Danny:

Not December '81 . Was a true Arctic source, though, of course the
winds
were easterly at times.

Then why were northerlies so good then, and not so good now, à la the
"winter" of 2004?

Is this maybe where that age-old but now long-discredit phrase "When
the north wind doth blow, there will be snow" comes from?


Ron:

What was so special about Feb/March '96 ?, in the SouthEast anyway
....

Yes - which is odd, because the South-East seems to be going to bear
the BRUNT of this coming *POSSIBLE* cold snap, which is unusual, as the
South-East, I hear, generally missed out on such fun during the
aforementioned 1996 cold spell.:-( :-)

It's length was awfully impressive though, certainly up here,
especially what given the previous MILDER winters.:-o :-p

D.

Ron
if my memory is correct a trough swung sw wards from Norway on the
evening of the 22feb ? though snow amounts were small 5-7 cm in the
strong ne winds it piled up reasonably ,as it was the powdery sort, i
think that spell lasted a week (bucks/beds area) I wonder if Philip
Eden recalls this as he lives local
ATB

I was thinking more along the lines of December 1995, as that was an
easterly which had a slight north-easterly component to it.:-) Either
would suit me though.


Damien this spell was a non starter, ok, was cold but the snow that
fell was of the granular sort, flurries as the MO would describe.
Vince

Damien this spell was a non starter, ok, was cold but the snow that
fell was of the granular sort, flurries as the MO would describe.

Tell that to Huddersfield/Halifax on December 6, 1995.:-p ;-)

This cold snap is/was/will always be my immortal definition of
"snow".:-) :-p

D.

In article . com,
vince writes:
if my memory is correct a trough swung sw wards from Norway on the
evening of the 22feb ? though snow amounts were small 5-7 cm in the
strong ne winds it piled up reasonably ,as it was the powdery sort, i
think that spell lasted a week (bucks/beds area) I wonder if Philip
Eden recalls this as he lives local

From Weather Log for February, 1996, compiled by none other than Philip
Eden: "On the 18th, a vigorous depression tracked south-eastwards from
Scotland to north Germany, and a very strong northerly airflow swept
across the country in its wake. It became very cold with snow showers
over the next four days, with a period of heavier drifting snow across
eastern, central and southern England overnight 19th/20th. Rain,
preceded by snow, spread slowly from the north-west during the 21st and
22nd, introducing a thaw."

The headline for the month as a whole was: "Rather cold, frequent snow,
very sunny."
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

if my memory is correct a trough swung sw wards from Norway on the
evening of the 22feb ? though snow amounts were small 5-7 cm in the
strong ne winds it piled up reasonably ,as it was the powdery sort

Damn you guys really were unlucky in that winter!:-o :-(

Up here, we were talking 5-7 INCHES!:-o :-(

Then again, you laugh now, after 2003, 2004, etc..

D.

Quoting from message
posted on 16 Feb 2005 by Paul Bartlett
I would like to add:


Winds veering northeasterly? Is that realistic? With lambing about to
start I would say it is.

Has to be a reason for "lambing storms" being so-called, may be known as
something else in your area.

--
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Will Hand wrote:
"Paul Bartlett" wrote in message
...

Over the last three days models have been consistent both with each
other and over time.
I would therefore say that the forecast late winter cold spell is on.
(Cold not severe).
Winds veering northeasterly? Is that realistic? With lambing about to
start I would say it is.
It would certainly be in line with the Office's forecast.
Why not-these forecasts have given me a late 'lift' anyway.
Cheers
Paul


:-O

:-)

Paul, going for cold !!!!!!

Seriously, thanks Paul, it's nice to have your backing. Let's hope that it is
not too serious for the farmers and other folk who have to work outside in it.

It could be serious for some of them. Some farmers are already lambing
(some even start in December). One of my neighbours started last week
and has a total of 500 ewes to lamb; most of them outside. It is not
looking good for them. I'm OK as my little flock is now inside, where
they will start lambing from mid March.

--
Howard Neil

Seriously, thanks Paul, it's nice to have your backing. Let's hope that it is
not too serious for the farmers and other folk who have to work outside in it.

Will.

Yes looks like some classic lambing weather :-( My dad lambs indoors
nowadays thank goodness...

What could be interesting is the interaction with a population no
longer used to snow,, ie driving problems and the stupidity of walking
home drunk in very cold conditions.

The next severe spell in England is going to be a problem. I remember
as I left last year a small fall in Birmingham caused 8 hour delays in
the rush hour.

Richard Webb

Grilled lambsteaks are delicious meat.;-)

D.