AtlanticFlamethrower

Good luck! BTW re: thaw. it is perfectly possible to thaw in -1C in places exposed to the sun. That's how the sun exposed roofs here in South Woodham are now 95% snow free. In the shade, still okay, it's the sun that does it... melts and then forms the icicles as it drips away!

Sorry everyone, I was lying when I said South Woodham Ferrers had 1 1/2 inches of snow... better adjust my sig. More like 1 5/8ths of an inch!! It is not unusual for this area to receive low PPN totals at any time of year.

Sun is out here now and there are icicles forming on the roof due to snow melt. Amazing, sun been out for just 5 minutes and it must be -3C.

Wow, thanks for that info, very interesting. Sorry folks, I'm not on a "wind-up". Even though we got unlucky - although I don't think it's a coincidence, the dry-moderate-heavy pattern - I would give up an inch on top of what I have for slinky getting some there in Norfolk.

Rubbish. I never do that. I nearly always refer to my area, and I certainly didn't use the word "band" - go back and read the post again. You do not accurately recollect what I said. There is no need to patronise me and be rude all over again. Snowfall here is now approaching a "notable" depth. Very satisfied, as long as people don't continue to claim I'm getting/going to get 3cm when I'm predicting correctly that this region will only get 1cm max. Don't need to prove myself but blow up the Met Office 9.30 radar - shows Southend/Eastern tip under yellows and South Woodham under greens. Now I don't want to hear another word from you to me on this - over, I don't hold grudges unless you're Hitler. Let's enjoy the snow!

Note to Optimus Prime - don't be rude to me. That was completely uncalled for. My observations can be confirmed by one other resident of South Woodham who posts regularly. We got 20 minutes snow, 7 minutes of moderate PPN in the middle. Total laid 0.5cm as measured on my bare car roof. Light snow currently blowing about in South Woodham, slightly larger than dandruff in size.

I'm the one living here, I know what's happened. I can measure what's laid on bare car. I'm sorry it's very little, but there you go. Micro climate effects perhaps?

I can report nothing like this in South Woodham just to your north. We got a smattering of moderate PNN but mostly dandruff. Really want to avoid sunny periods today so if we don't get snow would like to keep what we have under cloud cover!

Dandruff PPN is back in South Woodham... very welcome, would like to keep the cloud cover for as much of the day as possible. Earlier show which included 7 minutes moderate PPN didn't pull up any trees - gave about 0.5cm. This one won't add anything. Idea of 3-5 cm purported by some for this region way OTT. My suggestion of 1cm (three at the Eastern tip of Shoeburyness) looks favourite.

Back to dandruff PPN in South Woodham after 7 minutes of the moderate variety. Filled in someof the bare patches on the roofs. An inch of grass tip still poking out numerous places... half a cm added in the last 20 minutes.

Moderate flurries of PPN in South Woodham now although the heaviest is slipping by to our East. If we are just in this heavier band we are probably at the very eastern edge. The snow flake size is perfect. Should last 10-15 minute.

Light drandruff PPN here won't amount to much, although it will all stick. Important thing than PPN is the cloud which has just blown over at the right time to shield our thin layer of roof snow from the sun melt.

My suggestion of a polar low at 2 oclock was not far wrong after all! Also right about PPN not reaching south of Essex... not going to be 1cm, let alone 3-5cm. :blink:

Thanks to all the explanations re: Polar Low. I particularly liked Gerry's idea that this system fulfilled some of the criteria necessary to be called a polar low, had it been formed further north. Looks to be getting wider and wider as it approaches land. I expect it to run out of PPN puff by the time it approaches London/S Essex but that the most immediate counties will get a got hit.

If it continues at the speed it has traveled over the last 2 1/2 hours it'll hit London by 8-9am. Even if it's light PPN it will all stick as temperatures are absolutely fine for snow.

Latest colourful radar PPN exploding. two bands - inner and outer. Perhaps if there was more water it would become even more polar lowesque but as it is it'll probably hit land before much more development.

Yes, unless told otherwise, we're getting over-excited - sorry, I am getting over-excited - in the absence of the experts. Seems to make a lot of progression in 15 minutes... incredible watching its development.

this is what we're looking at PPN just exploded in the last hour - inner and outer bands? Comma shape think polar lows require large difference between water temp and uppers? also, reading a polar low discussion the other day think John Holmes said Polar Lows often formed from cold air blowing from Norweigian mountains... I think that could apply in this case. - Hmm, well, maybe it can't technically be a polar low then... still looks very mean.

So could this be a mini-polar low? It's not yet fully developed - the hook is there but not fully wrapped around a cloud free eye in spiral, although there seems to be convection on all sides. Actually wiki says the "comma" shape is a feature of one kind of polar low - this has a comma shape! There is a large "tail" of cloud behind it, very much like a polar low. How exciting is this!

Not been posted much this time around because of the raintoday site http://www.meteox.com/h.aspx?r=&jaar=-3&soort=loop1uur Rain radar loop which includes North Sea. I wondered why KW was still up...

Rotation - suggesting a polar low? Sorry if that's a stupid suggestion! BTW xcweather says Southend @ -4C... GFS said low of -2C. Perhaps it's overcooked the temps later at the weekend too.

Uprooted trees? Never heard of that before... incredible.

North Sea is 9C at the mouth of the estuary. That's down 2C from 11C on 25th December. Down 1C from 10C on the 1st Jan. On 10th Jan it could be down to 8C. if the GFS is working from 9C now rather than possible 8C by the weekend it might make some difference. After the weekend though.. not looking good. We need a high positioned so to reload the cold over Scandinavia. http://forum.netweather.tv/topic/59108-uk-sea-surface-temperatures/

Fab! looks like an abominable snowman from a wallace and grommit movie :blush:

Someone with a snow pack of 2cm doesn't believe you! When you say "favoured spots", in a NE flow you should be specific, and say you meant Kent and Norfolk, Suffolk/Cambridgeshire. South Essex will NOT get 10-15cm from a NEly. South Essex will get 0 cm - 3 cm, per strike, unless you happen to live in Leigh/Southend where you can catch a little of the Kent streamer.