abruzzi spartan

Not necessarily! I'm on a hillier bit but not the actual Hill itself

Never mind, I was having some fun with your typo

Is it that bad there?! Very cold overnight in Reigate, an overnight low of -4.3c. Currently -2.4c and dry but clouding over.

This is an extract from a Surrey Council report on severe weather that suggests 5/6 Jan 2010 was when we had that red warning after which it froze hard: 'Appendix B, Summary of Weather Warnings issued by the MET Office for the period of December 2009 to January 2010 10 December 2009 Early advice was given of a change from the existing mild and wet conditions to wintry weather. 17-18 December 2009 Severe Weather Warnings issued to emergency responders two to three days ahead of heavy snow event in east/south-east England — 20 cm of snow forecast in the relevant areas. 21 December 2009 Severe Weather Warnings were issued for heavy snow (up to 10 cm) across central southern England — correct amounts forecast. 23 December 2009 Attention turned from snow to ice in the run up to Christmas. Severe Weather Warnings were issued for widespread ice across south/south-west england — rain fell with temperatures of -3 °C, causing widespread ice as forecast. 25-31 December 2009 Temporary respite across southern UK for Christmas/New Year period correctly predicted whilst warnings were issued for ice and heavy snow further north. 5-6 January 2010 Exceptional snow warning put out for southern areas, with 40 cm predicted in places — confirmed reports of 30-40 cm of level snow from Berkshire and Hampshire. 7-9 January 2010 Emphasis shifted to extreme temperatures on the following days, with temperatures predicted to be lower than -20 °C locally in Scotland and negative double figures locally in the south — the coldest temperatures of the winter were recorded, with -22.3 °C in the Scottish Highlands and parts of Oxfordshire recording a low of -18 °C. 10 January 2010 Initial warnings for snow across England and Wales overplayed, but forecasts and communications were modified as the situation developed — some media criticism but praise received from local planners for providing useful updates.'

I also think this was Jan 2010. Here in the Surrey Hills it was bonkers. From recollection the red warning arrived a bit late in that it had eased off a touch by the time it was issued. When it froze hard a day or 2 later I walked around the streets of Reigate in my mountaineering boots and crampons watching others fall on the ice as my steel points gripped hard. I left the ice axe at home though as neighbourhood watch might have dobbed me in. Sadly I've not used the crampons in anger since. One day, hopefully....

The only thing I can remember posting on the old Snow Watch board was when I decided for some reason to translate part of the great 'John Kettley is a Weatherman' smash hit into low grade, distantly remembered, O level French. I think mainly I was very pleased at the idea of Michel Poisson being a Gallic Michael Fish. Anyway, I got a really po faced message from the moderator saying that because I had posted in a foreign language it had been deleted. I think it went like this: Jean Kettley il est l'homme du temps L'homme du temps, l'homme du temps Jean Kettley il est l'homme du temps Et aussi Michel Poisson. I haven't really grown up since then. And I was nearly 40 when I posted it ?

A small amount of settling snow in Reigate. Very wet though and whilst it's still snowing the sound of dripping is all around.

Yes but the view earlier up to Colley Hill. Snow line looks at about 180m given the top there is 230m. All rain here at 110m.

2c, dp 0c, 110m asl. Light rain showers continue. Looking up to the top of the Downs at 230m, if there has been any snow up there it's not settled.

Steady rain and 3c here in Reigate at 110m.

Hi Mark, fair enough, I guess they may be. If they are then fair enough. My point is they have a wide and heavy responsibility and it's a bit unfair for some to say in advance that they are wrong when, it seems to me, that what's driving that suggestion is that it isn't what people want to hear.

Yep. Why do you ask?

minutes

So far it looks like the Met Office have called these next couple of days pretty well. Middle of last week there were lots of comments from some that they were 'wrong' in saying that it would be not cold enough for any proper snow in our region Monday, Tuesday. It looks now like the most there might be is a bit of sleetiness over the highest ground. It could of course change but the point is, I think, that they have a responsibility to the public and all the commercial organisations that pay for their forecasts and make decisions that impact us all around availability, the robustness of supply chains, staff availability etc. That's why I only ever view the postings on sites like this with a bit of detachment; there are lots of people with lots of knowledge but wow it's notable how often cognitive bias rules the roost.

Occasional rain here at 110m, and looking up from the front door to the top of the escarpment of the North Downs at Colley Hill, 230m, there's nothing going on of interest, at least not from a weather perspective

+2c at 110m asl in Reigate. Dr Izzle is in attendance. Epic cold spell continues

Ha! It's so tedious over there. Thanks for your healthy doses of sanity.

Well, there's no real convincing sign of anything properly cold as far as I can see. It's a chilly snap isn't it. Nothing more than that so far. Might change I suppose, but some on here have been a bit dismissive of the pro forecasters for not going for a snow frenzy. Just a case, I think, of being a bit more considered and ignoring your personal bias. It's easy enough to post what you'd like to happen when you have no responsibility other than a few followers, but a lot more challenging when people actually rely on you. If there's a whiteout in the SE next week and it's forecast on here a few days in advance then please do dig up this post and remind me of it and I will happily eat humble pie with snow topping. And filling

Hello again Tom. Hope you're OK. I was your 'legal advisor' on the Snow Cup, albeit with a slightly different user name. I'm still dealing with the litigation all these years later

Whoosh

Yes but what about the weather?!

Drizzle at 110m in Reigate

Light rain looks not far away to our southwest. Temperature has been slowly rising as has the dp. The former is just over 2c now. Will the altitude here in the Surrey Hills make much difference? I'm not convinced.

Was -1c about 2 hours ago here in the Surrey Hills. Ice on the cars etc. Now +2c and raining at 110m asl.

This is a lovely post. I go right back to the old BBC Snowatch days, quite early in the days of the Internet and forums, it was all quite exciting even with the loons posting about Grebes and cut off dates. As far as I can see, and I'm miles from expertise, snow and ice is a fading thing and that's, to me, awful. I bought a lovely book a couple of years back by Christopher Nicholson, a man who spends a lot of his time climbing high in the Scottish mountains looking for and mapping snow that just about hangs on in the heart of July and August. It's a great read but more importantly is a beautiful evocation of an obsession. I can't recommend it enough.