"Ken Cook" wrote in message ...


"Tony Kenyon" wrote in message
...

Hello Ken

As I sit here down South I often enviously look at some of the Pennine
webcams. A particular favourite is the one situated at Low Row in Swaledale.

What I don't understand is the number of occasions you report snow in Copley
(as above) whereas the Swaledale webcam seems to show only a sparse and
patchy cover. Given that you are both at a similar altitude and not a
million miles away from each other this is bemusing.

Do you or anyone else know why this should be?

Hi, Tony,
The Copley Lead Mill part of the village (there are four houses down there)
is a sheltered valley and has no sun during the winter months, so it is
unique and unrepresentative, but interesting - currently full cover 15cm.
The Copley Met O site, however, is a Met O climat. station with accepted
exposure. This morning's snow cover is shown on the front of the website,
roughly 80% and 5cm.
We seem to compare well with other local sites at around 1000 feet but
sometimes the Yorkshire Pennine Dales are sheltered by the North York Moors
to their east whereas we have a clear run to the North Sea. Having said that
Carlton in Coverdale is usually similar to us.
Aspect could also be a factor as some of the land facing south is losing
snow more quickly in the warmer February sun and Copley looks out onto north
facing slopes. We also seem to occasionally pick up snowfall when mild air
pushes in because we are further north and east.
(We can have snowfall on cold westerlies but that would apply to Low Row as
well.)
I've just had a look at the webcam and it seems not as much has fallen
there, it could be as simple as that.
Gordon Manley in "Climate and the British Scene" seems to put it down to the
North Sea effect citing nearby Consett as being the snowiest urban community
in the British Isles, and who am I to argue.
HTH
Best wishes,
Ken

Thanks Ken. The variability in British weather over such short distances is
amazing and often only evident when snow is involved.

I'm glad I don't have to forecast it!!

Tony