It will be 18 years next month since we (the South East) had anything
like an interesting winter - January 1987. We experienced impressive
snowfalls (albeit very localised) in February 1991 but nothing like
the low temperatures recorded four years earlier. Other half notable
periods were November 1993 (typically I was out of the country for
that one) and December '96/ January '97 (limited snow). Since then it
has been the odd two or three day cold snap that brings a paltry 3cm
snowfall that thaws the next day.

And I look at the long range models tonight and just see a
continuation of this theme. Indeed if the charts are to be believed we
could be in for a repeat of the "balmy Britain" winter of 1988 / 89.

With or without global warming this really can't go on and the cycle
will just have to change soon. But when?

I thought the winter of 2000 - 01 was rather interesting. The occasional
local river - The Bourne - flowed, enough to block the A22 for 3 weeks and
several acres of groundwater decided to come up for air in West Wickham, thus
ruining the entire second half of the season for the local Rugby Club. The
incessant and heavy frontal rain that preceded all this was a phenomenon in
itself. It all depends on what you call interesting. In an intense cyclonic
spell the changes occur with startling speed, the barometer going up and down
like the proverbial tart's drawers. The temperatures may not be extreme in
themselves but can change quickly. If you don't find that interesting, well,
tough.

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.

In message , TudorHgh
writes
I thought the winter of 2000 - 01 was rather interesting. The occasional
local river - The Bourne - flowed, enough to block the A22 for 3 weeks and
several acres of groundwater decided to come up for air in West Wickham, thus
ruining the entire second half of the season for the local Rugby Club. The
incessant and heavy frontal rain that preceded all this was a phenomenon in
itself. It all depends on what you call interesting. In an intense cyclonic
spell the changes occur with startling speed, the barometer going up and down
like the proverbial tart's drawers. The temperatures may not be extreme in
themselves but can change quickly. If you don't find that interesting, well,
tough.

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.

Precisely; we've had hardly any snow (yippee) but today the temperature
rocketed from 0.0C this morning with no wind, by 14.00 the temp was
touching 10C. We've had line convection, torrential rain, thunder and
lightning, wind up to 35knots from nothing in about 20 minutes, now the
river at the back of the house is roaring.

Still no snow, no extreme cold, it must be boring...............Yeah,
dream on.


--
Bill

We've had line convection, torrential rain, thunder and
lightning, wind up to 35knots from nothing in about 20 minutes, now the
river at the back of the house is roaring.

That sounds rather good, but where are you situated, Bill?

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.

In message , TudorHgh
writes
We've had line convection, torrential rain, thunder and
lightning, wind up to 35knots from nothing in about 20 minutes, now the
river at the back of the house is roaring.

That sounds rather good, but where are you situated, Bill?

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.


The "boring" old Isle of Man, we never get extremes of temperatures,
summer or winter, but we certainly get loads of real weather!

--
Bill

Here on the Isle-of-Sheppey, Warden Bay, last year we had about an inch of
snow. We've been here for almost five years and that was the most snow I've
recorded in that time. My parents who live in Gillingham, have during the
same period had numerous occasions where two, three or four inches of snow
have fallen. I do agree though that there has not been a sustained cold
period in recent years. The last relatively big snowfall I can remember was
January 1997, also winter 1995/1996, February 1991 and of course January
1987 which temporarily cut the Medway towns off. That year we hade more
than 3 feet of level snow and day temps below -5. There were also massive
icicles, the likes of which I had never seen until that time.

Anyway, what I wanted to say is this: I recently read some research which
suggests that by 2030 we should experience a period similar to the Maunder
Minimum where sun spot activity bottoms out. I guess we may have to wait
about 25 years for the next cold and snowy winter then!!

Shaun Pudwell.

"Bill" wrote in message
news
In message , TudorHgh
writes
We've had line convection, torrential rain, thunder and
lightning, wind up to 35knots from nothing in about 20 minutes, now the
river at the back of the house is roaring.

That sounds rather good, but where are you situated, Bill?

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.


The "boring" old Isle of Man, we never get extremes of temperatures,
summer or winter, but we certainly get loads of real weather!

--
Bill

In article ,
Scott Whitehead writes:
It will be 18 years next month since we (the South East) had anything
like an interesting winter - January 1987. We experienced impressive
snowfalls (albeit very localised) in February 1991 but nothing like
the low temperatures recorded four years earlier. Other half notable
periods were November 1993 (typically I was out of the country for
that one) and December '96/ January '97 (limited snow). Since then it
has been the odd two or three day cold snap that brings a paltry 3cm
snowfall that thaws the next day.
snip

I think you set the "interesting" dividing line rather high. I think we
were rather spoilt by the ten years from 1978-87, when we had
"interesting" winters with exceptional frequency. We've had periods like
this before. There were few "interesting" winters between the two World
Wars, and 1971-7 was another "boring" period.
--
John Hall

"Distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes."
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Scott Whitehead wrote:
It will be 18 years next month since we (the South East) had anything
like an interesting winter - January 1987. We experienced impressive

1987?? Admittedly, that was a nice winter but the winter of 1997 was
also rather cold. At least, that was just across the North Sea here in
the Netherlands.

Richard

"Scott Whitehead" wrote in message
om...
It will be 18 years next month since we (the South East) had anything
like an interesting winter - January 1987. We experienced impressive
snowfalls (albeit very localised) in February 1991 but nothing like
the low temperatures recorded four years earlier. Other half notable
periods were November 1993 (typically I was out of the country for
that one) and December '96/ January '97 (limited snow). Since then it
has been the odd two or three day cold snap that brings a paltry 3cm
snowfall that thaws the next day.

And I look at the long range models tonight and just see a
continuation of this theme. Indeed if the charts are to be believed we
could be in for a repeat of the "balmy Britain" winter of 1988 / 89.

With or without global warming this really can't go on and the cycle
will just have to change soon. But when?



Couldn't have put it better myself Scott. I agree with you whole heartedly.
I was only thinking about this the other day. In fact I'll put it on a
posting in the next day or two.

Regards, Gavin.

I don't think the UK weather is as interesting as it used to be. We seem to
have a more benign climate than ever before thanks to our friend to the
South. In the SE we get less Fog, less thunder, less Snow, less Frost, mist,
harr, less gales....I would say most of that applies to other areas also.
What the UK generally do get 'more of' is what we saw last night... rain ,
thunder, tornadoes, that kind of stuff on fronts moving in. I think inland
areas also see better thunder storms\showers in the summer due to more heat
now. The SE for example see less thunder now due to the fact low pressure to
the south is diminishing.
To sum up , if you like rain, showers, tornadoes, flash flooding after a
very long dry spell then the UK is for you!
I will also stand by what I have said befo-
We are entering a climate like parts of Africa etc. Dry spells followed by
wet spells. A very predictable climate dare I say it.
The times are a changin' .
--------------------------------------------------------
"Scott Whitehead" wrote in message
om...
It will be 18 years next month since we (the South East) had anything
like an interesting winter - January 1987. We experienced impressive
snowfalls (albeit very localised) in February 1991 but nothing like
the low temperatures recorded four years earlier. Other half notable
periods were November 1993 (typically I was out of the country for
that one) and December '96/ January '97 (limited snow). Since then it
has been the odd two or three day cold snap that brings a paltry 3cm
snowfall that thaws the next day.

And I look at the long range models tonight and just see a
continuation of this theme. Indeed if the charts are to be believed we
could be in for a repeat of the "balmy Britain" winter of 1988 / 89.

With or without global warming this really can't go on and the cycle
will just have to change soon. But when?