In article
,
Dawlish writes:
Agreed. They're the gfs ensembles. Past the 28th anything could happen
and it *could* be a very zonal set-up into the new year,

That wouldn't be surprising, as it often happens just after Christmas.
Sometimes after a week or so the cold returns, as in 1981-2 and last
winter. The GFS and ECM 00Z runs certainly seem to suggest that (though
the ECM ensemble seems to be delayed and I haven't seen it yet). The GFS
ensemble still suggests a wide range of possible outcomes, though, this
time the 850mb temps starting to diverge as early as the 23rd.

with a
European high encroaching into southern England. 70F in an English
winter, for the first time, later in the winter anyone? *))

I doubt that will happen this year. The seas surrounding us must be
cooler than average by now, and would take some warming up.
--
John Hall
"I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly,
will hardly mind anything else."
Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-84)