A report of the weather overnight 13th to 14th bit delayed as we have
only recently got power back after it being off for 30hrs with 6hrs
before that on very low volts...

Afternoon of the 13th wet snow started to fall, unusual for here we
normally get powder. The wind was only F6 to F7 and temp just above
freezing. Power failed at 1859, with an auto-recloser lockout, came
back at 2223. Got woken up at 0318 on the 14th by an SMS telling me
the broadband had failed, got very confused as some devices where
working but others were not. CFL lights worked but flourescent lights
wouldn't even attempt to strike. The cordless phone, PABX and ADSL
modem weren't happy but the network switch and server were fine, my
PC wouldn't boot. Fan heater had no fan. Eventually dug out a volt
meter and our supply was sitting at 140v... 60W incandescent bulb was
a dull orange. Switched off the power at the consumer units as a
safety measure.

Morning of the 14th reveals a white world and power out for pretty
much all of Alston Moor. Our power finally goes off off just after
0900. 4 to 5 inches of lying wet snow, Hartside closed other high
routes problematical, local roads passable with care. Both schools
closed due to the lack of power, the road snow conditions weren't bad
enough for that to close them.

The real damage was due to this snow being wet, sticky and freezing.
The ice build up on the overhead power lines in conjunction with the
wind had brought them down in many locations, snapped several poles
and pulled a few over. The ice build up on the lines was to a good 2"
in diameter. Speaking to the engineers out fixing the lines, they
indicated that the level of icing we had was quite severe.

Couple of pics to start the Winter 2011/12 set on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/allsort...7628433408689/

--
Cheers Dave.
Nr Garrigill, Cumbria. 421m ASL.

Dave

Certainly an intresting event. I know we have seen far deeper snow and
larger drifts but I dont remember ever seeing everything so well
plastered with snow. Indicates the strength of the wind and wettest of
the snow. Some of the trees and signs had a foot of snow stuck on the
windward facing side. On the fells there were some areas with no snow,
just around the corner deep drifts. The power line had come down
between Leadgate and Hartside Rd, numerous telephone cables also
affected. As per usual at home at my altitude, big zero.

Brief video and photos at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7AAtwsXZr8

quickly cobbled together !

Paul C
Brampton

On Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:48:00 -0800 (PST), Paul Crabtree wrote:

I know we have seen far deeper snow and larger drifts ...

The 4 or 5" of lying snow is a 1 on the snow scale. This stuff being
sticky didn't really drift that much at least not to difficult depths
across roads like the powder does.

... but I dont remember ever seeing everything so well plastered with
snow. Indicates the strength of the wind and wettest of the snow.

I've certainly not seen that amount of accumulation on exposed
surfaces either. Our trees had a good 4" still stuck to them this
morning.

The power line had come down between Leadgate and Hartside Rd, numerous
telephone cables also affected.

Pole up from Thortergill snapped, various other lines down dotted
about the place, other poles pulled over.

Brief video and photos at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7AAtwsXZr8

I shall have to find a window box to have a look.

--
Cheers Dave.
Nr Garrigill, Cumbria. 421m ASL.