I have noted recently from the oft-quoted CET figures that February 1986 was an
exceptionally cold, but dry, month.

It happened to be the month that I last moved house. I recall a couple of
things about that month. The very low absolute humidity caused more static
electricity build-up when working in our new house than I have known since
(except in N American hotels in winter) - all of our family were subjected to
frequent electric shocks.

Notable also were day after day of very low maxima, often below freezing. One
result of the cold weather was that all of our house-plants, kept overnight in
the mover's pantechnicon, were lost to frost except for the umbrella plant.

We still have the umbrella plant - it seems to take no end of abuse and thrive;
in faCt this year we have left it outside and it seems to be unaffected by frost
- it should be re-classiified as hardy IMO.

JPG

In message , JPG
writes
I have noted recently from the oft-quoted CET figures that February 1986 was an
exceptionally cold, but dry, month.

It happened to be the month that I last moved house. I recall a couple of
things about that month. The very low absolute humidity caused more static
electricity build-up when working in our new house than I have known since
(except in N American hotels in winter) - all of our family were subjected to
frequent electric shocks.

Notable also were day after day of very low maxima, often below freezing. One
result of the cold weather was that all of our house-plants, kept overnight in
the mover's pantechnicon, were lost to frost except for the umbrella plant.

We still have the umbrella plant - it seems to take no end of abuse and thrive;
in faCt this year we have left it outside and it seems to be unaffected
by frost
- it should be re-classiified as hardy IMO.

It was indeed very cold. I lived in Bushey, Herts at the time and the
max temp for the month there was 3.0c which occurred on the 2nd. The
mean max for the month was 0.9c and there were 10 days with the max
below zero. There was snow lying at 9 a.m. on 22 days in the month.

The cold continued into the first few days of March. On the 1st the max
temp was -0.9c in a fresh ENE wind. On 2nd March there was 5cm of snow
on the ground at 9 a.m.

All very different to February this year.

Norman
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles
England

Most of my houseplants spent last summer out of doors and they thrived, so
much so that I had no room for them in the house come autumn and they had
spend the winter outside. Apart from a small amount of frost damage to the
spider plant, all the 'tender' plants seem to be OK including: radermachera,
yucca, chilli and geranium (still flowering).

Nick.

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 10:02:31 +0000, Norman Lynagh
wrote:

In message , JPG
writes
I have noted recently from the oft-quoted CET figures that February 1986 was an
exceptionally cold, but dry, month.

It happened to be the month that I last moved house. I recall a couple of
things about that month. The very low absolute humidity caused more static
electricity build-up when working in our new house than I have known since
(except in N American hotels in winter) - all of our family were subjected to
frequent electric shocks.

Notable also were day after day of very low maxima, often below freezing. One
result of the cold weather was that all of our house-plants, kept overnight in
the mover's pantechnicon, were lost to frost except for the umbrella plant.

We still have the umbrella plant - it seems to take no end of abuse and thrive;
in faCt this year we have left it outside and it seems to be unaffected
by frost
- it should be re-classiified as hardy IMO.

It was indeed very cold. I lived in Bushey, Herts at the time and the
max temp for the month there was 3.0c which occurred on the 2nd. The
mean max for the month was 0.9c and there were 10 days with the max
below zero. There was snow lying at 9 a.m. on 22 days in the month.

The cold continued into the first few days of March. On the 1st the max
temp was -0.9c in a fresh ENE wind. On 2nd March there was 5cm of snow
on the ground at 9 a.m.

All very different to February this year.


I moved on 28/2/86 from Rushden in Northants to Kenilworth, in Warwickshire,
having just left the Met Office (Cardington) to take up my new job. I can't
remember much snow but I suspect it may have been a very slight covering which
persisted in the shade but melted in the strengthening February sun. I do
recall the Grand Union and Stratford and Coventry canals being frozen over,
however.

JPG


Norman
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)

Oh sweet memories
IRRC the last decent iceclimbing in North Wales.
Had a w/e in Snowdonia, Cribgoch superb, Parsley Fern gully a nice plod.

Sunday on the Carneddau on touring skis........wonderful memories.
--
John Taverner
Solihull UK
134m a.m.s.l
"et in arcadia ego?"

Definately not forgotten.. more like sticks out like a sore thumb compared
to recent February's.
----------------------------------------------------------
"JPG" wrote in message
...
I have noted recently from the oft-quoted CET figures that February 1986
was an
exceptionally cold, but dry, month.

It happened to be the month that I last moved house. I recall a couple of
things about that month. The very low absolute humidity caused more
static
electricity build-up when working in our new house than I have known since
(except in N American hotels in winter) - all of our family were subjected
to
frequent electric shocks.

Notable also were day after day of very low maxima, often below freezing.
One
result of the cold weather was that all of our house-plants, kept
overnight in
the mover's pantechnicon, were lost to frost except for the umbrella
plant.

We still have the umbrella plant - it seems to take no end of abuse and
thrive;
in faCt this year we have left it outside and it seems to be unaffected by
frost
- it should be re-classiified as hardy IMO.

JPG

I recall Jan\Feb1985 was probably more severe?
---------------------------------------------------------
"JPG" wrote in message
...
I have noted recently from the oft-quoted CET figures that February 1986
was an
exceptionally cold, but dry, month.

It happened to be the month that I last moved house. I recall a couple of
things about that month. The very low absolute humidity caused more
static
electricity build-up when working in our new house than I have known since
(except in N American hotels in winter) - all of our family were subjected
to
frequent electric shocks.

Notable also were day after day of very low maxima, often below freezing.
One
result of the cold weather was that all of our house-plants, kept
overnight in
the mover's pantechnicon, were lost to frost except for the umbrella
plant.

We still have the umbrella plant - it seems to take no end of abuse and
thrive;
in faCt this year we have left it outside and it seems to be unaffected by
frost
- it should be re-classiified as hardy IMO.

JPG

"danny" wrote in message
...
Definately not forgotten.. more like sticks out like a sore thumb compared
to recent February's.
----------------------------------------------------------

Feb 86 - The last month with a subzero CET. Maybe ever?!

"JPG" wrote in message
...
I have noted recently from the oft-quoted CET figures that February 1986
was an
exceptionally cold, but dry, month.

It happened to be the month that I last moved house. I recall a couple of
things about that month. The very low absolute humidity caused more
static
electricity build-up when working in our new house than I have known since
(except in N American hotels in winter) - all of our family were subjected
to
frequent electric shocks.

It was the second most easterly month of the last 130-odd years, and that
only by a narrow margin. Mean vapour pressure of around 4mbar in the
south Midlands/Wilts/Hants/Berks area was on a par with Jan 63,
confirming your thoughts about Abs.Humidity.

Pressure difference 60degN minus 50degN over the British Isles:
Feb 1947 13.9 mbar
Feb 1986 12.9
Apr 1877 8.6
Jan 1941 8.3
Dec 1927 7.8
Dec 1995 7.0
May 1946 6.8
Jan 1963 6.7
Oct 1960 6.6

Philip Eden

In our life time, definately, in my humble opinion.
------------------------------------------------------
"Joe, Bedford." wrote in message
...

Feb 86 - The last month with a subzero CET. Maybe ever?!