SNIP

The blocked pattern with a prevalence of easterlies and absence of westerlies
in winter in our small part of the globe might be something that will become
more common as a result of climate change associated with global warming. I'm
not saying that will be the case, only that we should not close our minds to
the possibility. Our "traditional" westerly-dominated winter weather has
resulted in a winter climate that is very anomalously warm for our latitude.
seems to me that any change to local circulation patterns in our region in
winter is more likely to lead to colder winter weather than milder winter
weather as any such change would most probably reduce the occurrence of mild
W-SW winds. Only time will tell but, as we are finding out this spring, an
absence of westerlies can have a very profound effect on our winter and spring
weather/climate.
--

Norman Lynagh

Tideswell, Derbyshire

303m a.s.l.

Quite possibly, but it's worth pointing out that Spring has been the season which has seen the most warming in the last 3 decades.

E.g. in Penzance (and the changes are typical of many parts of the UK)

March mean temperatures:-

1961-1990 7.7C
1971-2000 8.0C
1981-2010 8.6C!

Also March 2012 was exceptionally warm and April 2011 was the warmest in the CET record, si it's important not to read too much into 1 very cold month.

We certainly seem to have more than the usual amount of swings in both temperature and rainfall in the last few years, which in itself indicates more blocking.

Graham
Penzance