cj114

I also saw that broadcast, I do feel for the forecasters when confronted with this sort of set up. Peter Cockcroft is damned if he does [i.e ruining everyones shopping day] and damned if he doesn't! It's tough call, and so glad I'm not a weatherwoman!!! I can see it coming in, but how windy will it actually be? After the '87 storm, we had regular interuptions on tv, informing us of impending storms, snow etc. These did not happen, or not as bad as forecasted. Until '90, by then they had stopped giving them out, and the net was not there to warn ahead anyway. That was a bad storm, happening in the day, made it more dangerous. I'll never forget the gust of wind that lifted the cars front off the ground!! Which is why I HATE the wind. It kills, and maims. Give me sunshine or snow, anyday of the week. but not wind. But, still love the British weather, wonderful stuff.

Has anyone seen Joe B's latest forecast/idea's on accuweather? He does ramble a bit, but thinks we will have the same sort of winter as last year!!!!!!!!!! Thoughts anyone? :o

Very interesting listening to Michael Fish................he also did the forecast this evening at 6.30. Oddly enough, my Husband was in Jersey at the time, and they were all asked to return to their Hotel by 10pm, as massive storm was brewing. I just thought the Barometer was broken, and did see the last forecast around midnight, which to be fair had wind speeds of 50mph pegged all across the south. Was woken 3hrs later by a dreadful wailing sound. No electricity and the radio didn't help as the DJ at Captial Radio was terrified. Lived [and still do] amonst Epping Forest, and the sound of falling tree's is something I'll never forget. I for one, hate the wind now, and hope it NEVER happens again. Great podcast, hope he does more.

I actually watched the infamous broadcast in 1987. It was around midnight, and 50 mile an hour winds were forcast. 3 hours later, I was woken up.......................and the rest is History. I guess the storm was hard to track and we had a lot of rain too, in the week leading up to it. On the Wednesday, I thought my Barometer was broken. I had never seen it so low. We had no power, so I found a battery powered Radio, which didn't help as the broadcasters in London seemed more scared than I was! Don't like wind much now, guess there is a load of us out there who don't. Hearing Epping Forest coming down around us, was very scarey indeed. They didn't get it "wrong", just working with the info that they had at the time. My Husband was working in Jersey, but they had been ordered back to their Hotel, as a Hurricane force storm was on the way. I hope that History never repeats it'self!!!

Classic Francis!! love it. Twenty odd years ago, Francis was the Thames region local forecaster on ITV. One evening, he decided [in his very languid way] that the heavy rain we were having, could turn to snow. The BBC didn't forecast it. But, the following morning we woke up to 4" of snow!!! He was captured by SKY and it's nice to see him back on C5 weather. He NEVER makes a drama out of a crisis!!! Would ANY kind of weather get Francis excited? I doubt it somehow.

I thought that 2005/06, was a chilly winter down here! 06/07, very warm. Having said that, I don't miss the early 80s winters.................2ft icicles, ice creeping up on the INSIDE of the windows in the evenings! Snow that never seemed to go away [try dragging a push chair, plus shopping home in that!] Chilblains [i was 22!!] We were heading for a "mini ice age" at that time. Yet a few years later, it's globle warming! The weather is the weather, prone to changes over time. Nothing us mere mortal's can do about it either. I love our weather, so odd, so unpredictable. Which is why, we LOVE to talk about it. Just keep the Wellies handy, and a spade in the boot! [or in my case, an old kids blackboard] to dig yourselves out of snowdrifts. Or sunglasses for Jan/feb, and factor 16. Be prepared..................for anything. lol

Our friend Joe B, over at accuweather, has written a very interesting article this week. Although I would have been grateful, if things had been written in more laymans terms! i.e idiots like me. I espcially liked his inference that, we are just leasing the earth to live on, and to think that we are arrogant enough to take control of it, is rather to my way of thinking too. A very good read. CJ

It was probably just Francis, he is so languid these days...............................instructed the weather girl to waft about, spreading snow in her wake. However, 20yrs ago, when he was a local forcaster for the Thames region, he did forcast snow one evening, when it had been raining hard for hours! woke up the following morning to 6" of snow!! He was the only one who stuck his neck out that evening. Persian, I'm a girl, Cj is my Car!!

Sky, at 1am reckon that the south will have copious amounts of snow on Thursday!!!!! I'll have a pint of whatever they are drinking this morning! You never know, all to play for now.

Bit glad really. Christmas shopping on Ski's was not my idea of fun anyway.

Oh, forgot about the M11 event.........................o.k so we have had snow sometimes I suppose. Winge, winge. No, don't want that again, my mate was in it for 8hrs. Having said that, there was ice on the M25 tonight and no sign of any gritters. Do they never learn?

Trouble is, we had all this in Feb. I sat and watched and got all excited!!!!!!!!!!!! Then 20 miles down the road Kent got the lot. In fact it was sunny here and a friend was STRANDED in Kent................................I thought he was joking. So afraid the same will happen again. Kent will get it all again........................and it's not even their turn.

Please don't say it will snow in Leeds. My daughter lives there and has never driven in a good dolop of snow!!! There is a whole generation of kids [mine is 26] who have never driven in snow and the advent of automatic cars being the norm now will make things worse. Myself, I'll take out the manual if it snows here!!!!!!! Very interesting thread tho'. I know we are "due" a winter but don't relish the thought now that my parents are old and my kids are driving. It is very pretty to look at.....................................................maybe it will happen as I've managed to order stick on snowflakes for the windows for Christmas. Have been looking for years......................and now maybe the real thing. B)

Beautiful morning here in Essex! Unlike last night, I was driving home from a friends at almost Midnight and the heavens just opened.............................................I can't remember the last time I had to use no 3 on the wipers! And I STILL couldn't see! The roads were just awash and couldn't cope with it all. On the upside I have very clean wheel arches.

Met office radar for 10.30 looking v.good now.......................................kids getting cats in!!!!!! In Spain the kids would shout "here she comes" as a storm roared in...................they are at it again!!! Any other radar reports looking as good??? Thanks.

Am in south Essex and quite looking forward to any storms we may get this evening. After a month in Spain in the Gavarres [north of Barcalona] saw a couple of spectacular storms there, with forked lightning hitting the hills opposite our villa. We usually get one every year but had several this august, 2 severe. Home wednesday evening so looking forward to any homegrown ones...............................................................she says rubbing her hands with a pot of glee. Good to be back