Tom Montalbano

Have just spoken to my sister and her fiance in Orpington (NW.Kent) and come the end of the snowfall, early evening, estimate they have around 10" in their garden. Not surprised as Orpington always seems to do well from Thames Streamers and it lies just to the NE of Biggin Hill. Regards, Tom.

Went for a great snow walk with my fiancee this aft., nearly 6 miles altogether. For those of you who know the area, decided to go due south to Bromley. Left home with about 5" on the ground. Just after Grove Park you cross the Borough boundary from Lewisham to Bromley and you start to gain a little elevation and it was noticeable that the depth of snow was on the increase. Just before you get to Bromley theres a park, near Sundridge Park, totals there were nearer 7/8ins, with drifts close to a foot. It snowed moderately in Bromley all afternoon and the town centre wasnt that busy and I managed to take some nice piccies in a very scenic looking Churchill Gardens, sorry but unable to post them. I wanted to press on to Bromley Common and Keston, as Biggin Hill was a no-no, but wasnt too sure how bad the weather was going to get. Should imagine totals in the Keston area circa 10 ins and as we've heard a foot plus in Biggin Hill. Decided to be sensible and head back to Lee, as we headed out of Bromley, snowflakes became larger and thought dew points, as the forecast suggested, were becoming marginal. As we got closer to Lee noticed that the snow hitting my face started to feel quite wet. Got back after 5 and the ppn started to fizzle and became sleety. On looking at the radar returns, we seemed to have just stayed in the ppn area but just about managed to hold our dew point low enough for snow, very close run thing though. I have vague memories of the 62/63 winter and obviously very fond memories of other memorable snowfalls since and I have to say a 7/8 inch fall for the Bromley area is very respectable and is up there with some of the notable snowfalls for this area. My fiancee and I also noticed how desperately birds were scavaging around for food and she made a point of feeding them with something she found in her handbag, bless. One other thing I noticed about today was how polite people were to each other and it was great to see the wonder and joy in kids faces, some of them have waited a long time and they certainly made up for it with some great looking snowmen and some huge balls of snow. Its been great reading all of your experiences in the last few days and I wonder whether the mods have any ideas of putting a thread together summarising this spell and perhaps we could get some input from the technical guys re.the synoptics, etc that occurred. Lets hope the SW event can throw up some more juicy synoptics and decent snowfalls as we go through the rest of Feb. and who knows, March. Regards, Tom.

Morning all, Well has been coming down steadily for the last half hour again and sky looks full of it, here in Lee SE12. Still concerned for areas east of the Greenwich Meridian late aft/early eve, might turn to sleet or rain before it clears, esp. the further east you are. A few charts to illustrate. http://212.100.247.145/gfsimages/gfs.20090.../h850t850eu.png Low centred just to the east of the meridian and in middle of channel with 850s at -5 ruunning up the Meridian. http://212.100.247.145/gfsimages/gfs.20090...ctypeuktopo.png With sleet/rain being forecast east of the Meridian. http://212.100.247.145/gfsimages/gfs.20090.../h850t850eu.png By midnight -5 850s moving back east into Kent. With attendant ppn trending towards sleet/snow from the west. http://212.100.247.145/gfsimages/gfs.20090.../h850t850eu.png -5 850s sweep back east through the whole of the SE by 3 AM. With remnants of ppn turning more wintry as it dies. Will be interesting to see Metos take on this. We seem to have a window of dodginess of about 6 hours east of the Greenwich line. As KW states, surface cold in our favour though, which may prevent transition from snow-sleet-rain from happening away from coasts. Anymore thoughts on this KW, think we need that low not to track to far west from the Meridian. Looks a good shout from Steve re. Surrey Downs having most accumulated depth but I'm sure my fav place Biggin Hill will be ok and will stay as snow. Further afield looking good for N/W Midlands for some nice totals come end of the week. Regards, Tom.

Snow fizzling out and cloud breaking. What next...........? Regards, Tom

TEITS, great to hear from you mate. I'm sure you're get a good dumping later on.The scenes in the London area are amazing this morning. Yes, I think we should start an appreciation Society for the easterly/ Scandinavan High. Also, I hope people understand why some of us go on about the Thames Streamer so much, certainly was a beauty last night. Regards, Tom.

The more technical will give you a better answer. Basically when winds become ENE in the Thames Estuary allied to very cold air moving over this area, of the sort we've had overnight, deep convection occurs. I also think the local topography of the Essex and Kent coastline gives additional lift to the air. If you look at a map of this area you'll note that the Essex coastline alligns NE to SW and the Kent coastline, more or less east/west. The coastlines narrow to about Southend over to Sheerness and this helps to funnel the snow showers WSW towards London, at the same time keeping the bitter air in contact with a source of moisture, i.e The Thames. This is why areas along the Thames corridor right into the heart of London have received such heavy snowfall and on over the West Kent and Surrey Downs. If the wind stays in this direction for any length of time the showers keep on coming and snow totals increase. The convection can become so deep that reports of thunder start coming in from those areas, as happened overnight. I have received some of my best snowfall from these set-ups, as I have lived on the SE.London/NW.Kent borders all my life. This certainly ranks up there as one of the best examples of a Thames Streamer that I've seen. Still cant quite explain why Paul S. and others in the Southend/Leigh area have done so badly overnight. Regards, Tom.

Have just stuck the ruler int he back garden, looks to be dead on 5", with snow gradually fizzling out, going by latest radar. Then a lull for a while before more snow encroaches from the SE but will it stay as snow, we're virtually bang on the Meridian line here in Lee SE12. Whats the thoughts on this next batch of snow from the SE by lunchtime or so? Regards, Tom.

Tremendous snowfall here, snow seems to have got worse after I went to bed around 2.30. As I reported had thundersnow around 1.30 or so. Snow just fading away now, all eyes to the south east now, as that stuff over NE France edges ever closer. Will it stay as snow though, it looks as though it will to the west of the Meridian but more marginal the more east you are of that. Incredible scenes around London. Wanted to get up to Biggin Hill but think that is going to be difficult now, with more snowfall to come would expect them to exceed a foot comfortably. Regards, Tom.

Night all, its been a pleasure. Although will probably be in and out of bed like a yo-yo. And Steve, keep that thunder down a bit, I'll be trying to get to sleep. Regards, Tom.

Looks like things are turning due east, with even a touch of south, if you look at the allignment of the band of ppn just south-east of London on the 1.30 radar, probably caused this thunder snow we've just had here in SE.London/NW.Kent. Regards, Tom.

Thunder again guys, this is getting nasty, cant wait to see next radar returns. Regards, Tom. Crack of thunder no.3. and near white-out conditions.

Did you hear that Steve, almighty crack of thunder here in Lee SE12. Regards, Tom.

Just popped my head out the front door and coming down heavily again here in S.E.London (Lee). Regards, Tom.

Still some impressive radar returns on Meto 12.00. Looking good to the north of the river now, over Essex and Suffolk stretching to the north of London. That heavier stuff coming into Yorks/Lincs must be causing some excitement on their thread. Regards, Tom.

Hi Snow Queen one, I think that may well be the case, if the wind is turning NE. Kent would gain for a while and the Thames corridor towards London will see snow fading away for a while, before tomorrows more organised band of snow. Regards, Tom.

Hope I'm not being a party pooper but as Paul S. states the ENE might soon be blowing itself out. Take a look at the Metox radar basvegas just posted. Seems the ppn is fading away from the east over Kent and Essex and if you look out into the N.Sea some ppn is coming from the NE towards E.Anglia. Could this be in response to the low pivoting up towards NE France and tilting the wind back to the NE again. Regards, Tom.

Have a little less than Steve has here in Lee SE12, due to the Shooters Hill rain shadow effect, or should that be snow shadow. Next couple of hours should see some nice increases in depths around the Estuary and quite a few other places. Regards, Tom.

Some of the heaviest returns in the Thames Estuary so far this evening, on the 10.00 Meto radar. Regards, Tom.

Hi Steve, Yes agree with you there mate, dont think we've quite seen the Streamer in all its glory YET! We havnt seen the classic elongated signature pulsing away WSW with back-building that you tend to get. Perhaps we can get some impressive radar returns a bit later. If only we could get ppn rates that caused your flat to be flooded a few Septembers ago, remember that! The fabled Thames Thunderstorm Streamer, enough! Would think that Swanley/Orpington are doing quite well at the moment, if Biggin Hill is, as they also have a little elevation, although nothing like Biggin. Regards, Tom.

Paul S., some beefier echoes showing up on the 8.30 radar to the NE of you now. Hope you get a good dumping soon mate. Regards, Tom.

Paul S., some beefier echoes showing up on the 8.30 radar to the NE of you now. Hope you get a good dumping soon mate. Regards, Tom.

Tut tut acb, how could you doubt the existence of the Thames Streamer. Note my signature. Thames Snow Streamer Society member, probably the only one left. <_< Mind you, might get a few more membership applications now! Regards, Tom.

Really heavy snow here in Lee SE12, sky full of it east of me towards Bexheath/ Dartford way. I think the streamer is about to kick in big time. I'm punting for heaviest snow in this area just before the midnight hour. Regards, Tom.

Thanks Bexleyheathites, we've just received your latest snow shower here in Lee and pretty heavy it is too. I wonder how Shooters Hill is fairing! Regards, Tom.

Evening all, Well thats amazing, just got back from work (Croydon) to Lee SE12 and after being a little concerned at the wind direction earlier in the aft., was really pleased to hear the Essex guys report a change in wind direction. Then 6 o'clock on the dot, as per ppn forecasts, caught the first few flakes in Bromley. There was already a patchy dusting here in SE12 from the first few flurries and getting off the bus, I noted a lovely uniform grey to the cloud all points east of here, up over Shooters Hill. Steady snow shower as soon as I got in and now complete snow cover and expecting quite a bit more during the rest of the night, although has eased a little as I post. Regards, Tom