The Met Office forecast seems in many ways to have been quite good,
given it never said anything about snow.

In the far south (Southampton) it seems to have been (so far) the
winter with the longest spells of average or just-below-average weather
for years.

Periods of average or below-average temperatures prevailed from
November 12th to the end of the month, December 5th -18th, December
25th-29th, January 4th-9th, January 20th-February 5th, and February
9th-11th making booth December and January appear (though no figures)
somewhat colder than average.

Though I wouldn't say whether the actual mean average max for both
months was actually below average (a few very mild days in each month
may have spoilt it) it does seem to have been the coldest
December/January since 1995/96.

It all hinges on what the rest of February will be like I guess. If
it's mild it will be yet another mild winter overall (if only slightly)
I suspect. However if it turns colder (next weekend looks coldish if
not dramatically so) and remains colder, then it could indeed be the
first 'cold winter' since 1995/96.

Nick

"John Hall" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
writes:
snip
Though I wouldn't say whether the actual mean average max for both
months was actually below average (a few very mild days in each month
may have spoilt it) it does seem to have been the coldest
December/January since 1995/96.

Unlikely to have been colder than Dec 96-Jan 97, I would have thought,
which had CETs of 2.9C and 2.5C respectively according to the Hadley
figures. However February 97 was mild (CET 6.7C).
--
John Hall
"Honest criticism is hard to take,
particularly from a relative, a friend,
an acquaintance, or a stranger." Franklin P Jones


Almost certain to be the coldest since 96/97 here.

Graham

Penzance Weather www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/weather.html

--
Penzance Weather www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk/weather.html
Holiday Cottage www.easterling.freeserve.co.uk

"Graham Easterling" wrote in
message ...

"John Hall" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
writes:
snip
Though I wouldn't say whether the actual mean average max for both
months was actually below average (a few very mild days in each month
may have spoilt it) it does seem to have been the coldest
December/January since 1995/96.

Unlikely to have been colder than Dec 96-Jan 97, I would have thought,
which had CETs of 2.9C and 2.5C respectively according to the Hadley
figures. However February 97 was mild (CET 6.7C).
--
John Hall
"Honest criticism is hard to take,
particularly from a relative, a friend,
an acquaintance, or a stranger." Franklin P Jones


Almost certain to be the coldest since 96/97 here.

So far this winter (compared to 1971-2000 norm) -0.6

1995/96 was -0.3
1996/97 (the last colder than average winter) -1.0

Graham

If it is, it certainly won't have seemed like it! Average daily max for Jan
and Feb so far has been about 6.6C here with 10 air frosts, none severe.
Coupled with the dryness and almost zero snow laying not restricting outdoor
activities the only comments I have heard have been about the greyness -
certainly none about cold.

Dave, S.Essex.

wrote in message
oups.com...
The Met Office forecast seems in many ways to have been quite good,
given it never said anything about snow.

In the far south (Southampton) it seems to have been (so far) the
winter with the longest spells of average or just-below-average weather
for years.

Periods of average or below-average temperatures prevailed from
November 12th to the end of the month, December 5th -18th, December
25th-29th, January 4th-9th, January 20th-February 5th, and February
9th-11th making booth December and January appear (though no figures)
somewhat colder than average.

Though I wouldn't say whether the actual mean average max for both
months was actually below average (a few very mild days in each month
may have spoilt it) it does seem to have been the coldest
December/January since 1995/96.

It all hinges on what the rest of February will be like I guess. If
it's mild it will be yet another mild winter overall (if only slightly)
I suspect. However if it turns colder (next weekend looks coldish if
not dramatically so) and remains colder, then it could indeed be the
first 'cold winter' since 1995/96.

Nick

Dave.C wrote:
If it is, it certainly won't have seemed like it! Average daily max for Jan
and Feb so far has been about 6.6C here with 10 air frosts, none severe.
Coupled with the dryness and almost zero snow laying not restricting outdoor
activities the only comments I have heard have been about the greyness -
certainly none about cold.

Dave, S.Essex.

I suppose 6.6C seems cold these days, a typical winter of the last few
years has had many days of around 10C, far more than has been the case
this year.

Since new year it has been predominantly overcast here too, though
November and December were sunny. We had a break from the overcast the
last few days, and even though it was cold there was just the vaguest
hint of spring in the air, but now the overcast has returned...

Nick

"Dave.C" wrote in message
. uk...
If it is, it certainly won't have seemed like it! Average daily max for
Jan
and Feb so far has been about 6.6C here with 10 air frosts, none severe.
Coupled with the dryness and almost zero snow laying not restricting
outdoor
activities the only comments I have heard have been about the greyness -
certainly none about cold.

Dave, S.Essex.

Winter so far here. Season mean -0.7° LTA, precipitation 37% LTA, days snow
fall 11 (+2 in Nov), sn cover 09h 5, air frosts 25. As things stand coldest
since '95/96 and 8th coldest since records began in 1979

All the best

--
George in Epping, West Essex (107m asl)
www.eppingweather.co.uk
www.winter1947.co.uk

Just about every winter here since 1995/96 has seen more cold and snow
than this current winter.

I have only had 9 days with a maximum below 4C (6 in Dec, 1 in Jan and
2 so far in Feb). There were 5 days with max below 4C last autumn (all
in Nov.)

Snow or sleet has fallen on only 7 days ( 5 in Dec, 0 in Jan, 2 in Feb)
and has been observed lying on 6 mornings (5 in Dec, 1 in Feb). In
addition November had 6 days of snowfall and 3 days with snow lying.
The aggregate snow depth (including Nov) is currently 23cm with max
fall of 6cm. If no subsequent fall exceeds 6cm it will be the first
time this has happened in two successive winters since 88/89 and 89/90.

Walking in the park this morning it was springlike with blue skies,
birds chirping and crocuses nearly out in flower. Even daffodils are
well-advanced for the time of year and if the weather remains as
frost-free as it has generally been this winter I wouldn't be surprised
if the first one appears out in flower before the end of the month. The
usual time for spotting the first daffodil in recent years has been
mid-March.

There has also been a noticeable lack of rain since New Year with only
28.0mm so far. February has seen just 5.4mm.

Richard Slessor,
Hazlehead, Aberdeen.

Yes, I always notice the difference being 25 miles further away from the
sea and 300 foot higher makes over there, George.
Regards,
Dave
"George Booth" wrote in message
...

"Dave.C" wrote in message
. uk...
If it is, it certainly won't have seemed like it! Average daily max for
Jan
and Feb so far has been about 6.6C here with 10 air frosts, none severe.
Coupled with the dryness and almost zero snow laying not restricting
outdoor
activities the only comments I have heard have been about the greyness -
certainly none about cold.

Dave, S.Essex.

Winter so far here. Season mean -0.7° LTA, precipitation 37% LTA, days
snow
fall 11 (+2 in Nov), sn cover 09h 5, air frosts 25. As things stand
coldest
since '95/96 and 8th coldest since records began in 1979

All the best

--
George in Epping, West Essex (107m asl)
www.eppingweather.co.uk
www.winter1947.co.uk