in Plymouth City Centre now. But this is a good sign. Normally if they are out, we get snow..... (going by the 1986 and 1994 principle!)

A strange one, some nice snow on Dartmoor in December, but nothing as expected down here at sea level. But it's been a lot colder than last winter- including a freezing football match on Monday 28th December at Dartmouth when I froze even with new winter gloves!

As storm Christoph rages and in lockdown spirit I've rediscovered the excellent BBC series from the late 1980s is appearing on You Tube. Namely "The Rock and Roll Years" On to 1978 and it starts with a Newmarket storm which I've never heard of? I think we'll get some snow in this one and in 1979! But there is the washout 1st May Day Any ideas history buffs?

I can just just about remember December1978/ January 1979, as my Dad was working in Plymouth Telephone exchange at the time on nights. He drove home in rain, but we got up to a winter wonderland which from memory did persist. Must have been around New Year from memory as I started school on 5th January 1979 (that ages me!) and remember the snow being on the ground! But nothing, nothing beats January 1987 here. Now that was a snow event for Plymouth- even my late Nan was cut off in the South Hams that year for nearly a week in the normally well connected Newton Ferrers. Snow stuck for ages including on Dartmoor.

If fence sitting was a weather symbol....

Trying living somewhere where the last disruptive snow was Feb 1994 which ground the City Centre to a halt. Then moan. Remember that famous picture from 2010 and the UK snow? Guess who lived in the Green bit?

And its started snowing here in Plymouth! Not much but its there!

Well even here, the weather has taken its toll, and there's only 2 football games still on the SWPL today. Choice between St Austell or Dartmouth. I'll take my chance at Dartmouth as if snow hits East Cornwall ill be in trouble - don't fancy Penpillock hill out of St Blazey ( that caused chaos in 2018)

That screams December 1978 or January 1987 for Devon and Cornwall. Bank please

Ahem ill take that happily. Wintery for South Devon - yes please! And to think we've got a SSW effect to look forward to in a couple of weeks. The pieces are all falling into place- past solar minimum, torques falling sweetly and QBO going E.