camperstron

<<clutching at straws>> the rain does that heavy, cold quality that could possibly turn to sleet/snow though I think elevation is the key this evening. And the birmingham plateau is not elevated enough really. It's trying though, I think if we all held hands and lit a candle it might spur this system on to snow really heavily.

Still rain in harborne!! Or liquid phase snow as we call it here Always christmas but never winter here in brum.

In south brum (harborne) it's trying to sleet but is mainly rain (optomism!) I'm praying for evap. cooling and a decent back edge!! By the way, hello again Midlands snow lovers - here's to a forum winter to rival december 2010!!

I think one of the best things about living in the UK is that we can never really know what the weather is going to do. Regardless of the charts, the season etc curve balls are always thrown due to our geography. IMHO (and experience) the best UK snow events/winters are the ones that pop up out of nowhere. It's reassuring (for us coldies) to see that the data suggests we may have a colder than average winter - but we can't say how that will pan out. If we all knew that from November to February we were guaranteed 3 foot of snow EVERY YEAR we'd get bored. This annual rollercoaster is what makes winter fun. But we do need to keep a sense of perspective and keep our winter toys in our insulated prams.

I remember the 87' and 91' events - they were superb! The 87 event got me a week off school, and the 91' event got me a day off work and in my attempt to get to work on a saturday morning I suffered from 'snow blindness' I was only 5 minutes away from house but i was totally disorientated. December 17th (iirc) 2010 was impressive, and the week of extreme cold following produced the most spectacular icicles I've ever seen. Shame we had such a quick breakdown from boxing day. And yes, Jan 2010 was an interesting week. Not a MASSIVE dump, but just enough to be exciting.

What saves us each winter (in brum) is our elevation. We do very well in terms of 'cold' and can see some really nice low temps and frosts. However, in general, any atlantic snowmakers tend to get broken up/dissipated by the welsh mountains before they reach us. Personally, I've never known a cheshire streamer produce a dramatic snowfall in brum. We do get snow - but as i said it's due to our elevation. The ideal set up (in my very inexpert opinion) is an embedded cold pool, followed by a massive atlantic system sweeping quickly over us, followed by the famed 'beasterly' A girl can dream!! ps: Lamp post watchers - my council is putting in fancy low energy LED lamps on my road next week - will this ruin my snow watching?!

Starting to settle in my garden, I'm amazed.

Nice big flakes too - best falling snow for AGES here My birthday is april 24th and I remember it snowing on my 6th/7th birthday (was born in '74)

It was snowing in south birmingham a minute or so ago, big flakes too.

I can't bring myself to look out the window!!

Also, is it me or on the radar is a chesire streamer trying to set up?? <<clutching at straws>>

This is painful!! This morming (in brum) we were in line for lots of snow, tonight we're lucky if we get sleet whilst all around us are in a white out!!!

I'm just south of you and it's like graupel here. Am jealous!!

I was impressed by uour cahrt on the other thread kold. If that comes off, well...my word!!

Interesting day ahead!! As long as my kids get home from school safely this afternoon (they use the buses) and my other half gets home from work okay (he drives across brum) and we don't have a Jan )4 gridlock I'll be happy with anything - but a 10cm dumping and an early start to half term would be bosting!!!

thaw slow enough for oldest son to have spent nearly an hour in the garden throwing snowballs at anything and everything within a 50 yard radius!! Am a bit concerned about a freeze tonight and tomorrow mornings school/work run.

It's thawing a bit and is slushy on the pavements - if it refreezes then it will be 'interesting'...

Are you sure, just been out and it's sleet/icy rain in harborne.

Ok. just been out again. Snowing quite heavily in brum. A decent accumulation - I can not complain.

I love you Blizzards Keep being cautious!!

Yes, precip pepping up. God, I feel bad for whinging earlier.

Lampost obs. 1910 hours south birmingham. Snow. And lots of it. Over and out.

Oooh, new thread!! Am going out for one last walk to enjoy 'winter' .... hope the cold holds though!!

Ok, I spilt a whole glass of wine during lampost obs - a great sacrifice!! Bigger flakes and pretty intense. I apologise for being miserable earlier on

Am off for lampost obs. Will report back asap!