Weather in the general media (Newspaper features etc)

[March Blizzard]

A shame, Ladbrookes could make a killing off the DE...

[Summer Sun]

20 DAYS OF RAIN IN 48 HOURS

BRITAIN is braced for a week of flood chaos as storms lash the country. After the big freeze, forecasters say 20 days of rain could fall in just 48 hours. More than an inch fell in Southern England yesterday, according to the Met Office, with a further inch expected today. With the ground already saturated, that could cause rivers to overflow. There is likely to be no let-up before Christmas.

The Environment Agency last night issued 62 flood alerts and 12 more serious flood warnings, with coastal areas particularly at risk.

A spokesman said: “Morning tides over the next three days are critical periods. Large waves and high tides bring the risk of coastal flooding in the South-west and South, while heavy rain brings a risk of river flooding.“People should check for flood warnings at places which are at risk and avoid walking along the coast.†Black ice led to crashes on the M1, A1, M62 and M606. In Sheffield, four people were injured when a fire engine skidded into a crashed car.

http://www.express.c...ain-in-48-hours

GALES & NEW FLOOD THREAT

BRITAIN is in for another battering this weekend as gales lash the UK. High winds will whip up huge tides, bringing flooding threats to many coastal areas in the south-west. Almost 70 flood alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency, which described the risk as “criticalâ€. Homes and shops were flooded in Kingsbridge, Devon, yesterday. And trains were halted as giant waves crashed over the sea wall at nearby Dawlish. More heavy rain is also forecast for many areas.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/288049/Gales-new-flood-threat/

Edited December 15, 2012 by Gavin.

[Methuselah]

And still the Excrete is babbling-on about a 'Big Freeze' that never happened! Are its reader really that thick? Was that a rhetorical question?

[Summer Sun]

Latest monthly outlook from WeatherOnline

Valid from 30/11 to 27/12 2012

Hair shirts please

Issued: Saturday 15th December 2012

Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling & Captain Bob

'Has anyone a spare hair shirt I could borrow please'?

Once again it is looking increasingly likely that Christmas 2012 will sadly be joining that all too boring and disappointingly long 'green list' of British Christmases....any 'white stuff' more than likely being confined to previous accumulations over higher ground of northern Britain.

For folks like myself who like their 'winters to be winter' and the conditions to fit neatly into their correct seasons especially 'Christmases to be White' this is a disappointment, however from a meteorology point of view this is just another portion of the sequence of patterns that make up this 'World of Weather'. I have to admit defeat in that the patterns have not delivered on their expectations during this early winter period, the deck was 'stacked heavily' that colder conditions already in Eastern Europe would flow westward, not in the 'hysterical media' proclamations that were trumpeted, but certainly colder than they have turned out to be, so a hair shirt for Christmas for me then?

The Atlantic themed conditions look set to run through the short and medium term, rain and at times rather strong winds bringing unsettled weather through all areas in the run up to and through Christmas and Boxing Day, a good deal of cloud at times, this holding the temperatures up into the 'mild to cool' category.

There may be brief colder incursions just after Christmas into the New Year interim period as low pressure crosses eastward and pressures rise to the west, this not lasting too long as further Atlantic low pressure heralding wet and mild weather approaching the west.

The New Year brings little cheer for winter lovers as anything remotely resembling this is going to be transient and all too quickly shunted away by the Atlantic, a northwest to westerly flow ensuring it's all too on the 'mild to cool' side of the scale rather than cold.

It may not be until the beginning of the second week of January until winter arrives in the UK...but then on recent performance 'what do I know'?

*Through until......21/12/12*

The Atlantic will hold all the cards here and will be delivering a mixture of rather unsettled conditions interspersed with calmer and sunny days. Bands of wet and windy weather will pass quickly through all areas on a rather brisk westerly to south- westerly flow driven on by low pressure passing close to the UK. There will always be cooler and cloudier interludes with showers or longer spells of rain, but given all the cloud and breeze temperatures will be holding up well, so the risk of frost in limited to the quieter and clearer spells between systems as the flow swings into the northwest and falls light for any length of time. Only late in this period is there just the chance that it turn chilly for a time as colder air slips south through all areas.

*22/12/12......24/12/12*

It may just briefly turn colder here as pressure sufficiently rises to settle the conditions and temperatures fall back, but this soon is replaced by low pressure and its associated cloud and patchy rain moving into western Britain.

*25/12/12......04/01/13*

The conditions turn unsettled here once and any chance that they be a white one is extinguished as mild Atlantic air floods through all of the UK, rain and a fresh breeze may make it feel rather cool despite the 'oceanic source'. It will remain rather unsettled and cool through this period, low pressure moving close to the UK so breeze too for much of the time with a good deal of cloud, some brighter and sunny spells between the main bands of rain.

*05/01/13......09/01/13*

High pressure looks set to build across the southern and south-eastern quarter of the UK, so here it'll become drier and brighter, still on the mild side during daylight but the increased risk of frost and fog overnight. This may become slow to clear as time goes on, so it'll be chilly where this persists for any length of time. Northern and western Britain will remain mostly unsettled with further spells of rain and a fresh breeze, gales at times in exposed north-western areas. Blustery showers following the main bands of rain, feeling cool at times as a result.

*10/01/13......15/01/13*

High pressure continues to build to the east and with lower pressure to the southwest this looks like strengthening the south-easterly breeze across the UK, colder air into much of the bulk of England and Wales, perhaps some shower activity slowly becoming increasingly wintry as the period ends. Pressure continues to rise across to the north and east, so more of an easterly flow becoming established with temperatures markedly falling away and the threat of wintry showers.

Simon & Capn Bob

http://www.weatheron...ad&DAY=20121215

[Summer Sun]

Latest blog from Liam Dutton

What is the chance of a white Christmas?

As Christmas draws ever closer, I’ve had a lot of people asking me whether or not it is going to be a white Christmas this year. There’s no doubt that for most of us, the prospect of having a blanket of snow during the festive period is exciting – unless you’re travelling of course. Before I take a look ahead at the latest trends for the festive period this year, I thought I’d take a look back at how often we’ve experienced a white Christmas in the past. First of all, let me clear up the definition of a white Christmas. Most people tend to think that snow lying on the ground on Christmas day would count. However, for the purpose of those placing and taking bets, it is defined as a single flake of snow (including mixed with rain) to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December. This observation also has to be made officially by a trained weather observer

Full blog here - http://blogs.channel4.com/liam-dutton-on-weather/chances-white-christmas/2632

[Summer Sun]

BBC weather for the week ahead

[Summer Sun]

Hopes of white Christmas fade as festive shoppers face a miserable week of wind and rain

Christmas shopping over the next five days will be a soggy affair - with this week set to be wet and windy. Today will see sunny spells and scattered rainfall, with the heaviest showers and a risk of hail and thunder across southern and western areas, forecasters say. The heavy December rain and strong winds have already claimed a few victims. An angler who was swept out to sea yesterday has died in hospital it was confirmed today. The 33-year-old man, from the Peterlee area of County Durham, was rescued after getting into trouble while fishing at Blackhall Rocks. But he died at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, on Saturday night.

Another man, a 57-year-old, was discharged from the same hospital after receiving treatment for shock and the effects of being in the sea. A sailor was also killed on Saturday after waves and hurricane-force winds damaged a ship in the North Sea. And a Christmas party reveler was rescued from a flooded brook this morning after a late night out. The unnamed man was found three hours after falling in but managed to save himself by climbing a tree. It is believed he had answered a 'call of nature' at around 1am but gone the wrong way and ended up in the flooded watercourse in Exeter, Devon. He was discovered in the brook by three men who were out hunting nearby. Rescuers said he slipped into the brook off the River Exe which had swollen to six feet deep after heavy rainfall.

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2FEhM511e

[Summer Sun]

Country file forecast for the week ahead

[Summer Sun]

FLOODS THREAT THIS CHRISTMAS

TORRENTIAL rain is set to strike today bringing more flooding and a washout Christmas week, experts warned last night. The Environment Agency has 73 flood alerts and warnings in place. Experts said large swathes of south-west England and parts of Wales are most at risk. The festive period will see temperatures hover around 12C (54F) – mild for the time of year – but that will be no consolation to those bailing out flooded homes.

Forecaster Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, said last night: “The year is ending as most will remember it – wet and dreary. The bad news is that 2013 is shaping up for more of the same.†Severe weather at the weekend led to the deaths of two men. A 33-year-old angler was swept out to sea at Blackhall, Co Durham, on Saturday. And a crewman was killed after storms hit the Vos Sailor vessel in the North Sea. Around 20 homes were flooded in Looe, Cornwall, after heavy rain swept in. In Sunderland, 15 anglers were knocked over by a freak wave.

http://www.express.c...-this-Christmas

WEATHER TO MAKE THE RICH FLEE BRITAIN

NEARLY a quarter of all millionaires are considering quitting Britain because of the grim weather. A survey found 22 per cent of people with more than £1million wanted to leave within two years. Two-thirds of millionaires said the bleak British weather was the main reason they would emigrate. The rain and gales beat all other reasons while nearly half admitted they were worried about crime. Others raised concerns about the high cost of living while only 41 per cent were worried about the high tax rate. France was named as the favourite place to emigrate followed by Spain, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

However most millionaires say their wealth would not tempt them to leave Britain with 64 per cent saying they are happy at home. But the wealthy did mention that better transport and infrastructure would improve their life in the UK, according to the survey by Lloyds TSB International offshore bankers. Better public services, cutting red tape for business and then tax cuts were also high priorities. Lloyds TSB International director Richard Musty said: “Wealthy Britons are increasingly considering emigrating, not necessarily for financial reasons, but because they feel their quality of life may be better elsewhere. We are seeing this in our client base too, with France, Spain and America increasingly popular locations to settle in.â€

http://www.express.c...ch-flee-Britain

[Methuselah]

Ah, so when all those tax-dodging freeloaders finally bugger off, we'll have the weather to thank?

Edited December 17, 2012 by Rybris Ponce

[Summer Sun]

Is frosting the coolest trend so far? Facebook group takes pictures of themselves in summer gear posing in freezing conditions

If winter's already getting you down, you might want to resort to the latest Facebook trend and pretend the temperature can't stop you. Frosting — not to be confused with past trends like planking, porting or milking — means dressing up in your summer gear and snapping pictures of yourself re-creating your favourite summer activities, even though the snow might be deep on the ground. The trend began last winter in Montana, when a group of locals got fed up with snow and decided to get their summer clothes out and pretend it was a balmy June day.

They set up a Facebook fanpage, Frosters Anonymous, and snapped pics of themselves wearing shorts and bikinis doing activities usually reserved for the summer. Photos of frosters playing golf, kayaking and even sun bathing, all with piles of snow around them, soon lit up the web — and some enthusiasts even stripped fully to show the cold couldn't keep them down. The trend soon spread to other wintry outposts around the world, and the Facebook page now have thousands of likes, with submissions rolling in from around the States, Germany and Eastern Europe.

Below you'll find our selection of the best frosting pictures so far. Hope for a while Christmas in Britain might be fading, but there will be plenty of snow on the web.

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2FKaTFPh1

[Coast]

More wet than white in Christmas run-up: Forecasters warn of seven days of unsettled weather as rain systems sweep the UK

• Met Office has issued a 'heavy rain' alert for southern England
• East coast of England could expect gusty winds before it clears on Friday
• Vicar has given a family his house after theirs was destroyed in floods
• Around 18 million set to take to roads this Christmas
• Friday is the busiest day for British Airways with 100,000 passengers

The weather will bring little festive cheer as the country is set to be swept by wind and rain in the run-up to Christmas Day. Forecasters are warning of an unsettled spell engulfing most areas as band after band of rain sweeps in from the Atlantic. The worst-hit could suffer yet more flooding, added the Environment Agency.

Recent days have brought pockets of mild, dry weather but that is expected to change today. It is going to be quite unsettled, wet and windy across the UK for the next few days,’ said John Lee, a forecaster with MeteoGroup. ‘We’re looking at seven days ahead and, in that time, it is looking unsettled with a succession of Atlantic systems coming to the UK.’ This did not necessarily mean a solid seven days of rain, he added, as there is a chance of some respite on Friday. But, he stressed: ‘It is going to be mild and unsettled until Christmas.’ Mr Lee said the east coast of England could expect gusty winds before the weather system starts clearing from Cornwall and Devon in time for the weekend.

Following that, however, would be yet another band of wet weather. ‘It is not uncommon for this time of year, so I think people should expect a few showers,’ Mr Lee warned. The rain and wind sweeping in have lengthened the odds for a white Christmas in the south of England. On Monday, the chances of snow in London were 5/2 but Ladbrokes yesterday said they were 6/1.

Last night, the Environment Agency also issued four flood warnings – three for South West England and one in East Anglia. The band of heavy rain expected to arrive in the South West early this morning would exacerbate an existing problem with standing surface water, officials said. ‘This will be followed by a band of further rain, throughout Wednesday night into Thursday morning,’ the agency added. ‘The outlook for the weekend is unsettled.’

Another 44 areas have been put on flood alerts, which are less serious. With these, the Environment Agency tells communities to be prepared for the possibility of flooding. Most of those areas are also in the South West, but there is also a risk of floods in the South East and North East of England as well as parts of the Midlands. Large swathes of England and Wales were brought to their knees last month when flood water surged through streets and down roads.

http://www.dailymail...mas-run-up.html

Edited December 19, 2012 by Coast

[Summer Sun]

90MPH GALES AND A DELUGE TO SOAK UK

BRITAIN faces a barrage of fierce storms from today, bringing savage 90mph winds and three months’ worth of rain in just 48 hours.The entire country has been put back on severe flood alert as forecasters warn that torrential downpours and destructive gales will last into next week and until Christmas. Worst hit will be the already flood-ravaged South and South-west. And the heavy and persistent storms could dump up to 10 inches of rain across vast swathes of the country by the end of tomorrow. The Environment Agency last night warned vulnerable households across the UK to prepare for flooding and advised people to stay away from swollen rivers.

Flood risk manager Craig Woolhouse said: “We urge people to keep up to date with the weather forecast and remain prepared for flooding in their area by signing up to receive free flood warnings and staying away from dangerous flood water.†He said Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can expect the heaviest downpours. Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said the battering is set to last until next week. Rain will be heaviest in regions still recovering from last month’s deluge and will come with winds strong enough to damage buildings. He said: “This storm system is hundreds of miles wide. We are looking at a succession of bands of torrential downpours and destructive winds across the whole country over the next few days.

“Wednesday and Thursday could bring up to five inches on each day with coastal gusts reaching 90mph – 70mph inland – certainly strong enough to cause structural damage. “Flooding is going to be a real risk, and after a brief respite on Friday the weekend is likely to follow suit. It is a real nightmare run of bouts of severe weather.†MeteoGroup forecaster John Lee warned Britain can expect a week of turbulent conditions as a series of wet weather systems tear in one after the other. He said: “We’re looking at seven days ahead and in that time a succession of Atlantic systems are coming to the UK. Does that mean seven days of rain? No, but it is going to be mild and unsettled until Christmas.â€

The Met Office’s chief forecaster Andy Page said: “An active frontal system is expected to move eastwards across the UK over the next couple of days bringing rain to all parts of Britain. “The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings which means that the public should plan ahead to take account of possible travel delays or disruption to their activities.†Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwaite agreed, saying: “Into Thursday we have that heavy rain moving through. We also need to watch for some potentially very strong winds.†Experts fear a repeat of the devastating floods across the country at the end of last month. Then Britain endured 10 days of torrential rainfall, flooding homes and turning roads into rivers. More than 1,000 properties were flooded in a week and the weather is thought to have contributed to five deaths.

http://www.express.c...luge-to-soak-UK

[Summer Sun]

BRITAIN FACING 'WORST DECEMBER STORMS IN DECADES'

BRITAIN is braced for the “worst December storms in decades†with a week of torrential rain and hurricane-force winds. Forecasters warned that severe flooding is “inevitable†over the next five days with more than two months’ worth of rain set to fall in 24 hours. They said that, as a series of Atlantic storms sweep in, coastal regions will be battered by gusts reaching 90mph whipping up potentially devastating waves. The storms are expected to throw the Christmas getaway into chaos, with up to 18 million vehicles hitting the roads. The Met Office yesterday issued a five-day severe weather warning until Saturday with higher level amber alerts until tomorrow.

The Environment Agency said Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex and Northamptonshire will get the heaviest rain. Flood risk manager Craig Woolhouse said: “We urge people to be prepared by signing up to receive free flood warnings and to stay away from dangerous flood water.†Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, last night said: “Very serious flooding is inevitable. These are some of the worst December storms in decades. “The whole country is going to be battered by heavy rain with a brief respite on Friday before another system tears in at the weekend. We could see up to five inches of rain in a 36-hour period.†The Met Office said rainfall will be on a similar scale to that which triggered devastating floods last month. Jim Dale, forecaster for British Weather Services, said: “If the rain carries on as we expect we are in line for the wettest year in history.â€

http://www.express.c...rms-in-decades-

CHRISTMAS FLOODS ON THE WAY

BRITAIN is being hit with a festive drenching that is expected to continue beyond Christmas. The Met Office last night issued warnings of floods which could trigger travel chaos as the holiday rush starts. Forecasters said 33 hours of rain will hit the south west by 6pm today, with all other parts of Britain also facing a soaking. More wet but mild weather is expected on Christmas Day with further flood warnings by Boxing Day.

http://www.dailystar...ods-on-the-way/

We're in for a wet Christmas: South West on flood alert again as forecasters warn UK is in for seven days of bad weather

• Land's End Airport closed until December 27, cutting off the Scilly Isles
• Met Office has issued a 'heavy rain' alert for southern England
• Environment Agency has 45 flood warnings and alerts in place
• East of England can expect non-stop winds over next two days
• Vicar has given a family his house after theirs was destroyed in floods
• Around 18 million set to take to roads this Christmas
• Friday is the busiest day for British Airways with 100,000 passengers

If he is looking a bit glum, perhaps it’s because he’s just seen the forecast. This Christmas is highly unlikely to be a white one, according to meteorologists. Instead, it will bring a mixture of rain and bright spells across the country – alongside rather mild temperatures. Martin Hicks, who snapped the bird perched on a string of fairy lights in the garden of his home in Crawley, West Sussex, said: ‘I’ve never seen such a fat-looking robin. It just sat there staring at me.’ Looking ahead to Christmas Day, Met Office forecaster Dan Williams said: ‘At this early stage, it looks that we won’t see a white Christmas for a large part of the country. Perhaps there will be a chance of snow on highest Scottish peaks.

‘Generally, it is looking like it will be a mild day for much of Britain, with temperatures of up to 11C.’ Travel to the Isles of Scilly will be much harder over Christmas after Land's End Airport announced that it will close from today until December 27 because of the severe weather. The west Cornish airport only reopened on Tuesday after closing on Friday due to a waterlogged runway. It means families may have difficulty getting to and from the island to visit loved ones for Christmas.

Nick Sanders, Group Commercial Manager for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, said: 'The water table at Land's End in this weather - we've had 15mm of rain last night - takes us beyond the point of no return because of the grass runway. 'Landing heavy aircraft on grass would tear up the ground, so we're now running passengers up from Land's End to Newquay, free of charge.' Plans to potentially solve the runway problem at Land's End could include hardening the whole runway or bringing in Perfo plastic meshing.

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2FZtBUNMK

[Summer Sun]

Flood Fears Rise Ahead Of A Soggy Christmas

Flooding is set to hit Britain as successive bands of heavy rain move across the country ahead of a damp Christmas. Most of England, Wales and Scotland is expected to be wet today with heavy rain in some places. Snow is also likely over the Scottish mountains, especially on southeast-facing slopes of the Grampians where blizzard conditions are possible. The Environment Agency (EA) said large swathes of southern and southwestern England, southeast Wales and the Midlands are potentially under threat today, with flood warnings likely in parts of the South West, the South East and East Anglia. Some 25mm to 35mm fell overnight in parts of the South West.

Sky News weather presenter Isabel Lang said: "Although it will ease during the day in the South West, there will be persistent rain elsewhere." "Amounts of rain will vary but a further 25 to 50mm is forecast today which will continue to raise flooding concerns. "Driving conditions will also be difficult in places with standing water and localised flooding already reported." Although Friday will largely be dry in the South West, the next band of rain is set to move in by the evening and brings renewed flood risks. Lang said: "The next band coming through is very moist and warm air. There is the potential for major disruption." "After a white Christmas in 2010 and an unseasonably warm 2011, we may have a wet 2012 Christmas."

Areas of England and Wales were last month engulfed by flood water that surged through streets and down roads. Rivers burst their banks and fields were flooded as several days' rain fell in just a few hours. EA flood risk manager Craig Woolhouse said: "Our teams are out around the clock to minimise the risks and prepare for flooding, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that flood defences are working properly. People have been advised to check their route for disruption before travelling, and not to drive or walk through floodwater. The EA now offers a free flood warning service on its website. Mr Woolhouse said: "We urge people to keep up to date with the weather forecast and local news overnight and remain prepared for flooding in their area by signing up to receive free flood warnings and staying away from dangerous flood water."

http://news.sky.com/story/1027957/flood-fears-rise-ahead-of-a-soggy-christmas

[Summer Sun]

A WET, WET, WET WEEKEND

FLOOD-ravaged Britain faces a fresh wave of torrential downpours with three months worth of rain a possibility this weekend, forecasters said last night. The “worst December storms in decades†could see up to 12 inches fall by the end of Sunday. The warning came as relentless and heavy downpours left parts of the country under feet of floodwater yesterday. Worst hit again were the South and South-west, still recovering from floods which wreaked havoc across the region at the end of last month. In Wallington, Hampshire, residents were advised to abandon their homes after a river threatened to burst its banks and flood defences developed cracks. The Environment Agency issued a severe flood warning for the area. A spokesman said: “People have been given the option to leave their homes and use the leisure centre.

“We have engineers making repairs to the defence wall. We are confident it will hold.†Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, warned of “some of the worst December storms in a decadeâ€. He said: “We could see up to 12 inches of rain in total by the end of the weekend. We are looking at flooding we haven’t seen in a long time. “The South and Midlands are taking the brunt.†He warned of 80mph gales in coastal regions with inland gusts of 70mph capable of causing structural damage. There is some good news as the downpours have allayed fears of another hosepipe ban next summer after drought this spring saw restrictions in several regions. But as a succession of storms are forecast to sweep in from the Atlantic, the Met Office said there is a threat of disruption to the Christmas getaway on the roads.

Chief forecaster Steve Willington said: “We could see rainfall mounting up to more than 100mm (4in) in parts of South-west England and parts of eastern Scotland by the end of the weekend. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings which means that the public should plan ahead to take account of possible travel delays or disruption, especially as they make their way to friends or family for Christmas.†More than half a month’s rain had fallen in 24 hours in Dorset by lunchtime yesterday, turning roads into rivers. A caravan floated through the village of Moreton after being washed into a flooded river. It is thought it had been left in a field. Two people stuck inside a car stranded in floodwater were pushed to safety by Dorchester firefighters on the A37.

In neighbouring Hampshire, the Lymington River burst its banks in Brockenhurst, making surrounding roads impassible. A couple were hauled out of their van in Purbrook, near Portsmouth, after it became stranded in a swollen ford. The AA attended 224 cars stuck in floods and more than 6,800 breakdowns by early yesterday afternoon – around 1,100 an hour. The Environment Agency last night warned homeowners to be on standby for flooding. Most at risk are Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hants, Sussex, Wales, Northants and North Yorkshire. If the wet weather continues until the end of the month the Met Office said 2012 could be among the top five wettest years on record, with above-average rainfall every month since June.

http://www.express.c...wet-wet-weekend

Edited December 21, 2012 by Gavin.

[Summer Sun]

Travel chaos as floods force road closures and all trains to Heathrow are cancelled on busiest day of festive getaway

• 4m people getting away for Christmas by road or rail today
• Signal failure means no trains to Heathrow and long delays to Wales and South-West
• Disruption will continue until at least 3pm as thousands get stranded
• Today is Heathrow's busiest day of the Christmas period with 123,000 people set to fly away
• Fire near Brighton is also disrupting trains to Gatwick
• Floods and landslides causing major problems for trains and cars
• Roads in Scotland and northern England now shut because of flooding
• Most areas of the UK can expect up to 30mm of rain in next two days

Britain's transport network is already in chaos as the busiest day of the Christmas getaway got off to the worse possible start with major disruption at one of London's main railway stations.

A signal failure outside Paddington Station means there are no trains to Heathrow at all and almost every train to Wales and the south-west is delayed by up to an hour; half have been cancelled. This will cause huge problems at Heathrow as the exodus there will peak today, with 123,000 passengers set to depart from the west London airport - if they can get there. Problems at Paddington will continue until at least 3pm as at least four million people all over the UK attempt to get away for Christmas on the busiest travel day of the year.

British Airways and other airlines are fast-tracking passengers running late for their flights at Heathrow to try to make sure they are not left unable to fly. An airport spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘The severe disruption to Heathrow Express services has been caused by problems with Network Rail track and signalling failure. We’ve put extra staff on duty to help keep passengers informed and are sorry for the disruption caused to their journeys.’ She said they are advising passengers to seek alternative routes of travel and have put extra support staff at Paddington telling people what these alternative routes may be.

A fire near Brighton is also affecting rail services to Gatwick Airport. Experts are warning people to leave as soon as they can today to avoid misery on packed trains or traffic jams on the busiest routes. In total up to 15million Britons will take to the roads at some point this Christmas.

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2Fgn96bT9

Awash and go Floods chaos as 15m take to roads in Xmas getaway

THE big Christmas getaway will start amid floods chaos today as 15 MILLION Brits take to the roads. With widespread downpours and more rain expected, motorists’ groups warn that the great escape will be even worse than usual. Traffic will peak this afternoon, the AA says, with tomorrow predicted to be the worst day for travel because of the conditions. More than 50 flood warnings have been issued across England and Wales after an inch of rain fell in 24 hours in some places. Last night the village of Wallington, Hants, was under siege as a flood barrier strained to keep out the rising River Wallington.

Homes were being evacuated after the Environment Agency said cracks had formed in the defences. The South and South West, the Midlands, the North East and south-east Wales were last night being urged to prepare for the worst, with 52 flood warnings and 240 flood alerts in force. Defences were put up in Bewdley, Worcs, and existing barriers were being monitored or added to at Upton-upon-Severn and Shrewsbury, Shropshire, as the Severn rose. Levels were also high on the Cober in Helston, Cornwall, and the Char and Wey in Dorset, while roads were inundated in Nottinghamshire. Train services in Cornwall and Hampshire were affected, while the Heathrow Express from Paddington was halted by a circuit failure.

The AA said it was being called out to more than 1,000 breakdowns an hour yesterday as people tried to drive through floodwaters. Travel blackspots are likely to be the M25, M4 in Berkshire and M5 near Bristol. Spokesman Gavin Hill-Smith said: “It’s a double whammy. We have one of the busiest periods of the year with bad weather likely to cause considerable disruption.â€

http://www.thesun.co...l#ixzz2FgotIeb9

Edited December 21, 2012 by Gavin.

[BLAST FROM THE PAST]

Russia struggling, that says something. Strongest and coldest winter in decades

BFTP

http://climaterealis...true&position=3

Edited December 21, 2012 by BLAST FROM THE PAST

[The PIT]

Russia struggling, that says something. Strongest and coldest winter in decades

BFTP

http://climaterealis...true&position=3

Well instead of nicking all the snow can they send some here.

[Summer Sun]

Rain Sparks Christmas Travel Misery

Britons leaving for the Christmas holiday are battling travel problems as rail failures and floods stall journeys for millions. Heavy rain has sparked flood warnings that are hampering the road network and train services have been crippled. Further downpours on Saturday as many start their holiday are heightening the flood risk, with Christmas Day looking set to be a washout. Some residents in Helston, Cornwall, were evacuated overnight after river levels rose and the Environment Agency warned that widespread flooding was "imminent". The Agency has a severe flood warning in place for the River Cober in the town, and more rain is expected on Saturday - raising fears some families may not be back home for Christmas. Another 90 flood warnings have been issued across the UK, with the south west and Midlands the worst affected. There are another 269 flood alerts. Meanwhile, flooding between Taunton and Exeter St Davids and a signalling problem is causing disruption in the south west.

http://news.sky.com/...s-travel-misery

Christmas getaway faces rain disruption

Rail passengers and motorists are facing further disruption due to signalling failures on the rail networks and continued wet weather. A severe flood warning is in place in Helston, Cornwall, where 190 residents have been advised to leave their homes. First Great Western says rail problems are so severe in the south west of England that they are advising passengers not to travel.

Heavy rain forecast for Saturday is likely to flood roads in many areas. In total, the Environment Agency has issued more than 100 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and more than 280 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, for England and Wales. In Scotland, 12 flood alerts and 16 flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), with Tayside currently the worst affected area. The Met Office has issued amber weather warnings for heavy rain in south west England, Yorkshire and Humbershire, Wales, central Scotland and the Grampians for Saturday and into Sunday morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20822798

Christmas Day 'won't be a white-out'

The Met Office is predicting that the mercury will rise steadily into high single figures, with any snow likely to be confined to the northern Highlands. Ladbrokes have lengthened the odds for snow in London from an optimistic 3-1 a few weeks ago to a “highly unlikely†14-1.

http://beta.dailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk/366513/Christmas-Day-won-t-be-a-white-out

Edited December 22, 2012 by Gavin.

[Summer Sun]

The great (soggy) getaway

Britain is braced for a near two-day onslaught as families hit the roads and high streets for the big getaway and shopping trips. A quarter of the workforce is expected to be travelling today, taking advantage of a five-day break by booking Christmas Eve off. Experts have warned of gridlock on major routes this morning as another bout of wet weather sweeps across the country. As the nation makes the most of the last full weekend before Christmas, forecasters warned fierce storms are gearing up to sweep in from the Atlantic. The entire country is on a heightened alert of flooding from today with the South most at risk and up to five inches of rain likely over the weekend.

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings across much of the UK for heavy showers today and tomorrow and again for the South-west on Monday. Forecaster Sarah Holland said: “There is still a lot of wet and windy weather around over the weekend. “With the Christmas getaway expected to start, people really need to keep up to date with the weather warnings and plan for the conditions.†Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said today will bring an 18-hour deluge. He added: “We are also looking at 80mph winds capable of causing structural damage. “It is looking like a miserable Christmas getaway on the roads.†The Environment Agency has 244 flood alerts and 68 more serious flood warnings in place for much of the UK for the weekend. It warned “successive bands of rain†will bring widespread risk of flooding with “significant disruption to road travel†likely.

http://beta.dailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk/366514/The-great-soggy-getaway

[Summer Sun]

Heavy Rain Sparks Christmas Misery

Families preparing for Christmas have been hit by floods and travel chaos as heavy rain batters Britain. The south west of England has been particularly badly affected by the downpours and four severe flood warnings for Devon and Cornwall are now in place. Some residents in Helston, Cornwall, were evacuated overnight after river levels rose and the Environment Agency warned that widespread flooding was "imminent". There are fears about the River Cober in the town with more rain expected later on Saturday, raising fears some families may not be back home for Christmas. Cornwall Council spokeswoman Trisha Hewitt said: "There is expected to be 30mm of rainfall during a six hour period from 5pm.

"As this is falling on saturated ground, this could cause further flooding." The River Fowey is also subject to a severe flood warning, with another two for the River Caen in Braunton, Devon. Braunton, which is in north Devon, has already been effectively cut off after the river burst its banks. "The public are not attempted to attempt to drive to the town as it is flooded," Devon and Cornwall Police said. There are a further 101 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and another 301 alerts where it is considered possible. Much of Britain saw deluges of rain early on Saturday as millions started the holidays, with Christmas Day now looking set to be a washout. The water has already led to major issues on road and train networks, which will spell trouble for Britons travelling this weekend.

Conditions are so bad in the south west that First Great Western has told passengers not to travel. Flooding between Taunton and Exeter St Davids and a signalling problem are causing major disruption. There are no trains between Plymouth and Tiverton Parkway or Taunton, and a replacement bus service is running from Exeter St Davids to Tiverton Parkway and Taunton.

The other main train problem for the festive period is likely to be engineering work on the West Coast Line. There are no direct services from London Euston to Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool or Glasgow on December 23 and 24. Direct services resume on December 27 but with two of the four lines closed up to and including New Year's Eve.

http://news.sky.com/story/1028993/weather-heavy-rain-sparks-christmas-misery

[Summer Sun]

Floods cancel Christmas! Festive season ruined for thousands as homes are evacuated, heavy rain causes travel chaos and downpour set to last until Christmas Eve

• The Environment Agency has also issued 138 flood warnings and four severe flood warnings - meaning life is at risk
• They have been issued for Helston and Lostwithiel in Cornwall and two for Braunton, Devon
• Residents of Helston have been evacuated from their homes by the police
• Braunton Councillor says newly-built £1 million flood defences have been 'overwhelmed'
• The heavy rain is causing chaos on a number of rail routes and main roads across the UK
• Train operator First Great Western is advising passengers in the south west of England not to travel
• Conditions to deteriorate with forecasters predicted 25mm of rainfall in Cornwall during a six hour period from 5pm

Hundreds of homeowners across the south west of England are likely to have their festive season ruined with forecasters predicting that heavy rain will batter the flood-hit region until Christmas Eve. Many homes have already been evacuated across Devon and Cornwall as the emergency services battle severe flooding in a number of towns. Four severe flood warnings are currently in place for Helston and Lostwithiel in Cornwall, and two for Braunton, Devon. But the situation is likely to deteriorate further this evening with forecasters predicted 25mm of rainfall during a six hour period from 5pm. And despite the rain expected to ease during the day tomorrow, it is expected the region will take another battering of 20mm of rain tomorrow evening and into Christmas Eve.

Steven Keates, Met Office forecaster, said: 'More rain is on its way across the south west and particularly Devon and Cornwall right up into the night and it will only slightly improve in the early hours of the morning. 'We could well see 25mm of rain. The situation needs to be carefully watched as it will obviously not help the flooding situation at all because the ground is already so saturated it cannot take anymore rain.' Christmas travel plans for millions have been left in chaos today as widespread flood warnings across the UK have crippled roads and rail networks.

With much of the country battered by heavy rain overnight, the Environment Agency has issued 345 flood alerts and 138 flood warnings.

The Environment Agency also said there was a heightened flood risk across Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West and East Sussex, south Wales, Ceredigion, Gwynedd and North Yorkshire today. Police have evacuated people from their homes in Devon and Cornwall as rising river levels have resulted in 'numerous properties' becoming flooded. Conditions are so bad in the south west that train operator First Great Western is advising passengers not to travel. The firm said buses were being used to transport passengers between Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth, but the service was hampered by flooded roads.

James Davies, a spokesman for First Great Western, said: 'The problem we have is that the line between Taunton and Plymouth is down. We have road replacement services in place and we are running these as best we can. But obviously the road conditions in the Plymouth area are so poor that the roads are blocked because of flooding. 'When you have a situation were all the transport system is under water then we can only advise people not too travel unless absolutely necessary.' The towns of Helston and Braunton have been most badly affected by the flooding and despite emergency services working hard to reduce the impact of flooding, the situation is expected to deteriorate further this evening. Forecasters have predicted 25mm of rainfall in Cornwall during a six hour period from 5pm.

Braunton has been effectively cut off, with homes and shops under water after the River Caen burst its banks. Surface water began to build as heavy rain battered the region overnight and residents in the town woke to find Caen Street and the A361 under water. Chairman of Braunton Parish Council Liz Spear said newly-built flood defences were overwhelmed by the volume of water that hit the town. 'It's really bad, we had flooding seven years ago, but it was nothing like this,' Mrs Spear said. It's disappointing really because the Environment Agency have just spent over £1 million on new flood defence schemes, two flood defence schemes, this year, but they've been totally overwhelmed, absolutely. 'We've had rain on and off all summer so everywhere is saturated and now we're having our normal heavy rain that we get in the winter and the sponge is already soaked up, it can't take any more.'

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2Fo7OPpk4

[Coast]

Rain brings Christmas travel chaos to UK

Heavy rains brought more chaos to the rail and roads across large parts of England and Wales with flooding the main problem preventing people from completing their journeys in the run-up to Christmas.

The southwest of England and Wales were the hardest hits with rail passengers advised not to travel to some parts and warned of long delays on other journeys.

Floods have closed part of the rail network and made roads impassible with four severe flood warnings, meaning a danger to life, in force – two in Cornwall and two in Devon. Train operators and the Highways Agency were urging people to check before they travel. First Great Western, which operates train services in and out of London Paddington to the southwest of England and Wales, warned that flooding was disrupting services. Trains operating between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads towards Exeter St Davids, Plymouth and Penzance will terminate at either Taunton or Tiverton Parkway in both directions while services due to operate through to or from Penzance will start or terminate at Exeter St David’s.

In Wales, Arriva Trains Wales advised passengers not to travel and said all routes through Cardiff Central were halted due to signalling problems. The rest of the network across Wales was badly disrupted. Services were also severely disrupted in the Brighton area, affecting First Capital Connect, the Gatwick Express and Southern after a fire caused signalling problems.

The rail problems on Saturday followed chaos for travellers in and out of London Paddington on Friday after two fires damaged signalling equipment, which was fixed overnight.

Roads across the country were also hit with motoring groups and the Highways Agency urging drivers to check before they set off, as flooding had hit roads across the country, including the M50 and M60 as well as a number of A-roads. The heavy rain is set to continue until Sunday morning with forecasters predicting a dry, mild Christmas. Sections of the rail network will also close down over the Christmas holiday period as part of planned engineering works. The West Coast mainline will be the most affected with the line closed completely in the Bletchley area on 23 and 24 December. The network closes down every year on Christmas day and there are only very limited services in the London and Glasgow areas on Boxing Day.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de9d8a08-4c3e-11e2-af2c-00144feab49a.html#axzz2FrjmeEvh

[Summer Sun]

BBC weather for the week ahead

Further rain at times