Personally, in January I would historically not consider it a cold spell
till daily maxima fell to around 2-3C or less for more than 3
consecutive days (roughly, in my own mind). Night time frosts might come
into play as well. Perhaps in this clearly warmed period of our UK
climate I should raise that by a degree or two to keep up with the
youngsters and the media.
Dave,S.Essex. 6.2C, Vaguely chilly.

On 16/01/15 12:45, Dave Cornwell wrote:
Personally, in January I would historically not consider it a cold spell
till daily maxima fell to around 2-3C or less for more than 3
consecutive days (roughly, in my own mind). Night time frosts might come
into play as well. Perhaps in this clearly warmed period of our UK
climate I should raise that by a degree or two to keep up with the
youngsters and the media.
Dave,S.Essex. 6.2C, Vaguely chilly.

Three or more days below zero for me.

Three days at 2 or 3° is just winter.

--
AS
http://min.opcop.org.uk
the minnies and more

I agree, Ms Santon, it needs to be sub zero to be considered cold.

On 16/01/15 16:43, Desperate Dan wrote:
I agree, Ms Santon, it needs to be sub zero to be considered cold.

You even got my style right, thank you.
I looked over those posts of yours which are still in my reader and none
seem to tell me where you're staying.
We're in PD obviously and I wasnae expecting anyone from down south to
agree with me except that nice man who lives up a hill in Devon (which
is nearly in France anyway).


--
AS
http://min.opcop.org.uk
the minnies and more

Ane wha spiks the Doric tae! I'm not so far from you, in Lossiemouth. It's difficult to define cold because it depends on what you're used to and there's a geographical influence to that. We're far enough north to look for sub-zero temps but those softies from the south look for much higher temps. The Eskimo man would be looking for something closer to absolute zero!

On 17/01/15 11:17, Desperate Dan wrote:
Ane wha spiks the Doric tae! I'm not so far from you, in Lossiemouth. It's difficult to define cold because it depends on what you're used to and there's a geographical influence to that. We're far enough north to look for sub-zero temps but those softies from the south look for much higher temps. The Eskimo man would be looking for something closer to absolute zero!

Aha that explains it.
I'm a naturalised alien (assorted) but the weather here is so much
better than *anywhere* else. Needless to say, I haven't been everywhere.

Cold = need to wear calf length boots with heels (zero or less).
Not cold = don't.

It hasn't been cold this winter yet (or for the last two winters before
this).

At the other end of the scale, anything over 18° is a wee bit too hot.

--
AS
http://min.opcop.org.uk
the minnies and more

On Sat, 17 Jan 2015 03:17:03 -0800 (PST)
Desperate Dan wrote:

Ane wha spiks the Doric tae! I'm not so far from you, in Lossiemouth.
It's difficult to define cold because it depends on what you're used
to and there's a geographical influence to that. We're far enough
north to look for sub-zero temps but those softies from the south
look for much higher temps. The Eskimo man would be looking for
something closer to absolute zero!

Actually, when talking about cold winter weather in the UK it would be
more accurate to talk about "western softies" as the N-S
temperature difference is little compared with E-W. ;-)

Also, age comes into it. When, like me, you recall conversations
from the 62-3 winter like:
"It feels warmer this morning."
"Yes, it's only MS 6."
Makes these kids calling PS 6 "cold" or "bitter" sound a bit silly.

Another one was in November 1963 when a pilot at Bedford commented
on one chilly morning,
"If it's this cold now, will this winter be like the last?"
"Cold?! This time last year, the temperature hadn't been above zero for
a week!"

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks. [Retd meteorologist/programmer]
The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get
up and does not stop until you get into the office. – ROBERT FROST
Posted with Claws: http://www.claws-mail.org/

"Desperate Dan" wrote:

... It's difficult to define cold because it depends on what you're
used to and there's a geographical influence to that. We're far
enough north to look for sub-zero temps but those softies from
the south look for much higher temps.

I'm on the south coast where it's currently 3°C - I would describe that as
'chilly' but pretty normal for this time of year, so 'cold' would have to be
below 0°C. When the water round the edge of Langstone Harbour froze, which
was (I think) 3 winters ago, *that* was cold...

In message , Dave Cornwell
writes
Personally, in January I would historically not consider it a cold
spell till daily maxima fell to around 2-3C or less for more than 3
consecutive days (roughly, in my own mind). Night time frosts might
come into play as well.

That seems about right to me.
--
I'm not paid to implement the recognition of irony.
(Taken, with the author's permission, from a LiveJournal post)

On Friday, January 16, 2015 at 12:45:13 PM UTC, Dave Cornwell wrote:
Personally, in January I would historically not consider it a cold spell
till daily maxima fell to around 2-3C or less for more than 3
consecutive days (roughly, in my own mind). Night time frosts might come
into play as well. Perhaps in this clearly warmed period of our UK
climate I should raise that by a degree or two to keep up with the
youngsters and the media.
Dave,S.Essex. 6.2C, Vaguely chilly.

Cold was Yorkshire, in winter, with an easterly; which is one reason why I now live on the coast in South Devon. *))