The Chat Thread

[Joe]

Hi all,

I just wanted to share some photos of my back yard after last week’s snowstorm.  About twenty inches of snow fell during the multi-day storm. 


A partially snow-covered picnic table. A yardstick measured the snow which settled on my 3 by 3 foot square of ice. 


My snow-measuring board atop a brick outdoor fireplace. 


Drifts of snow in my forest garden. 


Snow overtaking the garden fence. 


Mountains of snow!  

[Martin]

That’s amazing Joe. Here in the UK life grinds to a halt when we have only 20mm and we are usually always ill-prepared for heavy snow.

I am told by my Welsh relatives that in the year I was born the winter snow in South Wales valleys reached the windows of the first floor bedrooms! There was some drifting that caused this unprecedented depth but they had at least 10ft. Half of all sheep in Wales died that winter with temperatures falling to -16 degC and the situation was deemed so serious that the American Air force was deployed to the hills of parts of rural Wales where they dropped hay bales for stranded grazing animals.

[martindn]

It is snowing here right now! Only 1.2mm lying so far though.

[Libby]

Feb 8, 2021 8:12:40 GMT Martin said:

That’s amazing Joe. Here in the UK life grinds to a halt when we have only 20mm and we are usually always ill-prepared for heavy snow.

I am told by my Welsh relatives that in the year I was born the winter snow in South Wales valleys reached the windows of the first floor bedrooms! There was some drifting that caused this unprecedented depth but they had at least 10ft. Half of all sheep in Wales died that winter with temperatures falling to -16 degC and the situation was deemed so serious that the American Air force was deployed to the hills of parts of rural Wales where they dropped hay bales for stranded grazing animals.

Seattle is the same in regards to snow; worse in the suburban cities, where I am.

I tried to do a search on the event you described; luckily for you I couldn't find a thing, so I don't know what year it was!

[martindn]

Feb 9, 2021 0:25:28 GMT Libby said:

Feb 8, 2021 8:12:40 GMT Martin said:

That’s amazing Joe. Here in the UK life grinds to a halt when we have only 20mm and we are usually always ill-prepared for heavy snow.

I am told by my Welsh relatives that in the year I was born the winter snow in South Wales valleys reached the windows of the first floor bedrooms! There was some drifting that caused this unprecedented depth but they had at least 10ft. Half of all sheep in Wales died that winter with temperatures falling to -16 degC and the situation was deemed so serious that the American Air force was deployed to the hills of parts of rural Wales where they dropped hay bales for stranded grazing animals.

Seattle is the same in regards to snow; worse in the suburban cities, where I am.

I tried to do a search on the event you described; luckily for you I couldn't find a thing, so I don't know what year it was!

Chances are it was 1947, which had a very cold and snowy February in UK. But the coldest winter of the 20th Century here was 1963, where snow lay continuously from Boxing Day until early March even in lowland locations. But we were hardier then.

My daughter, a teacher, turned up this morning saying that the school was closed because od the 2cm snow we have lying (she teaches special needs and key worker children, so is still working though the lockdown). I told her that I was at school in 1963, and the school never closed once throughout those 3 months of snow and ice. As I said, we were hardier back then.

[Dave]

Feb 9, 2021 0:25:28 GMT Libby said:

Feb 8, 2021 8:12:40 GMT Martin said:

That’s amazing Joe. Here in the UK life grinds to a halt when we have only 20mm and we are usually always ill-prepared for heavy snow.

I am told by my Welsh relatives that in the year I was born the winter snow in South Wales valleys reached the windows of the first floor bedrooms! There was some drifting that caused this unprecedented depth but they had at least 10ft. Half of all sheep in Wales died that winter with temperatures falling to -16 degC and the situation was deemed so serious that the American Air force was deployed to the hills of parts of rural Wales where they dropped hay bales for stranded grazing animals.

Seattle is the same in regards to snow; worse in the suburban cities, where I am.

I tried to do a search on the event you described; luckily for you I couldn't find a thing, so I don't know what year it was!

Yes you'd discover how old he is, Libby but no comment from here or he might fire one back at me!

There was a huge 36 hour snowstorm in Wales in 1982 though, not the one you refer to, but the UK army was needed to sort out some places. Here's one comment by a well known and respected climatologist with whom I've had discussions (Philip Eden, who has now sadly passed away):

Describing the snowfall of 1982, Philip Eden wrote on WeatherOnline: "Throughout the snowfall, which lasted over 36 hours, temperatures were between -2°C and -4°C so the snow was dry and powdery and drifted freely in the wind. Transport services were completely dislocated over a wide area and millions of commuters failed to get to work in London two days running.

"South Wales was isolated for three days and troops were brought in to deliver essentials and to help clear roads. Worst hit were Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, where level snow lay over 60cm deep with drifts six metres high."

There are a few Youtube videos about it too, like this: youtu.be/H4AcjxxEPXc?t=6

This week has been exceptionally cold for here but most of the snow was in the north and especially Scotland where it dropped to -23 degrees C last night at Braemar in the snow.

But for Joe, this seems to be par for the course every few years, whereas here it's more like every few decades! Good photos Joe!

[Libby]

We may get some snow tomorrow and Saturday. It was originally supposed to start Wednesday, then today. Well, it has been snowing teeny tiny flakes for maybe the past hour or so. It doesn't seem to be sticking.

That's what I hate about snow predictions here; so often they predict snow and there is none, or they keep moving it to a different day than originally expected. It is still supposed to be very cold whether it snows or not. Tomorrow the high is just below freezing.

[scoobedoo]

Wow, Joe, that is some snowstorm you seem to be getting snow just about every year, or so it seems. I'll bet that will take some time to melt too I would think and, travel would be challenging I would think to and from work (if you can get there). Are you able to work from home, Joe? I would imagine a lot would be after that lot, eh?

Keep warm through another log on the fire(if you can find a dry one) and stay home and above all else, stay safe.

All the best to you all, keep warm and accept the fact that it is your wintertime, spring and summer are on their way.

Rodders.

[Joe]

Thanks Rodders and all!  Not much snow has melted since last week;  it has sublimated, evaporated, compacted etc. down to 14 inches. There is still snow underneath all that from the beginning of December...usually I am snow-free in mid-April. I have never worked from home yet but late February through mid-March is the snowiest period! 

[comet]

Oh what fun.........

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWA57B3sQrf

[comet]

Wèeeèeeee... All Blacks 20 points
Wèeeeeeeeeeè.....

Ireland 29 points.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeèeeeeè........

[comet]

Hey Libby, did you get to see Celtic Woman in Seattle with Chloe back with them in the last few weeks ?

[Libby]

May 20, 2022 13:52:32 GMT comet said:

Hey Libby, did you get to see Celtic Woman in Seattle with Chloe back with them in the last few weeks ?

No. I have to say I lost interest in the group once the last of the original group departed, and even then, my interest had faded quite a bit. Also, the last time I had even a notion to see a CW concert, the price was extremely expensive. I'm sure their concerts are still very enjoyable, but not worth that much money, not to mention the hassle of going to downtown Seattle.

[comet]

one of the great composers of our time has left us :

Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, known professionally as Vangelis, was a Greek musician, composer, songwriter and producer of electronic, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music.

Rhydian did a wonderful version of Conquest of paradise but I can no longer find it on YouTube

[Joe]

Hello Paul 

Celtic Woman will be close to my area, but my interest has also waned in the group.  On June 5th they will be at the Bethel Woods Center of the Arts - located on the site of the Woodstock 1969 festival.  Ticket prices $30 to $100. www.bethelwoodscenter.org/events/celtic-woman

I was saddened to learn that Vangelis had passed away.  He scored dozens and dozens of films - not least the “Chariots of Fire” theme.