acbrixton

Paul many thanks: will remember that Andrew

Well snow at Heathrow, Barnet and Bellingham; sleet in Brixton since daybreak. Still even that is more than I expected... Regards ACB

Well that won't do them much good! Daffodils should either be left undisturbed or lifted when the leaves have completely died down. When planting/re-planting Daffodils need to be in the ground ideally in September but will cope with early/mid October. They are, it seems, sensitive to the changing patterns of night and day. Tulips on the other hand can be planted from early October to early December (November ideally). Regards ACB

Paul: a question: I have posted a number of items on Cooking With Attitude under General Chat in the Cafe section. I wondered whether it was possible for me to amend/tidy up posts after they have appeared? Many thanks ACB

In Surrey (until 1988/Brixton thereafter) the last time I saw lying snow in March was (I think) 1.3.87 (about 2" in Weybridge and 1" in London). latest time in Surrey was 2" on (I think) 22.4.79. regards ACB

I was at school in Wellington in the west of Somerset. We rarely had much snow at all most years (from 1973 onwards). Most of early Feb 78 was cold dry and anticyconig with unusually hard frosts and freezing fog. On what I would guess was Monday 14th Feb we had sleet in the early evening. Within an hour this had turned to snow and was settling readily. By morning we had about 5" with clear cold skies. From Tuesday to Friday that week the atlantic fronts tried to break through the block but almost uniquely failed: fronts approached and dumped more snow before retreating once again. By Saturday 19.2 we must have had about 9" or so although there had been little drifting and most main roads were clear (for those in the hills nearby however the snow was heavier with some drifying and they were marooned). I was taken away to Surrey on the afternoon of 19.2 so missed the great blizzard at its worst: I was told that by Sunday am there was nearly 2' of level snow but with extensive drifting up to 10' or more. All roads in the county were impassable including the M5. All rail services were cancelled (the steam railway from Bishops' Lydeard to the north coast was able to operate carrying supplies to some villages). Travelling back on the following Wednesday there were the most enormous dritfs on parts of the M4/M5 of 20-30' and dense advection fog. regards ACB

It is also worth remembering that the BBC forecasters are under very considerable time pressures and have less time than they used to...blame the BBC not the forecasters regards ACB

I have a recollection of a decent and (in recent years unprecedentedly early) snowfall in October 1968 (I was 8 at the time and cannot recall the dates). I do recall being driven in a blinding snowstorm along the Great West Road to the old Beechams Clinic and that the snow lay hard on the ground the next day at school in Chertsey Surrey. Any recollections/dates/data please? regards ACB

I do not have any data to back me up but my feeling in London was that this was an above average summer in terms of warmth (esp nightime minima) and sunshine. Although rainfall in July and August may well have been average or higher the rain tended to be concentrated in distinct blocs with a fairly small number of days being disproportionately responsible for the totals. Would be interested to see what those with stations in London have recorded? regards ACB

RPM Returning Polar Maritime: basically a polar maritime air mass that is modified by a long sea journey from the north west that and travels around the w armer sea as a south westerly behind a cols front: unstable showery and on the whole fairly mild regards ACB