Maz

Early morning drive from Ramsbottom to North West Wales today. Interesting weather. 2c and raw and cloudy at home, surprised no frost. Sleet/hail/rain around S Mcr and over towards Chester at about 3c-4c. Out into frost when crossed into Wales (1c) and blue skies. Some showers out to sea with nice rainbows. Where a55 close to the sea, 7c, then within a couple of miles, e.g. passing Llandudno, if inland at all, much colder at 2c. Looks like it will be a cracking day in North West Wales...shame I am in the office, not on the hills!

Yes, cloudy, grim, SW’ly winter days make me a “mild SAD sufferer” too (just joking, I’m a SAD sufferer, but snowy or sunny/frosty winter weather can give a valuable respite)

Totally agree! Drives my family mad when I notice absolutely everything - first green shots pushing up from bulbs, first buds on trees, first snowdrops/daffodils. Went for first “picnic” on the benches overlooking the cricket field behind our house on Sunday in the brief milder interlude. My daughter (6) said I was mad, but did join me and enjoyed running around …and so it goes on. I notice all the signs of autumn too though. Try to keep them to myself unless truely interesting. Far too depressing for public consumption.

I drove through that in the Southern Uplands before it got to you. Was 7c and sunny when I drove past Carlisle. It was an amazingly fast drop when the line of cloud hit.

Interesting “weather” day to be driving through the region and the Southern Uplands. Light snow cover in Rossendale above about 250m first thing. Then this afternoon, car said 7c at jn36 M6 (Kendal - south) in light cloud. Then in a few miles, heavy snow and 0c going up towards Shap. Covering of a cm or two. Back to 7c and sunny between Penrith and Carlisle. Hit a wall of hail on Scottish border and then within 2 miles back to 0c and heavy snow. Probably around 5cm covering. Really scenic driving from Moffat along Tweed Valley. Once further east, full sun and snow only on the tops. I’m staying near Peebles until Friday morning. Will be interesting to see if there is any transitional snow up here. That’s what I call early spring weather!!

Two weeks today and it will be light to 8pm or beyond thanks to the clocks changing. Speaking for myself, can’t wait. However I know others view the start of BST with the same dread I do the start of GMT.

Snowing in Rammy…not settling, again!

Bring it on Joe! I’m not really a lover of heat, but as a SAD sufferer I’m craving some sunshine and enjoying being outside

Tuesday will be great for Ramsbottom….I’m going to be away on business!!

…jumpers for goalposts?

Yep, exactly. In my younger days I went snow and ice climbing in Lake District, Snowdonia and Scotland. Knowing how snow behaves in the wind was essential for staying safe from avalanches and finding the best conditions. In those days most snow in Lake District came from a Westerly direction. All the snow blew off Helvellyn plateau onto the east facing scarp slopes and gullies. Being inland and high and having a big plateau to source snow from, meant it was the most reliable spot in the Lakes. Often “in condition” for weeks at a time. Last 15 years it’s only a few days each winter sadly. The High Raise ski area was good in similar weather, and again is far less often useable now. Sad really. Had loads of great Winter climbing days up there in 80s and 90s and early 00s though.

Wind from the east strips east facing slopes and deposits if on west facing slopes (or where sheltered), so I think your message has the wind direction wrong?

I feel I should be in full on monitoring mode….however not over the dissapointment of “Hole gate” yet (yes I know it’s only the weather and I’m only joking - I think!). Just can’t get enthusiastic.

Extend the study into summer, and frontal systems breaking down high pressure conditions. I can remember lots of occasions the forecast said rain would spread in, but the reality was sunshine breaking through high cloud and only the odd bit of drizzle. The same effect. Artic W/ NW used to be the snowmaker for my area, now the warmer Irish Sea always seems to mean it is cold rain instead.

Yep, impressive accuracy with the prediction of the rain shadow/foehn area. Ended with 2cm in Ramsbottom at 150m ASL (now largely melted) with the impacts of the "shield" sadly making it a complete non-event, other than the novelty of seeing >24hours of snowfall of various intensities only give a tiny covering in the final knockings about 4am-6am this morning. The snowfall on the first Saturday of the December spell actually gave more here - only around 4cm though, so nothing major. Between 5cm-10cm up at 250m ASL just 2 miles run from Ramsbottom, but really hard to find a flat sheltered area as there was masses of blowing snow up there. Some you lose, and other you also lose....

Wow, so close to here as the crow flies…and there maybe a whole 1cm cover here. It does look pretty, but a real let down sadly. I ventured up to Nangreaves and the edge of the Moors at 250m for my early run. Completely different there with drifting snow and stinging wind on bare running legs! Even there only 5cm level snow, so not much, but some big waist high drifts. all in all, better than nowt!

And here…inland with modest altitude too. That said the last half hour of heavy snow must have given at least 1mm on the grass temporarily, black and wet everywhere else. The heaviest non settling snow ever!

Just can’t call it quits with so much precipitation close by. Masses of red echoes to South of the “hole”. Will they continue moving north and fill it… Yes, we all know the answer, but whilst there is hope I can’t let it go.

Continue that line SE through Blackburn, Bury, Oldham and on to Stockport…..it’s the same all along

Don’t rub it in…zilch the other side of Scout Moor and a bit lower!!!

Just like 9am here too….zilch. Like the rest of the day (plenty falling though)

It is amazing how the little “foehn” effect has been so persistent and so focused on a really narrow area on the immediate downslope. Stockport - Glossup - Oldham - Bury - Bolton - Blackburn. Funnily enough areas that used to get buckets of snow off a Westerly/ North Wedtely when global warming hadn’t warmed the Irish Sea.

I can verify that whilst the shield has let snow through it was applied sufficient hairdryer treatment to ensure absolutely nothing has settled…after hours and hours of snow on and off. Aaaarghh…..

It was a very clear line at 250m here before it went dark. (I’m 150m though….)

It’s a killer, that’s for sure! Matt Taylor on R4 7am weather forecast said there would be “precious little” for Mncr, Merseyside and Lancashire, away from Pennine areas. Obviously we have had falling snow, but he was absolutely spot on. Sadly! I can even see the snow in “Pennine Lancashire”, it’s 2miles away and 100m higher. Kinda makes it even worse being so close! Still, I never loose hope and will hope to wake to a good covering tomorrow morning.