Polar Bear

bbc breakfast lady very very animated giving the weather for today and overnight . Yes potential was used several times as well as significant. What she did emphasise was the strong force winds to come in the channel reckoning they were unusual ( don't think so schweetheart even at this time of year) and the feel cold aspect across the south. Very excited lady.

Well what a surprise ... Thought I wed have a few flakes this avo but just come out of a meeting in Reading and it is snowing quite heavily in Reading.. Land to sky is grey and visibility a bit poor! It seems quite wet and no real signs of settling.. Currently on the slow train back but looking at the radar I suspect this wont be continuing in Newbury and has already passed... Shame... Or am I wrong? ........

On that subject are you watching the year that Britain flooded now on channel four I think ...

Well took the horse out this avo near Newbury and it was still snowing albeit wet and not settling . Have to admit the sky is a better indicator of forthcoming snow than the radar. You so can tell the difference between the heavy grey and the heavy grey pink clouds and that snow is coming .. And sure enough... snow . Why though does it turn that pinky grey for snow? What is the technical reason? Moisture n light refraction ?

Ooh now we have hooge snow flakes.. In chichester. Very wet looking - steady falling but not manic by any means.

Thanks GTLTW . Sleet now in Chichester as I type.. I see Tadley though has a bit?

Where's that GTLTW? Need to know how Newbury faired ... Last time I looked the post said some settling.... .....

About 4degrees now in Chichester and it has finally stopped raining. I haven't a clue what it is like in Newbury . I could check local weather stations and no doubt it will be colder at about 1 degree and it may be raining... More importantly I can't tell you what is happening by my lampost...

Thanks GTLTW very useful ... Ill be relying on your posts tonight and tomorrow so I can gauge whether i need to come back before midday and ride em horses! It will just be rain and rain here on the south coast. :-(

It just keeps on raining heavily here in the south coast in Chichester and the garden is flooding.. Noticeably more standing water than an hour ago.. :-o ... Travelling back to Newbury tomorrow so am glued to this forum and trying to keep up.. Failing miserably though .. So the warnings have just been extended to cover berkshire abit more but the latest NAE moves it all further west and north.. so ppn wise what can I expect as a minimum. More rain and more rain tomorrow? Or could a bit of sleet slink into the mix? Am doubtful of the snow .. Oh and the wind has just picked up now... But all in all a filthy day.. Time for tea and an afternoon movie by the fire..

Thanks GTLTW . Yep your right on the trials and tribulations I just wish the chrystal ball was a little cleaner.. Nar didn't bring the horse here.. But have two to ride in one avo Monday.. One near highclere and one near brightwalton .. Last time I went out near highclere the ground was saturated and boggy and flooded paths in parts.. Could just do with less of that.. Ill be watching this forum religiously...

Well I am a little unsure really what Sunday and Monday has in store for Newbury ... Can't tell if it will be marginal sleet or will we be the central area with further chance of snow falling. What I am sure about is Chichester where I am now will have rain and rain just like it currently has now. I sometimes though do wish snow was a little more certain to forecast . Then I can ascertain whether it will be ok ground wise to ride the horse.. Can't in snow or icy conditions..

Such a beautiful day here in Reading - if yiu ignored the leafless trees, and did set outside you wouldnt be too wrong in believing it is a beautiful spring day!

And just as they say in the advert. Can he ( the low) upgrade? ..

Just seen the countryside forecast .. All pretty much confirming the above. Could be an interesting week ahead. Will be staying and lurking on here.. Oh yes and I had clocked on about these strong winds. Makes things more interesting.

Oh I have always liked reading Rogers post AWD. Such a knowledgable chap and he tells it like the scene of an epic movie. Bold and very graphical. Having said that there is a joyous mood in that thread AND for non scientific reasons I think he may not be far off for Tuesday. Alas I can't remember 1969 .. Ill look forward to the build up on here in the meantime

Yup same here for Newbury. With sleet in Thursday and light snow. Temps start in the morning at about 6c then drop to 3c by I think midday. Gusts don't appear Thursday then the wind picks up.. Friday has feels likes into the minuses.. Quite a mix. Time will tell! And another interesting few days ahead of seeing what comes next from the outputs. For many a sake though we really could do with some dry spells. The ground is so very saturated that even the slight ppn is creating ponding and surface water as there isn't anywhere for it to go. ... Has been currently gusting and raining again here in Newbury...

well cambernet (chichester harbour) reporting F9 gusts as to Southampton so it has been increasing over the last couple of hours. It is currently Low tide so there is a blessing there - 2 m wave heights though being recorded. I am hoping for some abating here..only in that my digital TV signal keeps breaking up like it did yesterday. Must be the wind doing it - as i can hear the wind rustling through at the same time the signal goes. It is though driving me nuts. Cant watch the News or follow things.....grrrhh

Snap ..we both were looking at the same time... hence my screen shot of the wind map..alot of red arrows there GTLTW..and it seems to be gusting more. Like you this flat tends to be sheltered and I did hear it whistling through. 44mph and 46 mph at Brize and Lineham ...ooh . Pleased I worked from home today now!

Have to say I am leaning towards the personal belief that the MetOffice warnings seem to be a little insufficient.. The current winds particularly. A yellow for the southern coastal areas maybe appropriate? There is an awful lot of red arrows on the wind map!!

Very interesting. Must admit I wasnt really expecting the gusts we are getting in Newbury. Now I know the coast was predicted to experience some gusty weather but being so far inland has surprised me a little. Most of the sea areas are all reporting imminent gales up to or continuing Force 9 ..Those to the west of Ireland (shannon, rockall) "Southwesterly storm force 10 continuing".. Now I know it is in the sea and not inland as many will remind me, but that is fair indicator of the strength of the low at mo IMO! Plus Cambernet which is in Chichester harbour and which I know well from sailing days when I was little is reporting gusts of F8. This harbour is quite sheltered and F8 gusts are something to note and heed....

Sorry chaps.. Forgot the decimal point on the iPhone.. Must be tired. Also apologies to GTLtW .. My radar it turned out hadn't refreshed.. Connection wasn't there.. Hmm maybe it is time for me to go to bed! Ill go now.

Seems that that small system has passed to the north of me just now and missed Newbury. Just been looking at wunderground for the current conditions and our daily ppn is about 112mm. Wonder if we will get some more tonight to top that up? I see also the flood warnings across the uk are creeping up still.

Just had a nice wee shower pass through.. About I minute it lasted.. There must be alot of convection as I am having problems with the tv digital signals.. Says signal is good but BBC is struggling and keeps breaking... Grrh. It was fine this morn.. What you reckon? When the showers come through there is a fair gust of wind so may be that is the cause? Anyone else got this prob?

Agree Kiwi.. I posted earlier this week about the melting snow and current water levels.. Seem like catchment are already at capacity and then with the melt and heavy rain again means problems and misery I fear for not just some but many They are about to give a detailed weather update on bbc breakfast.. But one good request Wiltshire fire brigade asked was just check the gullies outside your house on the road. Clear the debris if you see some.. Local authorities can't keep up with it all all the time.. It's those flipping crisp packets that are the worse..