Winter 24-25 Moans, chat and ramp thread

[Sceptilli0naire]

 Norrance That makes sense. Scandi highs always provide the harshest cold snaps anyway. Not that January 2013 was a Scandi high, but you know what I mean.

Did eastern Scotland get absolutely dumpstered in January 1987? That one is a notorious blizzard in the SE, particularly in Kent because the east coast got totally plastered by the Scandi high-mediated easterly. I wonder if that one was actually too far south for Scotland, much like how February 2012 was.

 summer blizzard That would explain the mildness going into January, then the fairly sudden switch to cold and snow, then the equally sudden switch back to mild late in the month.

 LetItSnow I think I remember you saying that another time.

The Kent Downs can certainly produce some... interesting weather events. I was driving through them today and they actually had some snow left from Wednesday still, while down here we got nothing. I wonder how much they got during February 2021, February 2012 etc. as they seem to get way more than us down here as a rule. I remember back in December 2010 my nan who was near Gravesend got about three feet of snow. Up in East London where I was at the time we got good several cm but nothing on that scale, and I can't imagine where I am now got much more.

[LetItSnow]

 Sceptilli0naire Wish I still lived in New Ash Green just for the weather alone. We always got snow when everywhere else underperformed, like a blustery blizzard that ravaged through overnight 20th/21st November 2015 which brought a decent covering, of course melted very quickly. But in such a mild month it stood out. Heavy snow in January 2017 and we got pasted in the December 2017 event as well. 

I do remember February 2012 very well. Snow starting falling through the night and I think the 4th was a frigid cold day with lots of snow. I wanted to go out and play in it but no one wanted to until the next day ( 5th ) by which the snow cover was starting to erode a little bit. 

Im incredibly jealous to know they got a few days snow cover while we got a transitional sleety mess here. I think I’ll move back.  

[Weather-history]

Still got some snow on the ground, so that will make 8 days with lying snow from the cold spell that has just ended. Got down to -10.5°C  before dawn Saturday morning.

Rime on trees were stunning, Friday morning

 

  

[Norrance]

 Sceptilli0naire  Yeas re Jan 1987. Had about 30cms level here in Dundee with drifting. 45 cms level in Kinross and deep snow right through the Central belt to Glasgow. Meanwhile my parents  had just a few cms but harsh frosts with clear skies.  Feb 2012 and to a certain extent Feb 1991 were ones where the high was not well aligned for Eastern Scotland. If a Scandi high is far enough North and the uppers are cold enough the longer sea fetch compensates us for being nearer the high pressure. Red warnings at end of Feb 2018 and the heavy snow in Feb 2021 were good examples. My front garden in Dundee at 20 mtrs asl in Feb 2021

Edited January 13 by Norrance

[SussexSnowman]

Last day of the lying snow today as the thaw has quickened up. Makes it 6 days. Even if winter doesn’t produce any more snow, I’d still bank this winter as a winner just for this spell. 

Been amazing weather this last week.

[In Absence of True Seasons]

 SussexSnowman Pretty impressive for Coastal Southern England tbh! 

Edited January 13 by In Absence of True Seasons

[SussexSnowman]

 In Absence of True Seasons  It truly is! We missed out on the clipper last year that naffed off to Belgium/Holland instead. The week long cold spell in December 2022 was good, although snow depths not mind blowing. This spell I would say our best since BFTE 2018 for both cold and snow. Prior to BFTE 2018 we had a real lean spell of no snow. About 5 years prior to that March 2013 last time we had decent snowfall. 

Should we get anymore here this winter, we are talking Winter 2010/11 epic levels 

[knocker]

Just to reiterate there really is an unanswerable case for 'Scandi High' to be dumped into the swear filter tout de suite 

[SunnyG]

14 hours ago, Don said:

However, what really grinds my gears is the guilt tripping tone of some posts towards those who just want a bit of cold/snowy weather in winter

This is the 'me, me, me' society after all isn't it Snow is alright in countries with decent infrastructure not the Victorian one we have, so what you and other snow-lovers want may not be so good in practice, that's all.

Anyway, mild weather is back and not a minute too soon imho.

[SussexSnowman]

 SunnyG I am pretty sure this last week of cold and snow didn't collapse the country or it's infrastructure . 

[In Absence of True Seasons]

 SussexSnowman Last year was a ridiculous one, given that the expected snowfall landed just below Southern UK.

December 2022 was actually decent in my area of Essex, whereas this cold snap delivered purely frosts and no snow aside from a small flurry last Saturday late night to early morning. 

Feb 2021 also delivered notable snow for Essex, which I understand other areas of the country didn't have.

Edited January 13 by In Absence of True Seasons

[SussexSnowman]

 In Absence of True Seasons  I was really gutted over that missed clipper as the pictures from Belgium/Holland. We also missed out on the Feb 2021 bonanza. Just cold damp rain we got. Margins were fine as a friend of mine in Tadworth about 35 miles up the M23 got a good pasting. 

December 2022 was good here. Not massive snow depths, but dry sunny cold days were most welcome. My neighbour who's son is 5 has never seen snow, so good for him to experience it and also other neighbour who's daughter is 8 got to have a play in it.  

[Don]

 SunnyG it’s the ‘I can’t enjoy anything without feeling guilty society’ more like!!  And this goes way beyond the weather and this forum!  Sick of the increasing numbers of holier than though preachers.  A very sad society we live in now, a bloody disgrace!!

Edited January 13 by Don

[Catbrainz]

I think this Jan is a good example of how we can still get decent winter cold. It hasn’t delivered widespread snow or anything nationwide but it has been consistently cold and there’s been some good ice action.

I honestly think even with global warming we’ve had bad luck in recent winters with set ups. A fair few times we’ve had a Greenland high but it’s too west based NAO-ifed and we get SWly lows shoved into us from the Azores (Dec 22 and Feb 24 both being notable examples). We’ve had plenty of Ural highs as well that would have brought cold if they were 200 miles further west.

[stainesbloke]

 Don  It’s been a problem on this forum for years. In winter you have guilt-tripping from some cold haters and in summer it’s just as bad (if not worse) from some heat haters. Needs to stop, imho. We’re all on here due to a mutual love of weather and for a country with a generally boring climate, it’s exciting to experience something different from the dreary norm.

[SussexSnowman]

 stainesbloke  I must confess I am one not fan of hot weather, but I complain enough about it to my wife and friends  

So to me I've complained about it enough not to bring my gripes to this lovely place  

[Don]

 stainesbloke Yes, I generally agree with you.  However, I would say that it seems guilt tripping occurs more in winter (during recent years anyway) than it does in summer.  You say it's been problem on this forum for years and that's true, however, as I said in a comment yesterday, I do not remember any guilt tripping during the cold winter period 2008-13, although I appreciate that was a long time ago!  What I will say though, is if guilt tripping did take place back then, it was certainly not on the scale it is today.  Other than that I couldn't agree more with you!

[*Stormforce~beka*]

Cloud beautiful cloud! BAU!!

[*Stormforce~beka*]

 SussexSnowman I agree! An epic winter!!

 SunnyG The same can be said in summer though when we have temperatures of 35+! We are sooooo not built for that either! I personally hate both extremes!

[Downburst]

 knocker Scandi Hi de Hi. I hope I haven't given you nightmares combining these two 

[*Stormforce~beka*]

 SussexSnowman Correct

[Downburst]

A la Spinal Tap, it will be 11 degrees here until Wednesday and dry, but overcast, before going back to 10 and more sunny for the rest of the week. A very settled week to get through the first half of January. 

[Metwatch]

9 minutes ago, *Stormforce~beka* said:

same can be said in summer though when we have temperatures of 35+! We are sooooo not built for that either! I personally hate both extremes!

Low - mid 20s is the sweet spot, perfect temperatures for pretty much anyone especially when the humidity is lower. Though a little higher is preferable for when you're next to a lake / by the ocean if that's a bit nippy!

Edited January 13 by Metwatch

[*Stormforce~beka*]

I dunno where the warmer temperatures have got to it's only 6c here! Still fridge weather!! Colllld Brrr!

[Downburst]

The sun sets 16:31 today, so past the 4:30pm mark. Begins to gain momentum now, pity I can't see it. Next thing for me to look out for is setting past a neighbours house at the back of the garden to increase solar heat gain. Anyway there is a stretch and the meridian is 15 degrees, will be 19 end of month and that cheers me up.