Favourite christmas weather memories 24-31 Dec

[Penrith Snow]

3 hours ago, Rob 79812010 said:

Do you know why Ambleside area gets so much given its elevation?? Beginning Dec 23 I noticed northern lakes didn't get as much. There's a science am assuming

It's the same reason Ambleside gets so much rain, it's surrounded on all sides by mountains which enhance any precipitation including snow, Ambleside isn't high but often heavy rain will turn to snow in winter purely down to evaporation cooling. Many times Penrith gets light sleet while Ambleside receives heavy snow despite Penrith being higher elevation. It has driven me mad for years!

With regard to the December 2023 event that resulted from a stationary line of showers across the southern Lakes from the Irish Sea, this is also a frequent occurrence but am at a loss as to why this is.

North and East Cumbria do much better for snow in easterly set ups, in January 1963 snow lay on the ground for only 3 days in Ambleside compared to 29 days in Penrith.

Andy

[Rob 79812010]

52 minutes ago, Penrith Snow said:

It's the same reason Ambleside gets so much rain, it's surrounded on all sides by mountains which enhance any precipitation including snow, Ambleside isn't high but often heavy rain will turn to snow in winter purely down to evaporation cooling. Many times Penrith gets light sleet while Ambleside receives heavy snow despite Penrith being higher elevation. It has driven me mad for years!

With regard to the December 2023 event that resulted from a stationary line of showers across the southern Lakes from the Irish Sea, this is also a frequent occurrence but am at a loss as to why this is.

North and East Cumbria do much better for snow in easterly set ups, in January 1963 snow lay on the ground for only 3 days in Ambleside compared to 29 days in Penrith.

Andy

Thankyou so much for that. It makes sense. 

[damianslaw]

15 hours ago, Penrith Snow said:

It was New Years day 1979, bitter but mostly dry easterly winds across Cumbria on New Years Eve became a slack westerly on New Years Day as a minor through developed over Ireland, the air was still very cold and snow showers formed over the Irish Sea during the morning and pushed inland during the afternoon merging to give hours of heavy snow.

The whole of NW England was affected from Carlisle to Manchester, in Penrith 17cms fell with 25cms at Shap, as usual in such set ups the Southern Lakes saw the heaviest snow with 40cms in the Ambleside and Coniston area.

Manchester was brought to a standstill by a 16cms fall and both Manchester and Liverpool airports were closed.

A friend of mine spent the night in her car on the M6 near Charnock Richard the motorway being completely blocked for hours.

1978/79 is the true benchmark winter.

Andy

This sounds uncannily similiar to the event on 2 Dec just gone, albeit that was far more concentrated in south lakes, and most of north lakes missed out. Also the amounts in 79 were more. Quite a day here I imagine. 

[damianslaw]

11 hours ago, Penrith Snow said:

It's the same reason Ambleside gets so much rain, it's surrounded on all sides by mountains which enhance any precipitation including snow, Ambleside isn't high but often heavy rain will turn to snow in winter purely down to evaporation cooling. Many times Penrith gets light sleet while Ambleside receives heavy snow despite Penrith being higher elevation. It has driven me mad for years!

With regard to the December 2023 event that resulted from a stationary line of showers across the southern Lakes from the Irish Sea, this is also a frequent occurrence but am at a loss as to why this is.

North and East Cumbria do much better for snow in easterly set ups, in January 1963 snow lay on the ground for only 3 days in Ambleside compared to 29 days in Penrith.

Andy

Ambleside is the wettest town in England followed by Windermere, conversely any snow that falls has a greater likelihood of being heavier than in less wet towns. The affect of evaporative cooling is the key factor combined with the moist atlantic air cooled down as it rises over the fells to the west at over 800 metres, cold air is often trapped in the valleys in advance of the trough/ frontal feature, and these towns are just far enough inland to be protected by any warming sea affect.