On 06/02/2015 10:14, Eskimo Will wrote:

wrote in message
...
On Thursday, February 5, 2015 at 8:20:54 PM UTC, Dawlish wrote:
I think Keith's 'European update' may give the real clue as to why
this airflow is not terribly cold.

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Yes I think that's the main factor. Sea temperatures are higher these
days and the Baltic freezes less. But we don't seem to see the Continent
in the freezer too often these days and that must affect the temperature
of the air reaching the East coast on a North Easterly surely. I'm
confident if Europe gets another cold winter Essex will! Unless you are
in the minority at altitude I doubt anywhere has had a truly cold spell
yet this winter.
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http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/sst/an...t.2.5.2015.gif

Warmer to the north (+1.5°C), but anomalies are cooler in the south
north sea. Certainly the lack of severe cold over the continent and
Scandinavia seems to be main problem.
--
Keith (Southend)
"Weather Home & Abroad"
http://www.southendweather.net
Twitter:@LawnscienceEssx