sponge bob

To be honest this is a stiff breeze but nothing like 1987. First of all the models nowadays do spot potential bomb cyclones a good few days out, If they don't bomb you get a stiff breeze but if they do bomb you get a howler. This one did not bomb. Secondly the Fish storm of 1987 was a bomb, furthermore it struck while the leaves were still on the trees and they were a fatter target. Thirdly the preparation period was a weekend, The local authorities had to be warned early as the staff are normally off on sat/ sun , So the Met Office had to go early on the warning and that upped the 'ominosity' factor. In reality they were out clearing drains all weekend to avoid flooding as we are in peak leaf fall season and preventing spot flooding. So all in all, Met Office had to do it, Met Office were right to call it early, bad or worst case scenario not happening but everyone ( bar the Daily Express ) did the right thing considering. There may be another storm this weekend but as it looks likely to hit Scotland ( with potentially higher winds) the press won't give a damn will they.

I reckon winter has shots its bolt meself, now if it you just dry up a tad in Feb I'd be happy. Roll on March and the 20c plus temps.

Apart from a gentle flurry earlier today which lasted all of 10 mins I have seen no snow in Galway this winter and long may that last.

You would be correct about the east but the little that falls will settle and freeze hard from now. There is a possibility of a genteel accumulation over teh course of the week absent any decent precip and a chance of a tad more if the more most UK airmass excurses west on occasion. A stalling front in the very south west may deposit some in the south west overnight.That is on radar...eg Raintoday. None of these falls will be anything like the falls in nearby Wales of course.