NorthernRab

I'll say it once again, devolution. That's the point in devolution, devolving matters such as healthcare, education etc which aren't of extreme importance to national (UK) security in comparison to defence. Meteorology is certainly less important than healthcare and education so it could therefore be a devolved issue.

Oh dear, if you read my post I clearly did not. That's why I followed the part of my post which you highlighed with discussion of devolution. If we can control our own education and healthcare, I don't think that controlling our own Met Office would be too much of a struggle for us.

Right, let's discuss this piece by piece. Scotland doesn't allow English students to study for free because there are too many of them. There are a lot more English students in my university than there are European (Glasgow University). In fact, of the 30 or so English students that I know personally, about 25 or so of them are of direct Scottish descent. Scotland has constitutional jurisdiction over 90% of the UK's oil reserves. The part in bold Yeti is actually quite offensive. Also, it's odd that you think there's little economic potential in a country with the highest number of university graduates per head of capita in Europe. However, I understand that this can be an uncomfortable issue for many English, and indeed Scottish people to discuss and I realise that it can sometimes be irritating. Sure, as soon as you give us our oil money back.

As a law student, I'm well aware that we are not a sovereign state. What's your point regarding this though? That you have to be a sovereign state to have your own met office - if so, that's laughable.

Scotland is given such financial privileges due to its contribution to the UK's oil reserve. I may be wrong but I'm fairly sure that Scotland is the most oil-rich country in Europe, excluding western Russia. Well if we become independent which is looking increasingly likely then I suppose we'll have to.

I'm afraid that you just repeated what I've already said - 'Just because we are part of the UK?'. Consider devolution, should Scotland not forecast its own weather, in the same way that it manages its own healthcare, transport, education and the like? The fact that Ireland is a different nation is of no importance.

Scotland should definitely have its own Met Office, Ireland has its own so why shouldn't we? Just because we are part of the UK? Also, the warning system can be heavily focused on England and Wales during times of severe weather. Here's another way of looking at it: why should jobs, paid for (I assume because it's a government body) by the people of Scotland, be in the south of England when they concern Scottish weather?

Wasn't the media predicting absolute doom in the 80s? I thought that if it wasn't the cold war that was going to wipe us out, it was the climate? Even with all those cold winters in the UK...

Oh we are absolutely ripping! Brilliant shots there, nice to see the south of the UK layered in so much snow.

Yes I saw that actually. The track of that tight feature just of the North West coast didn't behave as was expected, it took a less south easterly track track, meaning it only clipped Inverness and didn't drag some of that nice cold air that remained around the north highlands. The snowline seemed to be just over the Moray Firth, pushing down across the Moray Firth to meet Lossiemouth - another near miss!

^ Tell me about it. At least I arrived in Glasgow on time on Sunday night for a nice monster 8ft snowman :lol:

Looks as though the Highland Capital of the Shneck (Inverness, that is :lol: ) is a bit to get a little bit of heavy snow, perhaps lasting about 6 hours or so. Why am I never there when these things happen? Pffft

Now now Dundee has had some crackers in the past

What is Aviemore's record low for February? I'm assuming it must be in the low -20s? Certainly a very cold night in the Highlands to come, Inverness already at -6'C, with Loch Glascarnoch at -5'C, Altnaharra at -7'C and Aviemore at -8'C.

This winter has been special - I had never heard the Met Office use the term 'a very severe widespread frost' before, even in the Highlands. The snow has been great too. However, I'm not expecting this next year, hopefully if a trend starts to emerge then I can begin to expect a bit more :o

To answer someone's question, the coldest winter night so far was last night (!), with -14'C in Dalwhinnie! That's now been knocked off the top stop though.

Snow in Glasgow is fantastic at the moment. -15'C Loch Glascarnoch, -10'C in Inverness. Sub -20'C in some of the Glens, and a -15'C in Inverness tonight? Possibly.

The BBC forecast is mainly based on the UMKO model, not the GFS...?

The front will probably intensify as it crosses the Irish sea into Western Scotland.

-15'C in Dalwhinnie! Freezing fog forming here in Inverness currently at -8'C.

Thursday day and night... Currently -12'C in Tulloch Bridge, -11'C in Loh Glascarnoch and -8'C in Aviemore.

The Moray Firth coast was very cold during the Dec/January spells, -4'C daytime maximum under freezing fog, dipping to -10'C at nights regularly, we've used most of our grit salt up! Loads of frost, but no proper polar low to deliver the goods for us northerners so far. I think Lady's point was that in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands you'll see two inches of snow and think 'Oh it snowed a bit last night' whereas in London you'll see two inches of snow and think 'Oh my!'.

I'm wanting a monster polar low to come from the north before mid-March, that will certainly help us Scots out. In terms of snowfall, it hasn't been a particularly fascinating winter so far, hopefully that will change soon though.

^ It's true, it's just about what you're used to. The 'chaotic snow' London experienced would not cause nearly as much disruption in the Highlands or Aberdeenshire.

Tired...of snow....what? Sicked and tired of snow is sick and tired of life