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Post by nicola on Feb 3, 2009 16:01:58 GMT
It doesn't snow very often any more. It has always snowed at least once a year without fail, but it's not always a large amount. I remember when I was younger it used to snow quite often, and I'm sure some of the more, er, mature members of the forum, will remember winters when snow was very, very frequent in the UK. I'm going to the London date on the 15th Feb. Really looking forward to it. Sadly, I don't think I'd ever be happy in the US. I'd get homesick and miss the English accent!  And thank you, I think my dog is rather beautiful too! XD |
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Post by postscript on Feb 3, 2009 16:28:39 GMT
Hi everyone. Just picked up this weather flash: Overnight, the lowest recorded temperature was in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, where it fell to -10.1C (13.8F). Just down the road from me (over the hill in the next valley). I thought I was feeling a bit chilly!   Peter S. |
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Post by postscript on Feb 3, 2009 16:34:43 GMT
Your dog sure is beautiful Nicola, thanks for sharing that. Hope she hasn't eaten too many of your neighbours' cats! Peter S. |
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Post by graemek on Feb 3, 2009 22:44:26 GMT
Not much I suspect, apart from in the mountains. The snow we are experiencing is because of something called a Continental Polar airstream, bringing us air from a cold pool over Russia (warmed somewhat by crossing the North Sea, in winter it typically has a temperature close to the freezing point).. NZ doesn't have a nearby continent to allow such a cold pool to develop. Any air reaching NZ will therefore have crossed a lot of sea, and will have a temperature similar to that of the sea surface (in Winter anyway, when the warming effect of the sun shining on the land is least) rather like winter winds from the Atlantic in Britain.. Only if the wind drops, allowing radiative cooling, will it get cold there. Martin I think there is a place called 'Australia' somewhere nearby but perhaps its the wrong side for the prevailing winds? Peter S. Hi Martin & Peter, Just to add my 2 Euros worth: These 2 Google Earth maps are the same scale (~) so its easy to see that UK is very close to Europe. To get a feel of the distance of say, from Sydney to Wellington, you've got to go from, say, Southampton to about half way across the North Atlantic towards New York. (2030 Kms) That is NZ is out on its own in a vast Ocean. Notice too that the latitudes are quite different relatively. Westerlys are prevailing winds particularly at those latitudes so NZ has quite choppy waters on its West Coast & more sheltered on its Eastern Coast. But they're ocean winds. The West Coast also tends to be more rainy....the height of the mountains with the lower temps at altitude gives rise to the snow.   Graeme |
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Post by postscript on Feb 4, 2009 13:59:58 GMT
Well done, Graeme. Those maps make a very useful comparison and put us all in our place! |
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Post by Caitlin on Feb 4, 2009 18:40:12 GMT
Hi everyone, I thought I'd contribute to this thread now... Yesterday (from about 4pm onwards) we got 20 or so inches of snow. Today we are expected to get around 8 more as the storm curves back around. All of our morning classes were cancelled today. Most of the shops around here are closed. It's an absolute winter wonderland! Here are a couple pictures of the snow.  Last night. Look at how high the snow is already!:  My windowsill this morning:  View from my window:  <3 Caitlin |
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Post by graemek on Feb 4, 2009 20:28:33 GMT
Fabulous pics Caitlin.....but BRRRRR !!!!! In contrast its 23 deg C this morning 7.30 am & I've just removed my tee shirt....too hot. Graeme  |
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Post by Caitlin on Feb 4, 2009 21:23:04 GMT
Here are a couple more just taken to show how much snow we truly do have. Do you see a car here?  What about the sign?  <3 Caitlin |
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Post by martindn on Feb 4, 2009 21:49:17 GMT
Well done, Graeme. Those maps make a very useful comparison and put us all in our place! Greame, you beat me too it! But even the North Sea, small though it is makes a noticeable difference. In a winter Continental Polar airstream (East Wind to you) the near continent air temperature is typically several degrees below freezing, whilst by the time the air reaches Britain is is typically just above freezing point. The sea also contributes humidity, which makes for a bitterly cold wind when it blows strongly, and can result in fog, drizzle or even light snow if the air is cold enough.. "When the wind is in the East It's good for neither man nor beast" Martin |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on Feb 4, 2009 22:05:34 GMT
Well done, Graeme. Those maps make a very useful comparison and put us all in our place! Yes indeed, Peter... but I'd say Caitlin's photos are what really puts us (in the UK) all in our place. That's what I call a real snowfall!  Incidentally, many Americans and Canadians are familiar with Lake Effect snow - heavy snowfalls generated by cold arctic air crossing some of the Great Lakes. Well what happened in London a few days ago was our own version of Lake Effect - the North Sea, mentioned by Martin above, was the "lake" in this case. We even had a mini version of it on the central South Coast on the following day, as the originally continental arctic winds swung round into the South and were still cold enough to produce heavy snow at times off the English Channel (the first time most people can remember this happening). However, it was very much a miniature version of the real thing. Cheers, Dave |
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Post by pjrcorreia on Feb 4, 2009 23:01:27 GMT
Wonderful photos everyone! WOW! So much snow!  Unfortunately here where I live, we don't have snow, if there were, it would be worst than in the UK, as we are not prepared for so much cold! Best wishes, Paulo Correia |
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Post by larryhauck on Feb 4, 2009 23:32:32 GMT
Hey Dave, maybe Hayley can sing, "I'VE NEVER SEEN SNOW LIKE THAT BEFORE".
Larry
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 5, 2009 16:42:56 GMT
I do not want to put a damper on imminent events but I have just read on the BBC website that some of the London home counties can expect as much as 8 inches of snow tomorrow.  Martin |
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Post by Sing on Feb 5, 2009 16:55:48 GMT
I live in Berkshire and we've had a lot of snow here, particularly on Monday... and has meant that I've missed three days of school this week, and consequently have missed some GCSE exams, although I like snow,- i like playing with my sister in it but I really hope the weather gets better soon so I don't miss much more school. We were told on the weather forecast that we wouldn't get any more snow until Friday but we got about two inches last night, which meant another day off school for me, and there could be some more tonight!...
I'm hoping there won't be much more this week at least so I can get back to school tomorrow, and I can get to the concert on Sunday- and the rest of the Valentines Tour can go ahead without any problems-!!
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Post by thomas on Feb 5, 2009 19:11:14 GMT
Hi Caitlin! Thank you for your nice winter pictures. In Germany we had some snowfall in January which caused a few problems for a day. But it wasn't as much as in your pictures.  I hope there won't be so much snow in the UK for the next time so that the show for Hayley can go on without any interruptions. Best wishes, Thomas |
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