Wildswimmer Pete
-
Posts
872 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Events
Learn About Weather and Meteorology
Community guides
Posts posted by Wildswimmer Pete
-
-
This is more like it: 24C in my (sheltered) back garden and an afternoon sunbathing in nothing but shorts. Only 6C last night but I suspect this night will be milder. Just turned off the central heating, hope this is it now until October. However despite the warmth, I suspect my swim in Hatchmere on Sunday will still be chilly (expect 10-12C), gloves, boots and helmet needed.
-
On 02/05/2016 at 11:35 AM, Captain Shortwave said:
Perhaps hope for summer too as the summer of 1947 was a very good one with good summery spells in each month, interestingly whilst the cold spell of 1947 was the most prolonged spell of easterly winds seen in this part of the world, the second longest period of easterlies also occurred in this year but in August which resulted in a very warm month.
The winter of 1947 is held to be the second coldest winter of the 20th Century, the coldest being 62/63 (which I endured). However winter 62/63 was the filling of a sandwich of two mediocre summers.
-
On 01/05/2016 at 4:16 PM, March said:
Why? What can you do in 30C that you can't in 22C?
In my neck of the woods, "summer" '15 rarely even reached 20C let alone anything remotely resembling "hot". Day after day of PM air and cold NW winds when maxima usually didn't even make 16C meanwhile every breakfast time saw the grey lid slamming down only to melt away around 8pm leading to another unseasonably cold, clear night.
-
On 30/04/2016 at 3:57 PM, Paul said:
This made me laugh
On the right is my standard winter kit but without the T-shirt and with neoprene boots instead of flip-flops.
-
2
-
-
Well, the lousy British climate has really excelled itself today. Late April and 5C at teatime and snow expected overnight. Couldn't make it up
I suspect this will kill a large number of lambs.
-
32 minutes ago, MP-R said:
I'll make clear that I'm not a fan of extended cold by an means, but if we have to put up with it then it may as well come with some exciting weather - not just cold for the sake of cold. I'm certainly not ignoring the effect it can have on health though do wonder just how cold you find it considering your a wild swimmer? Equally, we hardly had the heating on in November and December and only intermittently for the rest of the winter and into spring given we're out of the house quite a lot so it's not quite as problematic this year than if we'd had a winter like 2009/10.
Overall, I'd much prefer a warm up.
I'm a bare-skin winter swimmer and swim in just Speedos in water down to 0C however that involves physiological adaptation which took years to acquire. My cold-hardening kicks in below 12C water temp. Above that I feel the cold as badly as any 66yo, both water and chilly breezes.
-
3 hours ago, MP-R said:
Yes - if more northerlies could be like this, even at this time of year, then I'd welcome them with open arms. Some fantastic cloudscapes and varied weather conditions yesterday, and likely more today. Such a shame I was in an exam during yesterday afternoon's Bristol thunderstorm.
Not so much fun for those of us who are still having to pay through the nose to run the central heating at full blast at the end of April. Those of us in our later years feel the cold and the current extension of winter is not just unwelcome but potentially fatal. I can (and do) withstand extreme cold without harm for a limited time, but this continuing chilly weather I find enervating and in fact is beginning to affect my health.
-
1
-
-
Could such atmospheric "traffic jams" become more frequent given the recent signals pointing to a possible Grand Minimum?
-
1
-
-
I hope the current synoptics aren't a reloading of those of the past few years: low anchors itself over the North Sea and fills, only to be replaced with a new one. Rinse and repeat until September. Does anyone know the reason for this stalling? Cold winds all through the "warm" months with the heat just across the North Sea and the Channel? Steep temperature gradients across just 20-30 miles. The jet diverts downwards to south of the UK, then to return northwards to resume its original course.
To be a little crude, looking at the thickness charts, a sea of red surrounding us far to the north, while here in the UK a blob of green snot dangling from the Arctic sticks hard to us.
-
5
-
-
Dry and quite warm today but not quite as warm as yesterday. Hazy sun until late afternoon when it clouded over. Was out and about in hoody, shorts and open sandals however the next few days will put paid to that. When will winter finally relax its grip?
-
Spent the afternoon sunbathing in just shorts. Liverpool ATIS currently reports 16C. Last night 3.4C min, very cold for late April but much worse round the corner. Strikes me are getting a repeat of last year: a cold spring, basically an elongated winter that looks to be lasting through May.
-
5 hours ago, Summer Sun said:
As usual, the cold air seems to be aimed at the UK, the story of the past five years. Obviously the gods are displeased with us.
-
2
-
-
My feelings? Chilly NW winds, cold nights, cloud bubbling up around 10am only to melt away around 8pm leading to another cold night. Daytime maxima barely exceeding 16C let alone 20-25C. In other words, "Summer" 2015 rinsed and repeated. Since 2011 hot summer spells appear to have been restricted to a diminishing number of hot days in July, 2015 saw just three tolerably warm days at the beginning of July and that was it. Otherwise that cold, NWly breeze all day every day.
-
1
-
-
Generally cloudy with brief glimpses of hazy sunshine. I'm currently moving my outdoor sensor but outdoors feels like the reported 16C. Last night went down to around 7C so quite mild.
-
Rode back from leisure centre last evening through what I thought was sleet. Cold and showery all night all the time I was awake and this morning a fence panel in the downstairs garden has been partly brought down by the wind. Really thought I'd seen the last of the loathsome winter however I suspect the coming spring will be like the past two: persistent PM incursions with clear, cold nights and sunless cloudy days.
-
On 25/03/2016 at 8:47 PM, Ed Stone said:
If only we would keep BST all the year round?
We had BST all year from 1968 to 1971, an unmitigated disaster - I lived through it. Riding a bike to work on icy roads because the sun didn't rise until around 9am. Schoolkids being knocked down by dozy drivers as they made their way to school in the dark. RoSPA shrilly denounced the experiment (it was an experiment), however the very same RoSPA now appears to support the madcap suggestion to reimpose all year BST.
All year BST was a political decision to make things easier for big business. Bugger the plebs who had to make their way to school or work in the dark and ice. What everyone seems to forget, is that however much we muck about with the clock, in mid-winter we only have about eight hours' of daylight.
-
2
-
-
Of course from Monday it'll be now dark in the morning again, although not for long.
-
On 14/03/2016 at 9:49 PM, damianslaw said:
I hope we don't see a 1988 style spring-summer, preety miserable with a woeful summer, July was shockingly bad..
Yes I've commented on how very wet periods have often been followed by very dry periods and vice versa, we saw a drying theme on the back of the very wet winter of 13/14, and more convincingly so on the back of the exceptionally wet November of 2009, likewise first half of 2001 was preety dry after the deluges of Autumn 2000.. purely more than coincidence I feel. Spring 95 saw a major dry spell develop after the very wet winter of 94/95..
Last "summer" saw many spells here where the max temp didn't even reach 16C, let alone 21C which I regard to be the lowest reasonable for a summer day. It was the relentless "cold clear night, cloud bubbling up around 9am then melting away at 8pm leading to another cold night, rinse and repeat" PM regime that stuck for months while of course last May broke records for coldness here. It concerns me that spring and summer '16 will be following the same steps of the last one. El Nino? I'm more worried over the possible imminence of a Grand Minimum.
I can't highlight anything to quote because of this awful new software.
-
1
-
-
55 minutes ago, markyo said:
Totally agree with your costings for the over 65's,just wish in my area more people like your good self could make use of them!, as 'i am under 65 my local council swimming pool is so expensive i wouldn't dream of going. I know 2003 was a extreme but just wanted to make a point that heat will be of just a problem as cold,its a lot lot easier to warm up than cool down. Sorry that is just a plain fact. 2003 was a killer and i think may be repeated very soon sadly.
The over 65s in my area have their individual swims discounted however despite being 65 I still pay full whack for my subscription - no discount. Still cheaper than paying each time with OAP discount. The time I spend in the pool I'm in the warm and not using power to heat my home. I'm already dreading the electricity bill for the past winter - I'm on quarterly. However I fear for those on State pension (like me) who have pre-payment meters and have to try keep the heat and light on. Hence "Heat or eat". In addition the energy companies are screwing over pre-payment customers however I understand that particular scam is being shortly stopped. Extra charges used to be justified for pre-payment because someone had to visit properties to collect the cash from meters, but not now as keys are replenished electronically in a local shop.
-
57 minutes ago, markyo said:
Each to their own,but i really hate the summer hot days and nights,totally knackers me out not sleeping and with my work being over 90f plus all year round the relief of winter is heaven. As for the annual cull,i think you'll find that a heatwave will cause so much more distress and fatalities.As for swimming pools,very expensive and local lakes none so not a option!
In hot weather vulnerable people are advised to stay indoors with the windows closed and have cold drinks, even a cool bath or shower. Much easier and cheaper than the stark "heat or eat" option for many pensioners, hence the annual winter cull. Do you have the figures for heat-related deaths amongst the over-65s? I'm 65 but because of my bare-skin winter swimmer's cold-hardening I'm not so badly affected by the cold - what you see me holding in my avatar is a 1" thick slab of ice.
Although I swim outdoors (hence my forum name) I also swim in pools. I pay £21/month for my subscription and given my current use each swim effectively costs me £1 which is hardly expensive even for a pensioner. Many pools issue "season tickets" which are much cheaper than paying each time.
-
1
-
-
On 3/7/2016 at 9:47 PM, Nick L said:
Yes from the end of March onwards I have to be careful. And remember, tanning is no better for you than burning!
On the hand too little sun is harmful. It's not only for SAD sufferers like myself but sun exposure creates Vitamin D3 under the skin from "harmful" cholesterol. Most supplements contain Vit D2 which isn't anywhere as bio-available as D3. Vit D3 is implicated in the suppression of many cancers. Despite being fair-skinned and freckled all over (I'm an inveterate sunbather) my GP informed me that I've got the complexion of a man ten years younger. It should be borne in mind that most melanomas occur in places "the sun don't shine" (unless you're a naturist), and my single mole is regularly checked.
-
2
-
-
57 minutes ago, markyo said:
Here's hoping for a nice and cold Easter,winters last fling before the boredom of summer is upon us. There will be plenty of time in the up coming months for those sleepless nights of heat to torment me so one last goodbye to the good times would be nice!
But not for us who have to pay through the nose for heating. Roll on those hot days and nights I can sleep on the top of the duvet. For those winter lovers, bear in mind the British winter's annual cull of over 40,000, mostly pensioners. It's much cheaper to cool off than heating one's home. Suggestion: swimming pool (cheap), local river or lake (free).
-
1
-
-
Sleety this morning and wet and miserable all day. Never been out today. When I looked across to the N.Wales hills they appeared white-capped. Now appears dry.
-
1 hour ago, I remember Atlantic 252 said:
deepest FI but 2 runs on the trot now, bring on Spring! I live at low levels, cannot be arsed with farty rain and 3C
all know of course these charts will downgrade to wet
Looking at the "Models" thread that warm High (should it actually materialise) could just possibly give us our first 20C of the year.
Yes puleeeeeze
-
4
-
Forum upgrade - info, bugs, support
in Help, support and feedback
Posted
For some reason using Firefox 39.0.3 your system now serves the mobile version, and I'm using a Windows XP PC. On Chrome the "right" version is served. I don't like the mobile version at all especially as I can't "swipe" anything on my screen.