AderynCoch

This winter famously became known as "Murphy's Winter" after Patrick Murphy predicted a cold spell peaking on 20th January - which is exactly what happened. It's one of the coldest spells ever recorded for the CET. I just wonder how the worst periods of cold in 1684 and 1740 compared. A low of -26C was reported at Beckenham in Kent on the morning of the 20th. It was -11C in Greenwich at noon. Weather in History 1800 to 1849 AD PREMIUM.WEATHERWEB.NET Though January 1838 had a very low CET of -1.5C, the coldest month-long period that winter was below -2C (I don't remember the exact dates). 1855 and 1895 also had month-long CET spells below -2C.

I'm back in Britain over the Christmas period so don't expect anything wintry! Slovakia is also heading for a stupidly mild Christmas so at least I won't be missing out.

I've never looked at it like that before but damn it if you're not right.

Foggy here most of the day and again tonight. Bratislava Airport actually failed to rise above freezing despite a forecast high of 9C. Air quality has been terrible, a real miasma. Quite the inversion right now: Bratislava Airport (132m - in the plains) = -3.1C Malý Javorník (583m ) = 8.9C (up in the Little Carpathians - I often go hiking round there to find snow when there's nothing in the city)

Very disappointing outlook it has to be said. So un-Christmassy. The really annoying thing for me is that the synoptics which a couple of weeks ago delivered cold rain might have been cold enough now for snow but instead I'm now stuck in this bland pattern. I would have much rather had the mildness first and the previous synoptics now.

I went to Kiev just before Christmas in 2019 and it was 11C with rain. It was even warmer in Lviv a few days before (16C!) but at least it was sunny. Anyhow, recent events there put my gripes firmly into perspective.

1C and heavy rain.

It's been an okay start to winter here but it's also been marred by some horrendous marginality. Had a couple of inches of snow last night which has stuck throughout the day but I expect it to thaw quite rapidly tomorrow. Then we're back into bland mild temperatures. :(

Late July to late August 1995

17th December 2010 was pretty good (Liverpool city centre): ADSCF0004.mp4

Headed up to a very snowy Czech-Slovak-Polish tripoint yesterday. Looking across the bridge into Poland from Slovakia. The Czech Republic is behind the fence in the far distance: Looking back from the other side: Czech Republic from Poland: Looking the other way: The actual tripoint, in a ravine close to the bridge. I'm standing in the Czech Republic, Poland is in the top-left, Slovakia on the right: The village of Jaworzynka in Poland: Most Valy, a large motorway viaduct on the Slovak side: I also had time to enjoy the Christmas markets in Žilina. This is what December should be all about to me : 20231202_120118.mp4 20231202_120824.mp4

I consider late November here to be winter. In any case I'm just venting about the terrible luck which has continued from last winter, as is my prerogative.

I know it's still only November but this winter feels like a sick joke already. Just a few days ago this week was looking snowy with ice days. The reality? 6C yesterday, nearly 5C today. The ECM was the party pooper on that occasion but then offered salvation with heavy snow this Friday followed by a freeze; now that too has gone the shape of the pear, with temperatures hovering above zero and the likelihood of no settling snow at all. Given the potential there was for an excellent start to winter this is a massive kick in the balls. Last winter was simply dreadful for missed cold, failed marginality and cold rain so I really didn't need this. Seeing other parts of Slovakia not far away getting buried also sucks. It did snow quite a bit on Saturday but temperatures stayed just above freezing so there was only a dusting on some cars at best. Otherwise it's just cold rain and mud. Early days but I'm preparing for a very long winter. Humbug.

It snowed here briefly yesterday morning but disappeared quickly. There were still patches in the nearby hills however:

It's been a weird November here so far. Halfway through and it's already surpassed the monthly mean rainfall but at the same time sunshine is well up (about to reach the average for the month). Temperature-wise it will probably end up mild but nothing like September and October, both of which were locally the warmest on record. I'm just twiddling my thumbs now waiting for proper winter weather.

20C here today. T-shirt weather.

Chucking it down here today as well. 18.6mm in the last six hours, 10mm in the last hour alone.

I think this is exactly what happened with Ian last year. An earlier NHC discussion of Otis actually hinted at signs of possible rapid intensification but disregarded it (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2023/ep18/ep182023.discus.007.shtml?). They're going to have their work cut out when it comes to doing the post-analysis.

Westminster recorded a big fat zero hours of sunshine in December 1890.

-25C in Bratislava is rarer than rocking horse doo-doo. I think 1985 was the last time it happened. It dropped to about 18C here in the early hours but some stations in Slovakia did indeed stay above 20C. That has to be some sort of record for for so late in the year. Today is genuinely nice compared to yesterday (22C and sunny).

Still 21.5C here at midnight; some places in Slovakia are pushing 25C. Madness.

Reminds me of March 2014 when I was on a train passing through the Fens between March and Ely. Field-cum-lakes on either side of the rail embankment thanks to the exceptionally wet winter just gone.

35mm in 24 hours is not that unusual for Capel Curig but it is for Heathrow and Crosby. The totals for Wattisham and Waddington are most definitely huge!

Weird weather here today. The temperature jumped from low teens to 23C in the space of a couple of hours, all under lead grey skies and accompanied by strong winds. It's not supposed to go below 18C tonight. Meanwhile 28C in neighbouring Hungary, 30C in Belgrade and 34C in parts of Italy.

It is Jupiter. In Aries at the moment I think.