Northernlights

I think you should wake up happier as polar low/trough is giving some heavy snow here just now at -1c. Great to see some settling snow as we missed most of last winters snow as we were either too far east or too far west and this winter up to last week has been so dry. Going to be a nice cover in the morning of fine powdery snow. Update really heavy now as blob seems to have stalled over us with at least two inches lying now.

Fine winters day here too with blue skies and colourful snow shower clouds all around the horizon especially to the north and west.We had the merest of dustings overnight and -3c first thing this morning. Never got above 0c today so frost digging in. Certainly feels like proper winter now. Still get the feeling that the seasons are running 4 to 6 weeks behind. See in the model thread that they are bemoaning the lack of an easterly,well we are approaching the season when east and north winds are at their most frequent and can still pack a punch right up to early May especially up here. We still have another three months or so for disruptive snow and as my mother used to say without any scentific background "As the days lengthen so the cold strengthens." As for the farm we always plan for a seven month winter for the livestock.

Frost has returned mud all gone for a while.Snow level l down to sea level across the Firth certainly in Wick and the cliffs at Dunbeath. Snow steadily building up on the higher hills. Currently 0c

Cows went out OK to their neeps but I was wading in 6 inches of mud shifting electric fence beforehand. After bedding their fold I went back for them and they ran back head on into a strong north wind with soft hail falling .Wind chill pretty high with a temperature of 1.5c just now. Im in for the afternoon now just to go out to feed them again in the late afternoon in the steading.

Very wild night with a lot more rain and sleet north wind howling beween the house and steading.Currently 2c , windy and overcast.

Lots of rain today ground really needing it but a real cold wind off the Firth at 3c. Will it turn to snow tonight?

Neep field really gloopy with frost coming out when shifting electric fence for cows today but it has been a mostly dry and breezy day .One observation in neep field was the huge number of badger scrapes.It appears they are after the nests of mice ecpecially as they usually contain grain they have collected to store. Currently 7c

Well the inner Moray Firth cats agree Had all three sleeping in the chair(can never usually agree with one another) next to rayburn this evening so cat models say snow on the way. Understand a lot of geese too have moved from this area further SW to Dunfries etc so maybe they know something. A lot of fresh scrapes in areas where the sun melts a bit of the soil during the day or under trees facing the sun. Badgers must be hungry too.Bird feeders are swamped too and are cleared on a daily basis. Currently 4c

Had a light snow shower an hour ago and saw my first falling snowflakes of this winter!!!!

A couple of flakes lying on the ice of frozen puddles overnight with a minimum of -2c.In spite of this the ground is iron hard. Was wondering if the dryness of the ground was helping it to cool faster? Anyhow its a fabulous base for snow to fall onto. The bulbs will be going into suspended animation now and a lot of germinating weed seeds on dug areas of the garden look pretty unhealthy. Fabulous morning with blue sunny skies.

Managed to lift some neeps today to top up the store for February.Only by the skin of our teeth as frost had relented quite a bit yesterday but had returned overnight. Ground engaging disc suffered a bit with several lumps of frozen earth showing three inches of frost. Frost really digging in late in the afternoon so the cost of a new disc is worth it just to have some more feed secured.Currently -2c and falling. Its going to be a cold night. Heaters turned on in all the vulnerable areas. We have now had a week of frost and the hills round the Firth are getting whiter by the day so winter has really arrived and is not in a hurry to leave.

Stunningly cold today with a very strong wind with a maximum of 4c.Mostly dry and overcast. A lot of the frost came out of the ground.however.

After a really dreich morning a fine sunny afternoon developed. A bit of thawing going on this afternoon but ground still very slippy with about two to three inches of frost Frost coming down again just now and currently 1c

After a great frosty start to the night rain came in earlier this morning and coated the ground with ice. Currently overcast and 3c

Fabulous day here blue skies and sunshine and a maximum of 3c in the afternoon with frost digging in all day in the shade. Most of our non farming neighbours were round the farm for a walk in such calm quiet conditions.

Just a few flakes here but ground starting to freeze up in 0c wind .Just been out and can see snow showers highlighted round the Firth by the moon. Also ironically we have a blanket of snowdrops under the horsechestnut shimmering in the moonlight just as winter temperatures arrive.

Yes very November like today dark, dreich and cold.Temperature down to 2c and we have constant sleet falling after a showery morning. Peased we are onto inside straw for bedding as it is nice and dry and just smells like harvest when you open them. Its good to get a reminder of warm sunny days at this time of year.

Currently clear and-1c here this morning and Ben Wyvis across the Firth has a significant snow cap.

A much cooler feel this afternoon with some wintry looking showers coming across the Firth. The yellow streamers from these showers suggest snow above 2500 feet. Currently 5c

Technically I am a Cockney Londoner born within the sound of Bow Bells but my father was born on this farm and we have a family history on this farm going back at least 300 years as tenants so you can see i am a bit of a conundrum

Technically we are growing swedes the variety being Invitation and surprisingly this year we have had the highest yields ever. Yes the varieties will be different in the shops probably lower dry matter so not so frost hardy.They are also sown thickly on wide beds and not rows to keep the size down.

Another almost dry day here . Young Mr. Northernlights taking off stones again and I am not stopping him if its about to get wetter.This is a job normally done in late March early April as ground dries up but ground has been dry for months so might as well be ahead of the game. This last week has been great too for getting routine testing for TB and B.V.D done in the cattle Artic lorry in with load of feed yesterday road dry so no danger of getting stuck in mud. Stiil got a store of neeps so weather could get nasty for a month if it likes but will try to lift a few loads of neeps sometime soon to top up store. Currently slight rain and 9c.

Another fine day after a frosty start at -1c. Picked the last lettuce today in the garden plus some radishes under glass sown in early October both very good. Have carrots, cabbage and parsnips left in abundance. Also picked some very big neeps to weigh for a biggest neep competition.Last summer produced a few surprises in the garden and on the farm. Also the first snowdrops are flowering so snow can"t be far away can it?

Felt more seasonal today and we finally had a NW wind after all these weeks of southerlly ones. Some light wintry looking showers coming in off the Firth with some blue sky in between. Currenltly mostly cloudy and 6c.

Fine start to the day but has got progressively stormier culminating in an eight inch diameter bough being broken off a tree in some recent violent gusts.Got cattle all tested for TB before it got too bad.Currently strong wind, sharp showers and 7c