abruzzi spur

He talked about the possible battleground at the weekend and range of outcomes. Interesting stuff - they may run it again on News Channel just before the 9pm news. If not, then here's the link! http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/16821819

And still the MO are not calling much snow over the next few days! Just updated: "Headline: Generally dry and frosty overnight. Becoming increasingly sunny tomorrow. Cold. This Evening and Tonight: Perhaps some wintry showers across south Devon and Cornwall this evening, leading to icy patches. Otherwise, mostly dry and cold with variable cloud amounts and clear spells. A moderate to severe frost developing, this accentuated by a raw easterly breeze. Wednesday: Starting frosty with a risk of icy patches in southwest England. Sunny spells becoming increasingly prolonged for many, but remaining cloudier towards northeastern coasts. Feeling very cold in brisk winds. Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Remaining cold at first, with widespread overnight frosts and a few snow showers in the east. Probably becoming more unsettled on Saturday, with rain and snow spreading from the west. Updated: 1444 on Tue 31 Jan 2012" I would have thought brisk Easterly winds with such cold temperatures would have more potential, but I suppose they are being naturally cautious for now. I wonder if we will have to wait until the weekend for proper snow interest? I can understand why they have used the dreaded 'rain and snow' phrase as there is lots of uncertainty still. Doesn't do much for the nerves though. AS

What a romantic image! I have stygian gloom across the office car park, a dash of colour provided only by the gentle fluttering of a discarded Walkers ready salted crisp packet. Top that!

Interestingly the MO have updated their 6 - 15 day forecast this afternoon but not, so far, their forecast for the next 5 days. What could this mean? Probably that I am viewing a cached page! AS

It's probably less work for him if he just advises them on the 1 or 2 days each year when they don't need to go out......

too late - all spent on overtime for the gritters last night!

Looks from this like Darren Bett and Matt Taylor have had a love child! I am very happy for them and so should we all be, particularly if he keeps forecasting along those lines. AS

Thanks!

Dandruff, getting heavier and an increase in wind, eh? None of us is immune to the ravages of age.... But, trying to be positive as Coast would like, with great age comes great wisdom. Sometimes. AS

Technical question, can anyone help please? As the precipitation is so light and the air so dry beneath, is the precipitation mostly evaporating before it reaches the ground? Could that explain why the radar shows something but most of what we are getting is nothing? If this is a daft question then I apologise. Thanks AS

But when you ramp you do it so nicely! And you give us a clear warning in advance of impending rampiness.

Steve, the 06z today looks a bit grim don't you think? Eastward movement of the cold with Atlantic moving quite quickly in at the weekend? I'm only a beginner though so could have this wrong - I hope I have.

no need to be quite so patronising ta. Looking objectively at the bigger picture I think it is hard to say they have got much wrong so far in this cold spell. No snow on 'my' section of the North Downs (by 'my' I am not suggesting I am a member of the landed gentry, simply near to my house!) but as I pointed out in one of my posts last evening there were some light snow grains in Reigate and I can see that some people have snow today. Seems consistent with the broad forecast, that's all. AS

So far in this cold period the Met Office have got their daily forecasts pretty much spot on: cold, mostly dry, odd snow flurry, a few more showers possible. Looking at the latest model output though I think they have got their work cut out forecasting what happens later this week and over the weekend. Fronts pushing in from the west but how far do they get and what happens if they stall? And then what? Do they go back the way they came? Very difficult situation to call. At the office near Harefield the grey skies make it feel like I am inside a tupperware box! AS

No snow has settled becuase Yamkin sent the gritters out last night! If he hadn't then I dread to think..... Another rollercoaster day lies ahead - looking forward to it (sort of) AS

Time to sign off for today. 2 minutes of delicate ice crystals earlier this evening; rather magical, albeit very short (oops, that sounds like Paul Daniels) AS

BBC TV 10:30 weather still going for cold then very cold, almost entirely dry, though mentioning light snow flurries or occasional snow showers near the east coast. Showed a map with cold air direction coming from downtown Moscow and said because it is passing over land the air is very dry. I wonder if this view will have changed somewhat by morning. AS

But you would be wondering each day why the next ice age had not started! I think the wild swings and the disappointment makes it even more enjoyable when (if) we actually get the snow. Although it is quite difficult to maintain a zen-like state of calm with all this going on. Roll on tomorrow and the next set of peaks and troughs. AS

there is a groundhog day element to this isn't there!

Nice post, thanks IF. As a raging northerner I am sure you are familiar with the notion of just popping round for a chat! We all leave our doors open to neighbours down here in the South, of course. Don't we? We don't? Ah, that explains why I appear to have no belongings apart from this lapto........

Blimey, 40cm of ice would be quite a lot. Is there a glacier coming?

Given how quiet and still it is now I'm starting to think I must have imagined the few minutes of tiny snow flakes about half an hour ago. Ah well, if I did then at least my imagination is showing me things I like.

The tiniest beautiful ice crystals are drifting through the chilled air. They are so small they are not really falling, just moving gently so you want to touch but not touch. You can only see them if you hide the light source but look through the light being cast. If it were daytime you would never notice, but the dark can sometimes reveal more than it hides. AS

All this talk of 'the Blob' has got me a bit worried. A giant amoeba-like being that terrorizes a small community in a film from 1958? It is July 1957. Steve and his girl Jane are out parking and see a falling star. They drive out to try to find where the meteor landed. An old man has heard the meteor crash near his house. He finds the meteor and pokes it with a stick. The rock breaks open to reveal a small jelly-like blob inside. This Blob, a living creature, crawls up the stick and attaches itself to his hand. Unable to scrape or shake it loose (and apparently now in pain), the old man runs hysterically onto the road, where he is seen by Steve, who takes him to see the local doctor, Doctor Hallen. They reach the clinic when Doctor Hallen is about to leave. Hallen anesthetizes the man and sends Steve back to the crash site to gather more information. Hallen decides he must amputate the man's arm which is being consumed by the Blob, calling in his nurse. However, the Blob completely consumes the old man. Now an amorphous creature it eats the nurse and the doctor while increasing in size. A shadowy figure known only as Yam then predicts mayhem until the Blob deposits small amounts of snow near the coast and fizzles out. Quite good up to the ending. Funny coincidence, the name though (makes scary X-Files type sound effect) AS

Key question though. Have you ever seen them in the same room?! AS