West is Best

I'm very sceptical about the accuracy of this I'm afraid. Have you used proper feeds from buoys over this period? The SST maps are pretty notorious for inaccuracy, but a cursory glance at the charts suggests SSTs for the northern hemisphere are extremely high this year. What might be interesting is for you to do a comparison of the eastern seaboard, and GIN corridor. Now why, I wonder, would you have plumped for the Faroe Islands as your example ...?

The way those SSTs have pushed +ve over the last 2 weeks even the parts just above average to the north may push further ahead. Still plenty of time for change though.

Yes ... I quite agree. Got that look to it hasn't it? But there's still a fair time to go until this becomes critical. I reckon if these anomalies remain this high in 4-6 weeks time then there's real problems for the cold scenario - at least in terms of a big freeze type winter. By the way - just read back and saw Wayneywoo's question. Actually, the GIN corridor is definitely less +ve at the moment than last year, so that is something good. But the eastern seaboard and mid-Atlantic are above. It's early days still ...

Mid-Atlantic last year was below average, and this year's eastern seaboard is as warm as last year. What's worrying is that almost the whole of the northern hemisphere is anomalously warm. Mind you, it's true that the eastern coast of Greenland isn't quite as anomalously warm as last year ... yet. Having said this ... SSTs still have time to chop and change for winter proper.

You're clearly not reading it properly. The only place below average, or even on average, is north of Iceland. The GIN corridor, to which the specific reference was made, is comfortably above average. Your best hope is that time is still in your side. But please don't misinterpret the present.

It isn't - it's positive.

There are huge +ve SST anomalies in the northern hemishere at the moment, which have increased over the past 2 weeks. Still a way to go, and SSTs can change in time for winter. But if they remain this +ve in key areas such as the eastern seaboard (as high as +4C above at the moment) and GIN corridor into November then I think it spells doom for a cold winter.

Yeah - we've had some lightning, thunder and rain here the past 60 mins (location nr Okehampton).

You're quite right Wayneywoo! Looking at those charts the cold anomaly has grown! I got back from Africa on 24th and had a look then, so unless I'm imagining it, it must be over the past 5 days ...?! Looking forward to the match - but if I think it's going to be cold I'll be honest and admit it. I'm definitely open to the possibility ... just need a lot of persuading that it will happen! Game on.

Actually SSTs to our north and east are above, just moderately so. http://www.net-weather.co.uk/index.cgi?act...s;type=seatemps The only area below that has any bearing on us at the moment is between the eastern seaboard and Greenland. This is one of the important areas but firstly it's only just below, and secondly it has been getting warmer over the past week. In general though I'd say that looking at SSTs too closely at this stage is inadvisable. They change fast. But the signs at the moment are not hopeful for a significant cold anomaly.

My biggest complaint is that they've turned England's green and pleasant land into poo brown. It's now dingy, dirty and staggeringly dull.

Overcast Still 1005.4 hPa 7.9C

Stunningly lovely day here Sunshine all day so far Almost no breeze 19.5C 1004.hPa

Thunder overhead here. Edit: 'here' is 6 miles north-west of Okehampton. Yay! I luurrrrvvvvee thunderstorms! A very happy WIB (unless the power goes in which case I'm in real trouble for a piece of work)

Something much more authentically spring-like about today with showers, breeze, humidity and an inkling of warmth. Saturday was more like summer than spring with a high here of 20.3C 991 mb 11.1C currently (Max 13.5C) Overcast with drizzle

11.4C 994.6 mb falling Cloudy 80% humidity

13.5C Hazy sunshine Keen breeze gusting to 16.9 kph 1010 mb falling Not as nice as yesterday, but still very lovely

69.8 surely?! 70F is 21.11 recurring isn't it?

21C reached at Trawscoed. Very nearly 70F in old money.

20.3C reached here Just an amazingly beautiful day!

It's absolutely stunning here in Devon - the best day so far with not a cloud in the sky and it's really warm. 18.5C 1018 mb Just gorgeous. Think we'll easily hit 20C today.

Absolutely glorious here this morning in mid-Devon. 1024.4mb 13.4 C Sunny

According to the Beeb today's UK high was 20C at Gravesend. Nice.

Cloudy Breezy - 6.4kmh 85% humidity Very mild - 11.4C (overnight min 10.6C) 1010.4 mb

We hit the dizzy heights of 15C a few minutes ago. The highest since I installed this weather station in January.