Following the first airfrost of the winter here last night (MS1.7C)
and no rain at all today when the radar echoes were so close, I did a
quick review of my year.

In the 'Arctic Winter' that the press reported as affecting the whole
country, and even Suffolk Council used as the reason for the crumbling
roads there was only the 2nd Feb with 8 cm of snow lying in the
morning which was washed away by rain late that evening. There were
several other brief snow coverings but all turned quickly to rain.
NE'ly long sea track airmasses which gave repeat sig snow not far away
in land. The lowest air temp in Feb was Ms 3.7C. Nothing at all
abnormal there.

I note there are still derogatory reports around relating to the
forecast Barbecue summer.
I certainly had many more Barbe's this year than in 2008. I check out
the stats on the Met Office site and Yes for this area Summer months
averaged temps were above average as was sunshine and this area had
60% to 90% of normal rainfall. In July I had only one heavy
thunderstorm overhead with 15mm of rain, there were others noted but
their main parts 'slid by on either side'. There were many days when
active fronts stalled to the west and then slipped through here with
little or no rain and thunderstoms coming up from France seemed to
stay out East over the sea and coast.

Now after a wet November - 103mm here, I read that the local large
reservoir near Ipswich was only 69% full at end of Nov. I note that
local village ponds are still not full to the brim, and the wet has
not stopped the sugar beet harvest.
The press and some others seem to continually quote the extremes as
being countrywide.

Maybe the coming cold spell will affect us ALL?., though the Progs
have repeated predicted little precipitation for this spot

Baa Humbug

NSS in Tropical Suffolk.

On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:39:36 -0800 (PST)
Jennik wrote:

I note that local village ponds are still not full to the brim, and
the wet has not stopped the sugar beet harvest.

From 1km outside the Suffolk border with Cambridgeshi the farmers
*needed* some rain to get the beet out of the ground. They couldn't
shift it under the dry conditions in October/early November.

I was doing some archaeological field-walking on Sunday, on the peat
fen at 1m above sea level, and the soil was so dry it hardly stuck to
my boots. Boot Scale 5 at worst. [1]

The farmers around here would like a /lot/ more rain please.
Personally I wouldn't, but then I like to eat too.....


[1] Is there an equivalent to the Beaufort Scale for wetness of ground?
For example:
1: doesn't take the shine off patent-leather
2: marrs patent-leather, but unnoticable on deck-shoes
3: noticable on deck-shoes
....
5: walking boots needed, but take minimal cleaning afterwards
....
10: muddy from mid-thigh down
11: muddy from head to feet, and one boot left under mud in
field



Mike
--
Mike Causer

On Dec 14, 11:14*pm, Mike Causer wrote:
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:39:36 -0800 (PST)

Jennik wrote:
*I note that local village ponds are still not full to the brim, and
*the wet has not stopped the sugar beet harvest.

From 1km outside the Suffolk border with Cambridgeshi the farmers
*needed* some rain to get the beet out of the ground. *They couldn't
shift it under the dry conditions in October/early November. *

I was doing some archaeological field-walking on Sunday, on the peat
fen at 1m above sea level, and the soil was so dry it hardly stuck to
my boots. *Boot Scale 5 at worst. * [1]

The farmers around here would like a /lot/ more rain please.
Personally I wouldn't, but then I like to eat too.....

[1] Is there an equivalent to the Beaufort Scale for wetness of ground?
* *For example:
* * * * 1: *doesn't take the shine off patent-leather
* * * * 2: *marrs patent-leather, but unnoticable on deck-shoes
* * * * 3: *noticable on deck-shoes
* * * * ....
* * * * 5: *walking boots needed, but take minimal cleaning afterwards
* * * * ....
* * * *10: *muddy from mid-thigh down
* * * *11: *muddy from head to feet, and one boot left under mud in
* * * * * * * field *

Mike
--
Mike Causer

lol. There is an extension, surely:

12. Hat left on surface. *.))