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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Now Britain faces ice, eight inches of snow... and more flooding too

 

BRITAIN will be gripped by the big chill this week – with up to eight inches of snow expected in some parts of the country. Freezing gales and blizzards will hit the North, while fierce easterly winds will see temperatures plummet to -5C (23F) in the South by the week’s end. The easterly winds will make it feel closer to -10C (14F) in exposed parts of the North and experts warned of widespread ice and frosts. After snow in hilly northern areas yesterday, the Met Office said a further taste of winter was due last night, with heavy rain gradually turning to snow in Scotland this morning. It issued severe weather warnings for gales and blizzards in the region and urged people to prepare for disruption, with up to eight inches of snow possible over high ground and two inches elsewhere. Forecaster Alexander Burkill said many parts of the UK, including the South, could see a dusting of snow this morning.

 

Temperatures will drop even further by the end of the week as the bitter winds sweep in. He said: “For late Wednesday and Thursday, we are looking at a more easterly flow and it is going to turn noticeably colder.†Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said the weather is about to take an “extreme wintry turnâ€. “This is shaping up to be the first real taste of winter for many places,†he added. Those areas expected to escape the snow are braced instead for more heavy rain, with torrential downpours in some parts of the North and the South-east tomorrow. That comes after parts of Britain were thrown back into flood misery by heavy rain and strong winds over the weekend.

The Met Office issued a level-2 amber warning for rain in Somerset while up to an inch fell across Wales in 12 hours.

 

Storms hit the Midlands on Saturday night and there were reports of “mini tornadoes†in Surrey and Warwickshire. The Environment Agency has issued 129 flood alerts and 12 more serious flood warnings. A pair of hikers were last night recovering in hospital after suffering burned feet and temporary paralysis when lightning struck the ground just yards away. The men, aged 58 and 37, both from Buckinghamshire, were taken by helicopter from Aran Fawddwy, a 3,000ft-high peak in North Wales.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/456262/Now-Britain-faces-ice-8in-of-snow-and-more-flooding-too

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Posted
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)

Now Britain faces ice, eight inches of snow... and more flooding too

 

BRITAIN will be gripped by the big chill this week – with up to eight inches of snow expected in some parts of the country. 

 

Storms hit the Midlands on Saturday night and there were reports of “mini tornadoes†in Surrey and Warwickshire. 

 

Oh Nathan, for someone who professes to be a keen follower of the weather, this latest stuff is beyond funny now.

 

UK weather: Chobham tornado ‘lifts cats into air’ as storms and rain sweep across country, bringing further risk of flooding

 

 

As heavy rain and strong winds continued to cause disruption across the UK and experts warning of an ongoing flood risk into next week, one eye-witness said the extreme weather had claimed some unusual victims – a group of feral cats. Residents in Chobham, Surrey, told BBC News the storm which swept across Kent, Sussex and Surrey yesterday afternoon whipped up a tornado so powerful that “shattered†buildings.

 
The Met Office issued an amber warning ahead of severe weather across the southwest today, and a band of heavy rain has now moved across the country to the east. UK Power Networks said yesterday’s storm left around 13,000 homes without power, and stable owner Shirley Blay described a “mini-tornado†which was lifting roofs. “My granddaughter went to make some food up for the pony and the shed she was in lifted,†she told BBC News. “She jumped out of it and it just shattered, it was thrown backwards and broke into four pieces. “We've got four feral cats in the yard and they were being lifted off the ground, they just went round like a big paper bag.†Ms Blay added that none of the people or animals involved were injured during the storm.
 
Meanwhile, Somerset County Council has declared a “major incident†for all areas affected by flooding in the county. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said Environment Secretary Owen Paterson would be visiting the Levels on Monday morning. The chief forecaster for the Met Office said: “More heavy rain will spread east across the area on Sunday. Given the current disruption on the Somerset Levels, the public should be prepared for further flooding.â€
 
They added that rain across the UK would be accompanied by strong winds, and rainfall accumulations of 10 to 20mm were expected. The Environment Agency said that communities across southern England should prepare for possible flooding tomorrow through to Tuesday. A spokeswoman said: “With the ground already saturated, rivers and groundwater levels remain very responsive to rainfall, particularly on the Somerset Levels. “Environment Agency teams continue to operate up to 62 pumps 24 hours a day to drain an estimated 65 million cubic metres of floodwater off an area of the Levels spanning 65 square kilometres.â€
 
There is also potential for further river flooding across the south west and southern counties. The risk of flooding from groundwater continues in parts of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, West Berkshire and Surrey into next week. In Somerset, boats are now the only method of transport between some villages, which residents have dubbed “islandsâ€. Tina Backwell told The Independent: “It started out as a nuisance for the adults and a bit of fun for the children, but it really has gone on far too long now. “Other towns have built new homes or got flood defences. Where has all that water ended up? Here, that’s where.†The council said it was campaigning for an “effective long-term solutionâ€.

 

 

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-weather-tornado-lifts-cats-into-air-as-storms-and-rain-sweep-across-country-bringing-further-risk-of-flooding-9086092.html

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

From the Exacta (ish) Weather twitter account (the Exacta Weather mickey taking account)

 

STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES..

 

STAY INDOORS..

 

LIVES ARE AT RISK..

 

WINTER HAS ARRIVED!!!

 

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Blizzard Warning Amid Fears Of More Floods

 

Motorists and commuters have been warned of ice, sleet and snow as well as hail and thundery showers, with temperatures expected to plummet to around freezing across the UK. And amid warnings of heavy rain, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson admitted the Government could have done more to help residents in parts of the country worst-affected by flooding - and that dredging of some rivers in the county should have happened. It means more misery for flood-hit areas with some communities in Somerset - where the council has declared a "major incident" - facing a fourth week under water. Mr Paterson was visiting Northmoor Green in the county where he held crisis talks with council chiefs and farmers whose crops have been devastated by the recent stormy weather.

 

Facing tough questions from furious locals on the official response to the flooding, Mr Paterson told Sky News: "How shocking it is for people to be flooded and I really do appreciate the impact floods have had on people ... they are quite right to be angry." He acknowledged the national guidelines on dredging were not appropriate for the Somerset Levels, large parts of which are below sea level. In defence of the Environment Agency, Mr Paterson said it had protected a million homes and was "working incredibly hard". He said he had asked local officials to present him with "a very clear action plan" within six weeks to enable him "to make a categoric decision once and for all" on a "long-term serious plan" for the area for the next 20 years.

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1201480/blizzard-warning-amid-fears-of-more-floods

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

'They found £31million for a BIRD SANCTUARY but won't pay £5million to dredge the river': Environment Secretary Paterson arrives to face the music as South West faces yet more flooding

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2546712/Environment-Secretary-Paterson-arrives-face-music-South-West-faces-flooding.html

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Posted
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)

Is the irony of this from last year only seen by me?

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/444385/Long-range-UK-weather-forecast-warns-snow-storms-and-Arctic-winds-could-last-SIX-months

 

Long-range forecasts now point to winter 2013 now being the worst for more than 60 years

 

 

From a totally different perspective, this is actually fast becoming the worst Winter for 60 years!!! :lol: 

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

A walk on the mild side... winter, 12 months on: Photos show the difference after warmest December for 25 years

 

With raging storms causing widespread flooding and power cuts, this winter did not make a quiet entrance. But as far as the thermometer is concerned the season has barely arrived at all. Last month was the warmest December since 1988 and the unusual temperatures have continued into January. The conditions are in stark contrast to this time last year when much of the country was blanketed by snow.  The Met Office confirmed it has been one of the mildest winters for years, with barely a frost in most areas since November. The warm and wet weather has seen daffodils and snowdrops already flowering in southern England, birds beginning to nest across the country and hedgehogs and bats waking up early from hibernation.

 

Barring a dramatic change, spring is already on its way. Last year the three months of winter - December, January and February - averaged 3.3C (38F). With the exception of 2011/12, which averaged 4.6C (40F), every other winter since 2007/08 has been colder than the average. The winters of 2009/10 and 2010/11 were particularly chilly, with average temperatures of 1.6C (35F) and 2.4C (36F) respectively.

But January temperatures this year have so far averaged 5.1C (41.2F), 1.5C higher than expected. December was even further from the norm at 5.7C (42.3F), 1.8C above average. If there is no cold snap before the end of the month, January is on track to be the mildest since 2007, placing it in the top ten warmest since records began in 1910.

 

Met Office spokesman Laura Young said: ‘It has been mild because most of our weather this winter has come from the West. The air comes across from the Atlantic and it warms up as it blows across. It is the same westerly wind that makes it stormy and wet.’  She added that an area of high-pressure cold weather which has been sitting above Scandinavia for the past three weeks could later bring a cold spell to the UK – but so far it has shown no sign of moving.  'It has been very mild,’ said Laura.  ‘But we are so far only half way through winter and that could all change. ‘Just a few weeks of cold weather will really bring the averages down. ‘Over the last few weeks we have returned to a pattern of colder nights and warmer days, whereas in December there was little change overnight.’ 

 

Matthew Oates, wildlife specialist at the National Trust, said the mild weather is playing havoc with wildlife. Animals that should be hibernating are being woken by the warm temperatures, using up their energy supplies, birds are nesting and preparing to breed, and plants and trees are flowering early. ‘Where is Winter?’ Mr Oates said. ‘We need some cold weather to slow everything down. ‘The problem is that everything is getting going already, but if there is a cold snap later it will not be prepared for it.’ More warm and wet weather is expected tomorrow. The Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain in parts of the South West on Friday, but a spokesman said this will  be extended to ‘much of southern England and some areas could see steady rain over a 12-hour period’.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2544261/A-walk-mild-winter-12-months-Photos-difference-warmest-December-25-years.html#ixzz2rbCibLcd%C2%A0

Edited by Summer Sun
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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

UK weather: heavy downpours on the way

 

Flooded areas in the south of England are on alert for further downpours as more rain is forecast to hit Britain’s already swollen rivers in the next 24 hours. There are more than 130 flood alerts and 14 more serious warnings in place in parts of the south which have been drenched by the storms since Christmas - causing roads to be closed, cutting off power and forcing some out of their homes. Up to one inch (25mm) of rain is forecast to fall in the south east and south west on Tuesday, where people are already struggling to cope with the consequences of the storms in the last few weeks. Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, announced that a new plan will be drawn up to deal with floods in the south west in the next six weeks after he met farmers and residents in the Somerset Levels who complained that a lack of dredging had made flooding even worse.

 

The Environment Agency said areas in the South and South West are at medium risk of flooding over the next three days. Most of the country is expected to see showers throughout Tuesday, as well as thunderstorms and hail. Higher ground in Scotland and Wales are also likely to see some snow. Temperatures are forecast to reach around 42.8F (6C) before they start to dip to below freezing for the beginning of the cold snap on Wednesday, which could bring ice and snow into Thursday across the east of the country as cooler weather from Scandinavia sweeps in. Some areas of Scotland and Wales have already reported snow, and on Sunday night a light dusting was reported as far south as Salisbury in Wiltshire. This later turned to rain because of the already saturated conditions on the ground. By Friday the mercury is expected to rise again to temperatures of around 43.7F (6.5C).

But the warmer weather will bring even more wet conditions, creating further risks of flooding.

 

Nicola Maxey, a forecaster at the Met Office, said: “Another heavy band of rain is coming through on Friday afternoon into Saturday morning. “As we look ahead into the weekend the weather is forecast to be unsettled.†England was hit by a month’s worth of rain in the first 15 days of January and bookmakers have already slashed odds that 2014 will be the wettest year ever in Britain. Councils have stockpiled 1.4 million tonnes of salt in preparation for the icy conditions on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a survey of highways bosses by the Local Government Association. This found that as temperatures are predicted to fall this week, local councils have gathered more grit than last year. Earlier this month the Government announced it will be giving an additional £6.7 million to help councils deal with repair bills which have reached more than £400 million for damage caused by the storms in recent weeks. Tens of thousands of homes were also left without power over Christmas as rain and winds lashed the country.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/10599521/UK-weather-heavy-downpours-on-the-way.html

 

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Posted
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)

Extreme weather in 2013 leads to an increase in RNLI rescues

 

Floods and soaring temperatures led to a difficult year for lifeboat crews with a jump in the number of call-outs. Lifeboats were launched 1,127 times (up 13%), with 1,155 people rescued (up 23%) and 49 lives saved, said the RNLI. The busiest station was Rhyl in Denbighshire, which rescued 64 people, including those helped during the devastating floods in December.

 
The charity also said it was concerned about "numerous" calls to rescue people being swept out on inflatables.But the RNLI said it was "extreme weather" that really put crews to the test. "With soaring temperatures and floods no one can deny that 2013 was a challenging year due to the weather," said Colin Williams, RNLI regional operations manager. "As well as the rise of lifeboat launches across the coast, the charity's flood rescue team also had an eventful year as they assisted other emergency services in December 2013, helping to evacuate 25 people and their pets from their flooded homes in Rhyl."
 
Other incidents included:
  • St Davids and Angle lifeboat crew helping a sinking vessel off Skomer with 48 passengers on board
  • Abersoch lifeboat crew rescuing two stranded fishermen off rocks
  • A dolphin being escorted back out to sea by Flint RNLI
  • Another problem identified by the charity was an increase in the popularity of pleasure craft.
 
"Please take the time to make vital checks before heading out to sea," said Mr Williams. "Taking a step back to make these checks could be enough to save your life." Stuart Thompson, south Wales RNLI lifeguard manager, said lifeguards were also kept busy last year, not only responding to incidents on the beach but offering advice to help prevent beachgoers from getting into danger. One particular concern was the number of incidents in which people were swept out to sea on inflatables, he said. "If the orange windsock is flying you'll see there is an offshore wind - this is a sign that it's not advisable to take an inflatable on the water," he added. Whitmore Bay, Barry Island, was the busiest RNLI lifeguarded beach in 2013, with lifeguards responding to 221 incidents and helping 236 people.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25918719

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Now it will be floody freezing! Snow and icy winds follow deluges

 

A WEEK of snow, ice, torrential rain and floods is set to hit Britain as the winter chaos carries on. Temperatures will plunge from tomorrow with freezing winds making it feel like -10C in parts. Hardest hit will be the North and East although there will be harsh frosts and the risk of wintry showers everywhere. Even regions which dodge the worst of the wintry blast face stormy conditions and downpours which will add to the flood misery. Forecasters said a wet western front from the Atlantic will meet a blast of Siberian cold air – and trigger a mixture of heavy rain, sleet and snow. The Met Office issued a severe weather warning for rain in the North for the next 24 hours and across parts of the South today. It said: “A band of rain and hill snow will become slow moving across Tayside and North-east Scotland and will persist into Wednesday. “This will fall on saturated ground. With rivers already high there is the risk of localised flooding.â€

 

Met Office spokeswoman Nicky Maxey said temperatures will fall as cold easterly winds sweep in tomorrow, with around 4C (39F) during the day while overnight lows will dip below freezing. She said: “It is going to turn colder and showers could be heavy, turning wintry over high ground. It is looking unsettled towards the weekend and into next week, with more showers, some of which could be wintry. “There is also a risk of strong winds or gales particularly in the North.†Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, said snow could last into the start of next month. He said: “There is going to be a gradual slide towards colder weather and feeling bitterly cold all week. Most places will see snow or heavy rain.†The Environment Agency still has 137 flood alerts and 14 more serious flood warnings in place. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution said lifeboats were sent out 8,304 times last year, with bad weather a major trigger. The boats launch in rivers and also help with flood rescues. Local councils said yesterday they have 1.4 million tons of salt stockpiled in readiness for a big freeze.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/456506/Now-it-will-be-floody-freezing-Snow-and-icy-winds-follow-deluges

Edited by Summer Sun
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Posted
  • Location: Manchester Deansgate.
  • Weather Preferences: Heavy disruptive snowfall.
  • Location: Manchester Deansgate.

LOL,  On sky sports news the GFS was just mentioned for the superbowl forecast, this woman said it was a reliable model. Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image

 

 

 

 

I hope Steve Murr wasn't watching, he would have put a brick through the screen.

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Posted
  • Location: Carryduff, County Down 420ft ASL
  • Location: Carryduff, County Down 420ft ASL

Has thon fruitcake Madden explained why the ice flows haven't turned up yet?, or is he simply going to say that he meant Winter 2014 and not Winter 2013?

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington
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Posted
  • Location: Redbourn,Herts AL3. 122M ASL
  • Weather Preferences: Hot summers, Storms and epic cold snowy winters
  • Location: Redbourn,Herts AL3. 122M ASL
El Niño monitoring system in failure mode.News Release Jan 2014.

 

Please follow link to read full article.Interesting read.

 

http://www.nature.com/news/el-ni%C3%B1o-monitoring-system-in-failure-mode-1.14582

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Posted
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)

Scotland’s weather: Heavy snow expected on Friday

 

THE Met Office have issued yellow weather alerts, warning of potentially “atrocious†conditions on Friday as forecasters expect snow to sweep across Scotland. While the rest of the UK is will be whipped by further gales and torrential rain, snow fall at low levels will hit Scotland.

 
Met Office forecaster Gordon McKinstry said: “We’ve issued a yellow alert this morning for some potentially very poor conditions coming in from the west on Friday. In Scotland it will be a very different beast from the rest of the country, It has the potential to fall at some very low levels - at this point is very difficult to say at what level and by what amounts but it certainly has the potential to cause travel disruption throughout the whole of Friday.â€
 
Mr McKinstry said that the snow would affect almost the whole of Scotland with only the Moray Firth and Inverness area likely to escape the worst of it. He said: “Anyone travelling south from there could find the conditions quite bad, and certainly the Central Belt could be quite bad.â€
 
The snow is expected not to last the day, though, moving out into the North Sea before night. But it will be replaced by gales and heavy showers - falling as snow in the mountains - driven on by a deep low coming in from the Atlantic.

 

 

http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/scotland-s-weather-heavy-snow-expected-on-friday-1-3284643

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Posted
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)
  • Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (work in Mid Sussex)
Heavy rain and gale force winds forecast for WHOLE of UK this week - with flooded areas hit hardest
 
Every part of Britain will be hit by heavy rain showers later this week - bringing flooding in areas recently affected by poor weather, forecasters have warned. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for large parts of Britain warning of heavy rain and strong to gale force winds. Forecasters said areas which had recently been affected by flooding are likely to be affected again.
 
In a statement issued today, the Met Office said: "The public should be aware of possible disruption, primarily due to further flooding, chiefly in areas already, or recently, affected. "Everywhere will get heavy rain on Friday, pretty much the whole of the UK will get some form of rain shower. "Twenty to 30 millimetres of rain is a fair amount but it is not huge - but coupled with the saturation on the ground, people need to be aware. "We are talking about strong winds as well and there will be reduced visibility on roads when driving."
 
Forecasters said the poor weather will be caused by a deep area of low pressure spreading eastwards across the country on Friday Parts of Northern Ireland, the south coast of Wales, south west England and the south of England for Friday have been issued with severe weather warnings. Between 20 to 30 millimetres of rain is forecast with up to 40 millimetres on some high ground in the south west of England and south Wales. The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong to gale force winds.
 
The warning comes as the MeteoGroup weather company forecaster said England and Wales could be on course this month for twice the average rainfall for January.
 
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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Vicious 48-hour Storm Brigid to bring new chaos to the UK

 

A FIERCE weather front hurtling towards Britain has put the nation on storm alert. Gales and a deluge are set to pile on more flood misery. The relentless winter lashing shows no signs of letting up as Storm Brigid is set to sweep in from the Atlantic and deliver a 48-hour battering this weekend. Forecasters say no area of the UK will escape the onslaught of heavy rain, with hail, sleet and snow expected on high ground.

They predict the gales – with gusts of up to 90mph – and downpours will continue next week. Up to two inches of rain is expected on Friday but the worst of the storm – named after one of the patron saints of Ireland – is due to hit on Saturday. The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for torrential downpours and strong winds in the South this weekend. There is also an alert for snow in Scotland and the North on Friday with strong winds likely to whip up blizzard conditions. Chief forecaster Frank Saunders said: “Another very deep area of low pressure will spread heavy rain and strong to gale force winds eastwards across the UK during Friday.†He said areas with saturated ground were “particularly sensitive†to further heavy rain.“The public should be aware of possible disruption, primarily due to further flooding, chiefly in areas already or recently affected,†he said. The Environment Agency has issued 135flood alerts and 14 more serious flood warnings. It said that further heavy rain could have a “significant impact†for the badly-hit Somerset Levels for the next three days, and even next week. Hambledon in Hampshire was also singled out as under threat of more flooding. Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said heavy rain will set in onFriday before the entire country is lashed by fierce gales, torrential rain and thunderstorms at the weekend. He said: “This is potentially a very significant weather system. We will be calling this Storm Brigid, since it will hit Ireland first on February 1 [st Brigid’s Feast Day in Ireland].†The storm warnings come as Britain is braced for a short blast of bitter winter weather from Siberia. The mercury could plunge to -4C (25F) in the North today and tomorrow while the South will barely get above freezing. There is a nationwide Met Office warning for ice today and tomorrow as sodden roads turn into lethal ice rinks. Jonathan Powell, of Vantage Weather Services, said: “It is going to be bitterly cold into Thursday with widespread frosts and ice on the cards. Then we are expecting another violent Atlantic storm system from Friday with a weekend of severe gales and torrential downpours ahead. “We could see gusts of up to 90mph and two inches of rain. The ferocity of this weather system is on a par with the devastating storms over Christmas.†Forecasters say England is on course for the wettest winter in history if the downpours persist. So far around eight inches have fallen since the beginning of December with several more expected by the end of next month. The average is nine inches. The record for the wettest winter was set in 1914-15 when 16 inches fell in England over three months. Funerals have been postponed in some areas because the heavy rain has made the ground unstable for burials. In Dibden, Hampshire, a spokesman for the parish church said: “Sometimes we have to take the difficult decision, in consultation with the family, to postpone the burial for a short time until the ground is more suitable. This is not something which only affects Dibden and is an issue for many churches right across the country.â€

 

WEST COUNTRY A 'DISASTER' AREA

 

DECADES of neglect of flood defences haveturned parts of the West Country into a “disaster areaâ€, an expert said yesterday. Jean Venables, chief executive of the Association of Drainage Authorities, said current flooding in the Somerset Levels could have been avoided. Ms Venables said on BBC Radio 4: “We’ve got a 20-year backlog of inactivity and it is very, very urgent that rivers are dredged.†She was speaking a day after Environment Secretary Owen Paterson met furious  local residents whose homes have been underwater for three weeks and hinted he is likely to bow to pressure to dredge two local rivers.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/456709/Vicious-48-hour-Storm-Brigid-to-bring-new-chaos-to-the-UK

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  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Rare Winter Storm Takes Aim At Southern US

 

Southerners are bracing for a rare winter storm that threatens to bring snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures to a region more accustomed to air conditioners and sunscreen. Residents from Texas to Virginia have been stocking up on fuel and groceries, schools and offices have closed, and road crews were at the ready. The winter storm that would probably be no big deal in the North all but paralysed the Deep South, where folks have little experience driving on snow and ice. Atlanta highways instantly became clogged with commuters who left work at the first sign of snow on Tuesday, and snowploughs that hardly ever leave the garage were sent rolling through the city. Georgia State University student Alex Tracy was amused as he watched the weather-induced gridlock in downtown Atlanta.

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1202549/rare-winter-storm-takes-aim-at-southern-us

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Posted
  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Drowning in misery: Homes flooded for a month, vast tracts of farmland wrecked, lives put on hold... all because of staggering incompetence

  • Huge swathes of the Somerset Levels have been under water since Christmas
  • Now experts say Environment Agency's decision to stop dredging rivers had created 25-square-mile 'disaster area'
  • Two key Somerset rivers are so silted up that their capacity is down 40 per cent, meaning water is unable to run to sea

Furious flood victims last night accused officials of gross incompetence and abandoning them to the elements. They said they feared the ‘worst was yet to come’ in the Somerset Levels, huge stretches of which have been under water since Christmas.  Experts backed up their claim that the Environment Agency’s decision to stop dredging key rivers had created a ‘disaster area’ covering 25 square miles. The agency has instead spent £20million on a coastal nature sanctuary, and run a programme encouraging farmers to flood their fields to promote birdlife. The Government has accepted that dredging has to resume, but Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith refuses to accept responsibility for the plight of beleaguered residents. And he infuriated homeowners by saying his staff had been ‘working their socks off’. The Labour former minister, who is on £100,000 a year for a three-day week, insisted dredging would not have solved the problems.

 

Two key Somerset rivers – the Tone and Parrett – are so clogged up with silt their capacity is down 40 per cent. Large volumes of rainwater cannot run to the sea and instead the rivers burst their banks. But neither the Government or the Environment Agency has come up with the £4million to restart the dredging. The agency has offered just £350,000 – leaving the county council and charities to find the rest of the money. Yesterday Julie Shovel, 52, a veterinary nurse, said she and her husband Malcolm, 54, had only just finished repairing the damage from last year’s floods when the Levels deluge started at Christmas.

 

‘The Environment Agency are sat in their ssemolinay offices not listening,’ she said. ‘They should have listened to us when we told them there was a problem last year but nothing has changed. They think they know best but they don’t.’ The Met Office is warning more rain is on the way, with another deep area of low pressure due to arrive on Friday. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said on Monday that officials had failed to properly stop the flooding, and that dredging should restart in Somerset. Demanding that a new action plan be drawn up within six weeks, he said that national guidelines which stopped regular dredging of rivers in the 1990s were ‘clearly not appropriate’ for the Levels.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547737/Drowning-misery-Homes-flooded-month-vast-tracts-farmland-wrecked-lives-hold-staggering-incompetence.html

 

 

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  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Weather: Floods Feared As Insurance Bill Rises

 

Residents in parts of the South West are preparing for more flooding as fresh warnings are issued and more showers forecast. The Environment Agency has issued some 24 flood warnings and 151 flood alerts, mostly in the South East and South West. Residents have been advised to take immediate action in areas including the River Severn and Severn Ham, Lower Frome from Dorchester for Wareham, the South Winterbourne Valley and the River Yeo from Yeovil to Langport. More showers were expected across England and Wales today although forecasters said they should clear by this afternoon. It is also forecast to be cold and icy across parts of Scotland. Tomorrow, rain is also expected to spread across the Republic into Northern Ireland and there will be more patchy rain for southeast England The weather warnings come as it is revealed insurance claims from the floods and storms over Christmas and the New Year could reach £426m.

 

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that between 23 December 2013 and 8 January 2014, insurers dealt with some 174,000 claims for damage to homes, businesses and cars. Aidan Kerr, ABI spokesperson said: "Insurers are playing a crucial role in helping customers affected by the storms and floods recover. "Together with loss adjusters, insurers reacted quickly to help flood victims get through Christmas. Insurers will continue to work closely with customers to ensure the repair process is completed as soon as possible. "This was a traumatic event for those affected, and shows the importance of having adequate property insurance. The insurance industry is fully prepared to deal with the damage caused by bad weather like this." The Environment Agency has advised claimants to request insurance pay for repairs that will better protect properties from flooding in future. Claimants should also mark the height of flood water on the wall with a permanent marker in all flooded rooms and take pictures of property damage.

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1202796/weather-floods-feared-as-insurance-bill-rises

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  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

UK weather: Whole of Britain warned to expect storms as January rainfall set to double average

 

The whole of Britain has been warned to expect more storms towards the end of the week, with ground conditions in the wake of previous bad weather making more flooding all but inevitable. Forecasters said there would be heavy rain “everywhere†from Friday, as experts said England and Wales looked set to hit double the average rainfall for January. Up to 40 millimetres of rain could fall in parts of the south west of England and south Wales, and it will be accompanied by strong to gale force winds spreading eastwards across the country. Today Britain woke up to a cold snap, with the mercury not expected to reach much higher than 5C and temperatures set to feel more like -7C in some areas tomorrow.

The Met Office has now issued a severe weather warning for rain and snow on Friday, going into the weekend, and issued a statement saying: “The public should be aware of possible disruption, primarily due to further flooding, chiefly in areas already, or recently, affected.â€

 

A spokesperson said: “Everywhere will get heavy rain on Friday, pretty much the whole of the UK will get some form of rain shower. “Twenty to 30 millimetres of rain is a fair amount but it is not huge - but coupled with the saturation on the ground, people need to be aware. “We are talking about strong winds as well and there will be reduced visibility on roads when driving.†An Environment Agency (EA) spokeswoman said: “A low pressure system combining with high tides could cause some coastal flooding around England on Friday and over the weekend. Strong winds and large waves will increase the risk of spray and wave over-topping in coastal areas during this period and some disruption from coastal flooding is possible.†She added there was likely to be further flood advice issued in the coming days. The agency currently has more than 150 alerts and 25 more serious flood warnings in place across England and Wales.

 

“The country has faced an extraordinary combination of weather conditions over the last six weeks and our thoughts are with those communities that have, and in some places continue to, experience flooding,†she said. It’s more bad news for residents of the Somerset Levels, who told visiting Environment Secretary Owen Paterson on Monday that they were living in “third world†conditions, with “overflowing†septic tanks and water in their homes. Mr Paterson promised that a new plan to deal with flooding in the region would be drawn up within six weeks, which would “almost certainly†involving a project to clear the clogged Parrett and Tone rivers.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-weather-whole-of-britain-warned-to-expect-storms-as-january-rainfall-set-to-double-average-9092557.html

 

Deep South in winter storm emergency

 

The US Deep South, a region used to sultry weather and hurricane warnings, is preparing for a severe winter storm. States of emergency have been declared in the southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. As many as 50 million people across the region could be affected in a winter storm over the next two days. Many schools in the region are closed and road crews are at the ready. About 3,000 flights were grounded by weather on Tuesday.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25932429

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  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Weather expert accuses Met Office of 'warm bias' in getting annual predictions wrong 13 out of the last 14 years

  • BBC's Paul Hudson said nearly every annual global forecast was wrong
  • Wrote in his blog that all the incorrect predictions were 'on the warm side'
  • The Look North weatherman said the Met Office blame lack of Arctic data
  • Met Office spokesman agreed they had 'incomplete global coverage'
  • Richard Lindzen told MPs that climate change 'might not be problem'

The Met Office has got every annual global forecast so far this century wrong, bar one, a BBC weatherman said. Paul Hudson, a forecaster for BBC's regional programme Look North, said the Met Office's predictions had been wrong for 13 years out of the last 14, and said the incorrect predictions had all been 'on the warm side' rather than too cold. He said on his BBC weather blog that they had predicted the global temperature in 2013 would be 0.57C above the 1961-1990 average temperature of 14C, when in fact it was only warmer by 0.49C. Mr Hudson, a trained meteorologist with 20 years' experience, said the global average temperature for 2013 meant that: 'So far this century, of 14 yearly headline predictions made by the Met Office Hadley centre, 13 have been too warm.'

 

He added: 'It’s worth stressing that all the incorrect predictions are within the stated margin of error, but having said that, they have all been on the warm side and none have been too cold.' He said the 2013 annual temperature also meant that another Met Office prediction, that half the years between 2010 and 2015 would be hotter than the hottest year on record (1998) was wrong already. The forecaster, who previously worked for the Met Office, wrote:

 

'The Met Office believe one of the reasons for this ‘warm bias’ in their annual global projections is the lack of observational data in the Arctic circle, which has been the fastest warming area on earth.They also suggest another reason why the global surface temperature is falling short of their projections is because some of the heat is being absorbed in the ocean beneath the surface.' A Met Office spokesman said: 'There is evidence that incomplete global coverage of the available temperature observations may have led to an under-representation of regions that were unusually warm.' Climate change sceptic Professor Richard Lindzen yesterday told MPs that whatever they were doing to counteract 'climate change', the only difference it would make would be to the country's economy.

 

He said: 'Whatever the UK is deciding to do vis-a-vis climate will have no impact on your climate.  It will have a profound impact on your economy. 'So you are making a decision to take a problem which might not be a problem, take actions which you know will create problems and feel you have done the right thing.', the Times reported.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547950/Weather-expert-accuses-Met-Office-warm-bias-getting-annual-predictions-wrong-13-14-years.html

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  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

US Deep South snow storm maroons motorists

 

Thousands of people were left stranded overnight on motorways, in schools and churches as a snowstorm spawned traffic chaos in the US Deep South. Airports and roads were closed as five states declared emergencies. Military vehicles were deployed to aid stuck motorists and to reach those in need of food and water. Barely 3in (7.6cm) of snow caused havoc in a warm-weather region where many cities do not even have snow ploughs or fleets of salt trucks. Hundreds of road accidents were reported, a number of them involving lorries jackknifing on highways. Despite ample weather warnings, school officials waited until the middle of Tuesday when snow was already falling to send students home on routes where traffic was grinding to a halt. Nearly 8,000 students across Georgia and Alabama spent the night in school gyms or on buses, reports ABC News.

 

Many commuters abandoned cars along jammed motorways to seek shelter in churches and fire stations. Gridlock on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia, was so bad that a police officer had to deliver a baby on a snowy motorway. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said on Wednesday morning that the National Guard had sent military Humvees on to the city's motorways to move stranded school buses and provide food and water to people. A school bus flipped over as it was driving students home amid dismal weather near Asheville, North Carolina. Motorists were instructed to stay off roadways in the US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where states of emergency were declared. "Residents should not overreact but should make plans now to ensure they are prepared for prolonged freezing conditions and icy roadways," Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant told US media.

 

At least five people were killed due to weather-related accidents in Alabama on Tuesday. New Orleans' main airport, which was closed on Tuesday, has reopened with a reduced service. Some 1,700 flights across the US were grounded on Wednesday. State legislature activities in South Carolina were also cancelled due to weather. The latest cold snap stretched across much of the US on Wednesday, sending temperatures as low as -34C (-30F). The extreme weather also brought out many Good Samaritans, who offered food and shelter to strangers battling the elements. "I got some tea from some kids, from them and their mom," stranded motorist Rebekah Cole told CNN amid a then-10 hour commute in Atlanta.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25949795

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  • Location: Camborne
  • Location: Camborne
Parts of England see wettest January since records began
Area of England from east Devon to Kent and inland to Midlands has seen twice its average monthly rainfall, with more forecast
 
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  • Location: Darlington
  • Weather Preferences: Warm dry summers
  • Location: Darlington

Troops FINALLY arrive in Somerset: Relief at last for flood-hit communities as Navy moves in to begin rescue mission

  • Red Cross volunteers bring fuel, food and heavy supplies to Muchelney, which has been cut off since Christmas
  • David Cameron vows that dredging of rivers Tone and Parrett will begin as soon as possible to alleviate flooding
  • Experts say Environment Agency's decision to stop dredging rivers had created 25-square-mile 'disaster area'
  • Two key Somerset rivers are so silted up their capacity is down 40 per cent, meaning water cannot run to sea
  • To dredge 2.5-mile section of rivers Parrett and Tone - two key rivers on the Somerset Levels - would cost £4m
  • EA pledges £350,000, Wessex Flood and Coastal committee £300,000 and council £800,000, so £2.5m still remains

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547737/Drowning-misery-Homes-flooded-month-vast-tracts-farmland-wrecked-lives-hold-staggering-incompetence.html

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