coldfingers

Pansy, polyanthus, primula. Winter flowering heather. variagated Ivy for trailing. you could try to find very early flowering bulbs but how early they flower depends of course on whether we have a mild or colder winter. The pansy I can usually get away with here on the coast, not sure about Winchester. Young Cordyline also look good in containers, especially the red variety, need a friend with a garden to pass them on to when they get big though.

After reading a lot of posts on here I am begining to feel a little sorry for the Met Office. It seems for some they can never get it right. If they warn of gales and they aren't as bad as expected then they are castigated, if they don't warn of gales and we get them they fare even worse. These Islands we live in are notoriously difficult to forecast weather for, (possibly second only to Iceland) I think the people at the meto do a really good job, for short range forecast I would choose them above anyone.

Totaly agree crimsone, I just love the speculation, if a slight degree of disappointment follows, well that's life! I doubt anyone really worries. I lived through the '87 storm but it hasn't frightened me off storms, I still love them. The old man reckons I am nuts. Back on topic, the Meto chart puts a nice low over Ireland so that's good enough for me.

The thing that sticks in my mind about that storm was leaving my father-in-law's house at 10:00pm and finding it was many degrees warmer than when we went in. Not what you expect in October. I slept through the best of the storm but woke in the middle of it to find the power out and the wind howling and rattling the old sash windows, The wind was so severe we brought our 15 month daughter into our bedroom as we were worried the chimney stack would collapse through the roof. The most enduring memory though was the picture of a partially collapsed building in Brighton and the report about one poor man who felt it collapsing and dashed for the door as the floor fell away below him. He was left hanging onto the door threshold until he was rescued. Poor feller was also stark naked! :blink: So many trees were toppled on the Goodwood estate that from the air it resembled Tunguska Nearly forgot to say that so many trees were down that Bognor was completely cut off by road, and there were more than leaves on the railway lines :lol: :lol: :lol:

I think the MetO winter forecast is superb! Mild for all the mild rampers in early winter then Jan/Feb/Marfor us cold lovers Personally I would love Atlantic Gales until new Year then heavy drifts of snow after but I better warn you, I am the unluckiest person on this earth!! :blink:

Oh that doesn't look good for Ireland if that comes off, my sister will be pleased! (Not) she is spending 5 days there starting the 28th. After travelling all the way from Spain she will not be happy, I really thought you Irish were more hospitable than that. (That is a joke by the way!) Tell you what, send them to me, I love them. The gales that is, not relatives Does anyone know if that ukmo chart is very likely to come off? Answer it myself, WAIT AND SEE :blink: :lol: :lol:

I,m confused isn't this low on the MetO chart the remains of Helene?

Rain showers and breezy overnight 5.5mm rain in gauge Currently temp 16.5C overcast with steady rain. At last!

At 8:30pm had a thunderstorm with torrential rain lasting only about 10 mins. 3mm rain in the raingauge so pretty heavy.

That's worrying?

Well, I had been dreading their earlier idea of a warmer than average winter so any chance of a colder spell is excellant news in my view. Not too sure about the fuel bills though

Windy overnight Currently a beautiful summer day 23C, cloudless sky and breezy

stormy from 11:45 to 12:30 last night. 44mm rain in the gauge this morning. now just completely overcast 17C almost calm as it was during last night's thunder.

Thunder and lightning until for about 1 hour but not very frequent, heavy showers but only 4mm in the rain gauge when I checked this morning.

Thundery showers overnight giving 4 mm rain. temperature currently 21C Calm, overcast and humid.

Yes I noticed there could be a problem on Thur/Fri according to the GFS but hadn't noticed the MetO fax chart so thanks for pointing that out. Lets hope the MetO have it more correct as they usually do in my opinion.

That explains I suppose why I can tell if a storm is really bad by my loft hatch door being lifted and dropped back wonky.

Interesting as I have heard force 7 gales spoken off on some news items. it annoys me intensely!!!!! When I was a youngster and also not so young a gale was always force 8 also the shipping forecast always calls a gale when it reaches force 8 not 7.

Sadly he can't make it snow in Lootons :lol:

heavy showers and longer perions of lighter rain overnight. 4mm rain Temp now at 11:49 is 18.5C Very strong breeze. Sunny now with broken cloud.

I saw one of these humming bird moths in February! It was outside a flower shop and was obviously attracted by the strong smelling hyancinths. I thought it was a humming bird at first, until like you I checked on internet. It was a beautiful sight at that time of the year but I was concerned weather it would survive the bitterly cold weather.

Couldn't post this 'till now as my internet connection was duff! Overnight from 7:00 pm last night to 7:00 pm this morning we had a massive 69mm of rain. I thought my gauge must be wrong when I checked it this morning then I saw the amount in a bucket I had inadvertantly left out and it was correct. Wow! Must be a record for here. Everytime I woke in the night it seemed to be hammering down as well as the odd rumble of thunder and flash of lightning.

time 11:56 and absolutely torrential downpour at the moment. A mostly showery day and the first day since June when I have felt the weather cool enough to wear a jacket. weather station broken (maybe needs new battery?) so can't give current temps.

Just seen this thread and a bit late to reply I suppose. However.......I love moths and deliberately leave the light on in the bathroom (Energy saver one!) so that they come in and I can see the fantastic variety. One amazing peppered moth with a beautiful blue background. Only snag....my teenage sone hates them but as he hates bathrooms too no problem Seriously though it is a pain as I have to chase them out or as a last resort hoover them up before he will take a bath!!!

1:00am and the storm is finally getting going after one hour of distant flashes and rumbles of thunder. heavy rain just starting.