Chris Smith

TBH I'm happy to see some mobility of any kind. It was lovely walking outside today in the sunshine, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Hey, I could live with that! Anything is better than days and days of immobile dreich and even zonal mobility is better than that.

Normally, I don't mind a bit of cold weather, but I gotta say, it's bloody gorgeous out there today. Just back from a two hour walk. IN SHORTS! I don't have a weather station, but it must be at least 15c.

Indeed. Zonal shooting gallery until mid January earliest?

Maybe I'm naiive but this thread seems to attract those who prefer the more wintry scenarios? For my part, I'm a big fan of The Weather, whatever it brings. Exceptional warmth is just as amazing as exceptional cold. Y'know, they're both exceptions and therefore notable, and worth experiencing. Not every experience needs to involve slush, ice and gritters does it? If I can get out on a walk/bike ride this week, in shorts - that's just as excellent as going out for a scrunch through snow. Oh, and if you're after deep sparkly powder, UK always was the wrong place... ^^ (On reflection, this last statement may seem at odds with my avatar picture. That was taken in Norfolk in December 2010, and I've not seen anything like that since, either there or where I live now).

Gawd bless ya Mr Bartlett. What would we do without your Highs?

If you're a SAD sufferer, a walk in such conditions (especially if accompanied by sunshine) can be really theraputic.

Ha - I too was 16 in '76, and landed my first job in August. My first task? Me and another green-horn were tasked with painting a vast south facing wall white. The tan still hasn't worn off...

Had to drive over Chapel Fell today. Still plenty of Arwen snow in the gullies across the tops. It was +2.5c when I left home in the Browney valley, a bracing -1.5c amongst the snow poles on the tops. It's a wild place up there. I'm betting I wouldn't get my van up there this time next week :).

Gotta love an inversion. Barely made +1c today, down here in the Browney valley - with lots of frost remaining out of the sun; but +6c way up there in Consett.

As I mentioned elsewhere, it might be best if we could avoid a cold spell, while we're suffering a major surge in Covid. For example - we're already short of HGV drivers; add to that a major dollop of sickness and there won't be anyone to drive the gritters.

Hmm. Just been thinking. Prolonged cold spell + massive Omicron wave = Abject misery. Maybe.

Strong winds and heavy wet snow - could be a few power-cuts tonight. Better check my UPS.

Either we just had a crack of thunder, or that was someone's wheelie bin going past, headed for Durham. This kind of weather always seems to happen on bin day!

Durham is nothing compared to the snow magnet that is Consett.

Full-on snowing now.

Well, something is whipping past in the light of the street lights, but it's flying by way too fast to see what it is! Some big gusts arriving now.

Just checking in for this season's model watch. I keep looking at charts and thinking - "Bartlett High". We must be approaching the 10th anniversary of Paul Bartlett's passing; seems fitting the weather is in the mood to celebrate that most pernicious of winter spoilers!

I thought you might have deleted your account after last night!

It's suddenly much more in the mood for it in the last hour, North of Durham.

If you think North Sea lake effect is frustrating, try Buffalo!

Looks like the Durham gap persists, in that forecast. ETA: x-post with Tucka

Parallel convergence lines will inevitably have parallel divergence lines between them where air is less unstable. Just bad luck if you get stuck under one of them.

Give it a few minutes and you'll see it go by on the Tow Law roadside camera :).

That Durham cluster is just passing through here now.

Shh! It's headed straight for NickR.