Wildswimmer Pete

We had nearly two months of sunlessness last summer during June and July.

It snowed on my birthday, April 21st 1963. Bear in mind it was That Winter which didn't finally relent until the last week of April (Location: Wirral) we had snow in March in 1970 which is still the Sixties decade (the Seventies decade didn't start until 1971).

Cloud (Cu) now building from the NW, wind seems to have dropped, still dry. Liverpool METAR: EGGP 131420Z 32022G33KT 9999 VCSH FEW031 SCT039 05/M01 Q1013 TAF: EGGP 131237Z 1312/1412 32022G35KT 9999 SCT045 TEMPO 1312/1315 SHGS BKN010CB BECMG 1315/1318 33009KT PROB30 TEMPO 1321/1409 32018G32KT 1200 SHSN BKN006CB ATIS @ 14:20Z wind 320 22kt gusting 33kt visibility >10 showers visible temp 5C DP -1C pressure 1013hpa high wind warning in force Edit: Just been out: still blowing a gale and bloody cold.

Even worse, on the Russian front

I wouldn't go that far 'cos we're talking climate change and you really need at least 50 years' data to be sure. But yes, there does seem to be a slight warming. I'll have to persuade my swimming mate to take us up to New Brighton so I can do some more readings. Don't forget last year's "Cold Blob" in the North Atlantic could've had some influence.

That's climate change for you

Measured deep Irish sea 10-20 years ago during high summer usually 14C (57F) off the coast of Anglesey. Last such measurement in Anglesey (Rhosneigr) in Aug. '15 was 16C. I measure water temps at 400mm depth with a calibrated spirit therm as stipulated by FINA. Sea temps in Liverpool Bay (New Brighton) have reached 20C on a couple of occasions with the incoming tide crossing hot sands but usually 17-18C in summer. In winter sea temps at NB average 7C in February. I did my winter swim for Countryfile on St. Valentine's Day '08.

Dry, sunny and windy. Liverpool METAR: EGGP 131150Z 31025G37KT 9999 FEW031 SCT045 06/01 Q1011 Liverpool ATIS @ 12:04Z wind 310 21kt gusting 34kt temp 6C DP 0C pressure 1012hpa high wind warning in force Liverpool TAF: EGGP 131104Z 1312/1412 32022G35KT 9999 SCT045 BECMG 1315/1318 33009KT PROB30 TEMPO 1321/1409 32018G32KT 1200 SHSN BKN006CB

Previously very gusty with trees moving so I'd say F7. Now a little calmer, partly cloudy and no precipitation. Current Liverpool METAR: EGGP 130920Z 31026G37KT 9999 VCSH SCT029 BKN039 06/00 Q1009 Liverpool ATIS reporting 09:20Z wind 310 21kt gusting 35kt temp 6C DP 0C pressure 1009hpa high wind warning in force. Liverpool ATIS is on 124.320MHz, if using a scanner you may have to ensure it is switched to receive AM - my set automatically switches to AM for Air Band. Many radios claimed to receive Air Band are basically standard FM radios with extended FM (VHF) coverage however the ratio detector employed by most "consumer" radios can't properly resolve AM.

Same here. Some hail piled up in corners of the garden and adjacent roofs.

Reception too poor to properly understand however Liverpool ATIS now reports 8C DP+2C moderate rain.

Liverpool ATIS @ 15:20Z Wind 290 21kt Temp 8C DP 0C Pressure 1010hpa steady High wind and gale warning in force Currently windy, sunny and dry here.

Report from Liverpool ATIS @ 14:47Z: Wind 290 27kt gusting 37kt Temp 8C DP 0C (2C drop over one hour) Pressure 1010hpa steady Currently windy, cloudy and dry here.

Report from Liverpool ATIS @ 12:56Z: Wind 290 22kt (reducing) Temp 8C DP +2C (going down) Pressure 1010hpa (rising) Showers visible High wind and gale warning in force. Currently very windy, dry and cloudy here.

Halton is part of the Liverpool City Region - aka Greater Liverpool

Wind veered 10deg in the past two hours. Will check again around 1pm Edit: My bad, earlier direction was 290deg, wind strength has increased from 24kt to 28kt with 40kt gusts.

Current report from Liverpool ATIS timed 11:50Z: Wind 290 28kt gusting 40kt Temp 8C DP 3C Pressure 1009hpa High wind and gale warning in force. Currently dry here.

Just went out to check, the loud crack I heard was one of my fence posts going. My garden fence is head height wood panelling so I'm concerned, and it looks I might have to face some expense.

Reception poor possibly down to weather conditions but current report from Liverpool ATIS timed at 10:20Z Wind 290 24kt Temp 8C DP 3C Pressure 1008hpa High wind and gale warning in force.

Heavy showers around dawn, currently no ppn, very windy - I'd say F6.

Well, around 4th February is Imbolc, the start of Pagan Spring!

Good call, I must have had a "senior moment" . We had lying snow from Christmas to the end of February.

From my 66 years' experience there were only a couple of winters when snow lay "deep and even" until spring: 1962/63 and 1981/82 although the Eighties saw several significant snow events lasting up to a month. This was in the Merseyside area.

Currently 14.6C @ 13:00 so quite possible we'll make 15C. My energy meter is already showing the benefit, roll on another mild winter.

We didn't up here (I lived on Wirral at the time), that October was fair and mild. November 5th was very mild and dry, I walked down to Lower Heswall to watch a firework display. November 21st was the first frosty day - I remember it well because I was taken ill at school and sent home. It was a mid December weekend when my family went to visit relatives in South Liverpool and we saw the first snowy showers of the winter. A certain wobble-board artist's single "Sun Arise" had gone to No.1.