Sleet30031972

I can report that it is now, as forecast, smashing down with snow in Belper. For this location the forecasts by met office have been spot on. (BBC for comparison just had rain)

In the interest of transparency it is just cold rain at present in Belper. I have faith though. The snow is coming

Dare I say it but some early over reactions happening. The cold and the snow was always forecast for later. Patience, young grasshoppers.

Upgrade!! The dream lives on!!

Urgh. Downgrade. #snowwatchrollercoaster

BIG upgrade! Heavy snow now hitting early with colder temperatures. Oof!

There has been no downgrade in Belper area according to metoffice. Arguably a minor upgrade as pre 9am sleet is now showing as snow. Still a BOOM (ps: I have no altitude at my location).

Still a BOOM in Belper. Colder air to the east it seems

DerbyshireDales Great!

Polar Maritimeare they? Do you know who? I'm a local teacher and not heard of any yet.......(though I am waiting with baited breath!)

Metoffice now sleet at 9 BUT freezing temperatures in afternoon. Steady as she goes. Still a BOOM

The best metoffice app update all day. Kicks off with snow early doors now, then solid heavy snow all day. Boom!

Clearly you are talking about central Manchester here. For north Manchester, certainly Oldham and beyond, the 1980s winters were about as good as it gets. But yeah, many a time then that Rochdale, say, was under tonnes of the stuff while a few miles down the Rochdale road would be nowt.

So "solar activity" (something that happens 147.11 million km away from Earth) has, you say (checks notes) a significant impact on the weather in the UK but not for Eastern Europe (about 2000 km away). Whilst interesting it seems something of a pseudo science with little real meteorological interest.

First snow of the weekend here in downtown Belper now. Been snowing moderately for 5 mins or so. Starting to settle.