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

US east hopes for last gasp of winter as freezing weather returns

 

Winter-weary motorists faced another treacherous commute Monday in parts of the eastern US as snow and freezing weather blew in just days before the start of spring. At least a few inches of snow were reported in the Washington area and parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey by early Monday. In Washington, crews worked overnight to clear snow, but transportation officials warned that roads were still dangerous. Heavy snow closed Reagan national airport’s runways. Dulles international airport and BWI were seeing many cancelations, but were open. Forecasters urged drivers not to let their guards down and federal offices in the Washington area were closed for the day Monday. In New Jersey, the heaviest snow was reported in the southern part of the state, where many schools were closed or delayed opening.

 

Patience was wearing thin for many. “Never thought of March as being spring. But snow, yeah, I’m over snow,†said Jackie Denham, who was at a grocery store in Alexandria, Virginia, on Sunday. Rain and thunderstorms were expected in the south-east, some of which could be strong. Winter’s return follows several days of spring-like temperatures. With spring officially starting Thursday, people weary of shoveling snow are hoping that the latest storm will be winter’s final encore. Ricardo Contreras, an upholsterer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said he was tired of the winter and had no plans to shovel whatever might fall overnight. “I’ll just let it melt by itself,†Contreras said. Engineer Bill Bingham, heading into the West Shore Plaza in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, for Sunday breakfast, said he was most looking forward to playing some golf for the first time in many months. “I really like the winter, but I’m done with the snow now,†Bingham said. “I’m ready for spring.â€

 

Richard Windsor of Jackson, New Jersey, said he was not that impressed by the new storm system. Several previous storms this season dropped 10 or more inches of snow in the state. “With the winter we’ve had, I’m not worried about an inch or two of snow,†Windsor said as he gassed up his sport utility vehicle Sunday morning. “I figure if I made it through the stronger storms, I can handle this.†Temperatures in many areas are expected to be in tune with spring by Thursday. But forecasters cannot say whether winter weather will finally end. Forecasters said snowstorms are typical through March.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/17/us-east-winter-freezing-weather-snow

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Posted
  • Location: Camborne
  • Location: Camborne

Know which way the wind blows: Journalists need to think more critically about weather maps

 

 

Weather stories are data-driven and quantitative, but they can also be personal and pack an emotional punch — which is why weather maps gone viral can spread wrong information quickly.

Edited by knocker
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Posted
  • Location: Windermere 120m asl
  • Location: Windermere 120m asl

The coldest winter ever and now we have forecasts for the hottest summer ever all thanks to El Nino - no forecasts are predicting a sudden ramping El Nino this summer - where they have got this from I don't know.

 

Also have they got there eyes closed with the prospects from Thursday onwards - warm weather set to last all March - mmm not so.. Suspect these forecasts will go silent over the coming days. I've said it before, they put sensationalist weather headlines on the front page because apparently sales figures go up 10 % whenever they put weather headlines on the front cover - the more sensational and untrue the better. They are always biased to London as well, indeed the way they have been reporting things is that the UK has been two different countries in recent days with the boundary The Wash to the Solent - some would say the country is split on these lines, certainly feels like it when it comes to the medial which perpetually drives such a split.

 

Apart from last Monday- Wednesday which I would describe as very mild, not warm here, the rest of this month so far has been preety average feeling here, certainly not warm and the rest of the month looks decidedly chilly.

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

Winter is back for one last blast as -8c freeze strikes after warm spring weather

 

BRITAIN is braced for one last winter freeze with temperatures set to plummet to -8C. The weather change comes after two weekends of spring sunshine saw people flock to the coast. Gusty winds will sweep the UK towards the end of the week as rain gets set to batter parts of the west. Snow is expected in Wales, the Pennines and parts of Scotland.

 

Baltic Britain will return on Sunday, according to the Weather Channel. It will be -8C in Scotland and -6C in the north of England. The rest of the UK will also feel the weekend cold bite, with the south-west likely to get as low as -3C. The freeze will come after sun-starved Brits thought the winter torment was over. Thousands rushed to buy outdoor equipment last week, eager to set up beach camps and hold barbecue parties. Ikea said sales of garden furniture soared by 35% compared with the same time last year.

 

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/370381/Winter-is-back-for-one-last-blast-as-8c-freeze-strikes-after-warm-spring-weather

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

Spring is here but forecasters predict more winter weather for northern US

 

On the first day of spring, there’s some bad news for a weather-weary America. As much of the country remained in a deep freeze, government forecasters Thursday predicted temperatures will be below normal this spring across the northern US. There’s even a chance of snow on the east coast next week. “This is one of those winters – the gift that keeps on giving,†said Jon Gottschalck of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The persistent cold is delaying any flooding into April in the upper midwest to New England. While major flooding is not expected during the next three months, forecasters said the greatest threat exists in the southern Great Lakes because of above-normal snowpack, thick ice on streams and rivers, and snow on the ground. In the west, parched conditions that have clutched California and the southwest will continue with little relief, the federal government reported in its annual spring outlook. If the drought persists, it’ll likely lead to a busy wildfire season.

 

California is in its third consecutive dry year, forcing some rural communities to ration water and farmers to sell their cattle. “Looking forward, we see little improvement unfortunately in some of the most impacted drought areas,†said Gottschalck, acting operations chief at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Below-average rainfall and snowfall coupled with the upcoming dry season could cause parts of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas to develop drought conditions, he said. While the northern US could see below-normal temperatures, forecasters said it is likely to be warmer than usual along the west coast and across the southern portion of the country. “Soils are going to be slow to warm so I think we’re facing the prospect of delayed planting issues across the northern cornbelt,†said Brad Rippey, meteorologist at the US department of agriculture. Rippey added that there’s no real concern yet on crop production due to late planting.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/20/spring-is-here-forecasters-predict-winter-weather-northern-us

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

Spring is here... but temperatures are set to drop from TODAY in a last wintry blast

 

BRITAIN has just officially passed into spring – but the weather is set to turn distinctly wintry today. The spring equinox yesterday – when daytime and nighttime are equally long – is considered to be the astronomical start of spring. But after three weeks of relatively dry and warm conditions, the nation will shiver in a brief cold snap with temperatures falling overnight to -5C (23F) due to a blast of chilly air from the North. Forecasters warn of heavy rain, especially in the North and along the west coast, with showers likely to last into the weekend. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for ice in Scotland and up to two inches of snow are expected to fall over high ground. In the South it will be a slightly warmer 1C (34F) but there is a risk of overnight frosts nationwide for the next five days.A Met Office spokesman said: “A much colder airmass than of late will spread across the north of Britain overnight into Friday, bringing with it the risk of wintry showers. “Icy patches are expected in places later tonight, especially on upland roads that are wet from showers. These showers will fall as sleet, hail or snow in places, perhaps with more than two inches on some higher routes in the northern half of Scotland.†Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said tomorrow will be cold and windy with the risk of hail, sleet and snow. He added: “There will be fewer showers by Sunday, but parts of northern Scotland could wake up to a covering of snow, even at low levels. “Another cold day everywhere with a widespread frost on Sunday night with rural temperatures dropping to between -2C (28F) and -5C (23F).

 

“It will be unsettled and wet on Tuesday, then showers for the South on Wednesday but the North mainly dry.†However, the outlook for spring is good with May promising some lengthy hot spells. The Met Office predicts “near- or above-average temperatures†for March, April and May due to a weather pattern called the North Atlantic Oscillation which is expected to allow warm air to flood in. Jonathan Powell of Vantage Weather Services, said: “The overall picture is that spring is not looking bad. There is a colder blip on the way after the very mild last three weeks.â€

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/466046/Springtime-has-arrived-with-a-wintry-blast

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

Spring may have sprung but wintry weather is back with showers and even SNOW

 

It may be spring now, but don't get out the barbecues and paddling pools just yet say weather boffins, Spring may have sprung yesterday – but winter is returning tomorrow. Showers and even snow is expected in parts of the country.

So if you got the barbecue out for last weekend’s sizzling spell, you might want to put it back in the shed. Forecasters MeteoGroup said rain is expected across the south and east of England tonight. The rest of the country will remain dry but chilly and there’s a chance of snow over high ground tomorrow. More showers are forecast for the weekend, especially in the north and west. MeteoGroup forecaster Tom Tobler, said: “Wintry showers are forecast mostly over Scotland with snow on the hills. There is also a chance of snow over the Pennines and the Welsh Hills tomorrow night. “It will be chilly in the north and breezy everywhereâ€.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-showers-snow-expected-3266213

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Posted
  • Location: Windermere 120m asl
  • Location: Windermere 120m asl

As suspected a flip in the space of a couple of days when it was all talk of warm weather set to last through rest of March and now talk of winter - where is the creditability.. none. These newspapers are an insult to people's intelligence.

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

Goodbye spring heatwave? SNOW to hit parts of Britain

 

If you got out your barbecue last weekend in the hope it will stay out for spring, you're going to be sorely disappointed, because weather forecasters have warned temperatures are set to drop sharply, and some parts of the UK will even see SNOW. Meteorologist at The Weather Channel, Leon Brown, told Aol Travel: "The weather will turn much colder from this weekend. "A cold front will move south across Scotland and Ireland to northern England and Wales, eventually reaching the south east by Friday. "We could still see temperatures in the south east reach 16C or 17C, but it's going to get a lot colder over the north and nearer 7 or 8C. It'll be windy at first too, with gusts to 60mph across Scotland and northern England, and 45mph in the afternoon in central England.

 

"There will be showers on Friday, especially over the west with snow over the higher parts of Wales, the Pennines and Scottish Highlands. It'll be feeling cold, with gusty south west winds. The showers will be well scattered over eastern and southern England, with temperatures 11 or 12C in the south east and not much above 8C in the west and north. "This weekend will be cold with sunshine and wintry showers. There will even be snow even at low levels in northern Scotland. As pressure builds on Sunday night and winds fall light, temperatures will drop sharply to bring a widespread frost. "Temperatures may dip out to -8C in Scotland and -6C in northern England. Even in the south west temperatures may fall out to -3C. Keep any spring flowers well covered." The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for ice on roads in some parts of Scotland.

 

http://travel.aol.co.uk/2014/03/21/uk-weather-snow-to-hit-parts-of-britain/#!slide=aol_2138592

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

Freak snow and hail storm causes A74M crashes

 

A freak hail and snow storm caused several accidents on the A74M and resulted in a woman and a seven-week-old baby being taken to hospital. Eight vehicles were involved in a series of accidents on the Glasgow to Carlisle motorway just after 20:00 on Thursday. Conditions were so bad that police were forced to close the motorway between Johnstonebridge and Moffat. The woman and baby were not thought to have been seriously hurt. Diversions were put in place and as the damaged vehicles were removed by the emergency services, the motorway was re-opened after about three hours. A Police Scotland spokesman at Dumfries said: "It seems to have been chaos for some time. "We had reports of snow, hail and ice between Moffat and Johnstonebridge and we had to close the motorway both ways for a time."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-26678026

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Posted
  • Location: South Yorkshire
  • Location: South Yorkshire

As suspected a flip in the space of a couple of days when it was all talk of warm weather set to last through rest of March and now talk of winter - where is the creditability.. none. These newspapers are an insult to people's intelligence.

 

If the exact opposite of what they say happens, I hope they resume with all that 'hottest summer ever' nonsense. Whassamatter with these people anyway - are they still on that global warming trip?

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Posted
  • Location: Mytholmroyd, West Yorks.......
  • Weather Preferences: Hot & Sunny, Cold & Snowy
  • Location: Mytholmroyd, West Yorks.......

If the exact opposite of what they say happens, I hope they resume with all that 'hottest summer ever' nonsense. Whassamatter with these people anyway - are they still on that global warming trip?

 

Just wait till the first sniff of the 'super Nino' then LG! They will go into meltdown!

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Posted
  • Location: Camborne
  • Location: Camborne

If the exact opposite of what they say happens, I hope they resume with all that 'hottest summer ever' nonsense. Whassamatter with these people anyway - are they still on that global warming trip?

 

I think you are quite safe LG. As one leading climate scientist said:

 

"Unbelievable that the same species that discovered primordial gravitational waves is also responsible for the Daily Mail".

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Posted
  • Location: South Yorkshire
  • Location: South Yorkshire

Just wait till the first sniff of the 'super Nino' then LG! They will go into meltdown!

 

Well if you don't tell them, I promise I won't either. Then it'll all pass without fuss.

 

* Good one, knocks!

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

After all that rain, it's now officially a drought as parts of the country record 16 dry days in a row

  • Meteorologists in southern England recorded 16-day stretch without rain as parts of country basked in sunshine
  • Temperatures soared to 20C (68F) on two consecutive weekends - with unbroken blue skies for most areas
  • This weekend will be cooler, with the mercury unlikely to rise above 12C (54F) and wintry showers forecast

After the wettest winter on record, it might seem hard to believe. But many of us have been living through a drought for the last fortnight, weather experts revealed last night. Meteorologists in southern England recorded a 16-day stretch without a drop of rain, officially long enough to be classed as a drought. Much of the country has seen an unseasonably warm and dry March. Temperatures have soared to 20C (68F) on two consecutive weekends and there have been unbroken blue skies for most areas. The weather saw families streaming on to beaches while others got out their barbecues. Plant centres said their sales had ‘gone bananas’, as homeowners took advantage of the weather to tidy up their bedraggled and windblown gardens.

 

But that warm spell ended on Thursday night with downpours, and today and tomorrow will be much colder and more unsettled. Dr Roger Brugge, meteorologist at the University of Reading, said a drought is defined as 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain. The university’s weather systems recorded no rainfall at all for 16 days – which the Met Office confirmed was representative of the wider picture across South and South East England. Dr Brugge said it had been the longest spell without rain in March for seven years.

 

‘These dry conditions have prevailed across a large part of England during the past fortnight, due to the persistence of an area of high pressure which has also made March much warmer than average so far,’ he said. ‘But overnight on Thursday 3.5mm (0.14inches) of rain fell in Reading, and more rainfall appears to be likely to fall, albeit mostly small amounts, on and off at times on most days during the remainder of March. ‘So far, 2014 has gone from one extreme to another, from the wettest winter on record to a meteorological drought, although those who are still drying out their front rooms could be forgiven for not noticing.’  Although the 16-day dry period constitutes a meteorological drought, the Environment Agency has not declared an official drought. To declare a drought, the Agency considers river flows, water supply and reservoir levels. Because Britian has had such heavy rainfall this winter, groundwater levels are very high and there are unlikely to be problems with water shortages this year.

 

This weekend will be cooler than recent weekends, with the mercury unlikely to rise above 12C (54F) and wintry showers forecast over high ground in the North. Temperatures will even dip to a frosty -2C (28F) tomorrow night. But forecasters are hoping for a return to the better weather by next weekend. The dry and warm weather of the last fortnight has seen gardeners rushing to beautify their borders. Garden centres are rushing to stock up after showing caution early in spring, with some missing out on early sales after running out of plants. Chichester-based grower Blue Ribbon Plants has already sold out of its annual stock of 300,000 primroses after a huge influx in demand. Walter Back, who owns the company, said he had to throw away thousands of unsold plants this time last year, because the country was still snowbound. Retailers are predicting a boom in vegetable planting this year, after increasing food prices and tight family budgets have seen an increasing number of vegetable plots and allotments. Garden centres say demand is greatest for traditional heritage varieties of fruit and veg, which many supermarkets have ditched in favour of imports.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2586284/Children-enjoy-stunning-fields-yellow-daffodils-basking-sunshine-make-forecasters-predict-10-DAYS-rain-followed-April-showers.html

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

Parts of UK 'in drought' after wettest winter on record

 

After the wettest winter on record, weather experts have reportedly revealed that the UK is now officially in drought. According to the Daily Mail, meteorologists in southern England recorded a 16-day stretch without a drop of rain, officially long enough to be classed as a drought. Much of the country has seen an unseasonably warm and dry March. Temperatures have soared to 20C (68F) on two consecutive weekends and there have been unbroken blue skies for most areas. But that warm spell ended on Thursday night with downpours, and today and tomorrow will be much colder and more unsettled. Dr Roger Brugge, meteorologist at the University of Reading, said a drought is defined as 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain.

 

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-03-22/parts-of-uk-in-drought-after-wettest-winter-on-record/

Drought hits south of England in driest March for years

 

The south of England has swung from the wettest winter on record to drought conditions after one of the driest starts to March in a decade. Parts of the south have seen 16 consecutive days without rain, which counts as a meteorological drought, with temperatures at 20C on two consecutive weekends in some places. Dr Roger Brugge, meteorologist at the University of Reading, told the Daily Mail a drought is 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain. Dr Brugge said it had been the longest spell without rain in March for seven years.

 

He said: "These dry conditions have prevailed across a large part of England during the past fortnight, due to the persistence of an area of high pressure which has also made March much warmer than average so far." He added: "2014 has gone from one extreme to another, from the wettest winter on record to a meteorological drought, although those who are still drying out their front rooms could be forgiven for not noticing." The Environment Agency has not declared an official drought - which is based not just on rain records but also river and reservoir levels.

 

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Drought-hits-south-England-driest-March-years/story-20842155-detail/story.html

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Posted
  • Location: Cleeve, North Somerset
  • Weather Preferences: Continental winters & summers.
  • Location: Cleeve, North Somerset

The problem with this being that the last front before the settled spell began passed early on the 7th, and a small area of rain moved across the south on the 18th - leaving a total of 10 completely dry days between. So no drought unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it.

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

It would take at least another 2 dry winters (i.e 2010-2011 & 2011-2012) before we can even consider another drought.

 

A drier than normal spring and a hot dry summer could speed it up

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Posted
  • Location: Near Romford Essex.
  • Location: Near Romford Essex.

Parts of UK 'in drought' after wettest winter on record

 

After the wettest winter on record, weather experts have reportedly revealed that the UK is now officially in drought. According to the Daily Mail, meteorologists in southern England recorded a 16-day stretch without a drop of rain, officially long enough to be classed as a drought. Much of the country has seen an unseasonably warm and dry March. Temperatures have soared to 20C (68F) on two consecutive weekends and there have been unbroken blue skies for most areas. But that warm spell ended on Thursday night with downpours, and today and tomorrow will be much colder and more unsettled. Dr Roger Brugge, meteorologist at the University of Reading, said a drought is defined as 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain.

 

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-03-22/parts-of-uk-in-drought-after-wettest-winter-on-record/

Drought hits south of England in driest March for years

 

The south of England has swung from the wettest winter on record to drought conditions after one of the driest starts to March in a decade. Parts of the south have seen 16 consecutive days without rain, which counts as a meteorological drought, with temperatures at 20C on two consecutive weekends in some places. Dr Roger Brugge, meteorologist at the University of Reading, told the Daily Mail a drought is 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain. Dr Brugge said it had been the longest spell without rain in March for seven years.

 

He said: "These dry conditions have prevailed across a large part of England during the past fortnight, due to the persistence of an area of high pressure which has also made March much warmer than average so far." He added: "2014 has gone from one extreme to another, from the wettest winter on record to a meteorological drought, although those who are still drying out their front rooms could be forgiven for not noticing." The Environment Agency has not declared an official drought - which is based not just on rain records but also river and reservoir levels.

 

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Drought-hits-south-England-driest-March-years/story-20842155-detail/story.html

 

 

 Yes we are in trouble here: it rained a lot then it stopped.

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

BBC Weather for the week ahead with Nick Miller

 

A typical spring week

 

Chilly easterly breeze but temperatures will be close to normal

 

Showers but nothing prolonged

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4eNY3pukZk&feature=youtu.be

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

Temperatures plunge as warm spring weather makes way for snow and freak hail storms in wintry blast

  • Wintry showers led to a covering of snow in the north including County Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland
  • Two men aged 25 had to be rescued from Snowdon after they got caught up in a snow storm yesterday
  • It comes days after the world's only mute swan sanctuary in Abbotsbury, Dorset, had its first egg of the year

A week of warm spring sunshine came to an abrupt end today as parts of Britain woke up to snow and freak hailstorms. Icicles formed, sheep shivered and residential areas were battered as snow fell in the north while hailstones lashed parts of the south on what is officially the first weekend of spring. Wide parts of Britain had a frosty start this morning with temperatures expected to plummet as low as -3C tonight across parts of northern England and Scotland.

 

Hailstorms surprised residents of Wiltshire and Hampshire this afternoon with some able to collect entire jugs of the balls of ice. Army cadets and horses battled a hail shower at the Gatcombe Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park, the private country home of Princess Anne in Gloucestershire. Meanwhile, two men are recovering after they had to be rescued from an attempt to climb Snowdon. The pair, both 25 and from Walsall, sparked a full-scale emergency after they got caught up in a snowstorm yesterday afternoon.

 

A Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley in Anglesey could not reach them because of cloud, so four members of the Llanberis mountain rescue team were tasked to find the pair. In a two-hour operation, the men, who were cold and exhausted, were helped back down the mountain to safety. A mountain rescue spokesman said: 'They were not carrying the right equipment, such as ice axes, for the conditions and got stuck at an altitude of 2,500ft on the Crib Goch ridge.' The unexpected weather - just two days after the spring equinox - is set to continue today with hail showers predicted in Kent and heavy rain showers predicted in the East Midlands and south east. Otherwise, though, forecasters say last night's snow does not look like it will be repeated, with showers becoming increasingly confined to eastern Britain tonight with any remaining sleet and snow giving way to sunshine and light winds.

 

Most parts of Britain will have a dry, clear and cold night with a sharp frost. Tomorrow rain and brisk winds will spread eastwards but many central and eastern parts of the UK should stay dry with sunny spells.

There will be no return to the warmth that saw people stripping off in parks and on beaches, however, with temperatures not expected to lift beyond 10C for most of the rest of the week. At the world's only mute swan sanctuary in Abbotsbury, Dorset, the animals finished enjoying last week's warm weather just in time - with the laying of the first eggs of the year. The first one was spotted on Thursday by deputy swanherd Steve Groves in a nest close to the feeding area at Abbotsbury Swannery, near Weymouth. Now there are almost 20 as the numbers of swans making nests continues to increase. Scores of swans return annually to Abbotsbury to raise their young, which usually hatch in the second and third weeks of May.

 

The attraction, which has existed for at least 600 years, only opened to the public yesterday for the summer season after struggling through a winter beset by floods. Dave Wheeler, head swanherd for more than 30 years, said: 'We didn't know what to expect because of the terrible floods - the site was submerged twice in February and a lot of things were damaged. 'Last year, the first egg was laid here on April 1 but back in 2012 the first egg was laid on March 14 - so we never can predict timings. 'The eggs are now coming thick and fast. We're not sure if we'll beat last year's total of 100 swan nests, but the first egg has been a good sign of things to come.' Despite the rush of cold weather, so many eggs could prove a good omen, claimed Mr Wheeler. 'Old Dorset legend has it that the day of the hatching of the first cygnet is the first day of summer,' he said. 'If we assume that this first swan spends another week laying eggs, then summer could be just six weeks away.'

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2587241/Blink-miss-Temperatures-plunge-warm-spring-weather-makes-way-snow-parts-country-hit-wintry-blast.html

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

Hotter summers could lead to hundreds of deaths in Britain

 

HOTTER summers caused by climate change could lead to as many as 1,500 deaths in Britain, a study claimed yesterday. As much of the North shivered in wintry showers and snow last week, the report warned that rising temperatures in the South could cause heart or breathing problems. It said the most vulnerable are likely to be people living in the poorer areas of London, such as Hackney or Tower Hamlets where the odds of dying more than double on very hot days. In August 2003, 2,000 people in the UK died due to the excessive heat, according to Met Office estimates. Researchers at Imperial College London predict that a rise of 2C in the average summer temperature will cause about 1,550 extra deaths. But areas in the far north of England and Wales were more resilient, “seeing no increase in deaths at equivalent temperaturesâ€. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, found those over 85 were most vulnerable and women more at risk than men, accounting for 62 per cent of victims.

 

Professor Majid Ezzati, who led the research, said: “The reasons for the uneven distribution of deaths in warm weather need to be studied. “It might be due to more vulnerable individuals being concentrated in some areas, or it might be related to differences at the community level, like quality of health care, that require government action.†Dr Philip Staddon, Research Fellow in Climate Change at Exeter University, said: “Particularly intriguing is that the more resilient areas are located in the poorer North and West, whereas the affluent South-east seems least resilient.† In sharp contrast to sunshine in the South, much of the North was covered in snow at the end of last week. In the first week of spring, race horses and their riders had to make their way through heavy snow in Middleham, North Yorkshire. But the cold snap is not expected to last. Met Office forecasters said after a frosty start today, rain and cloud will arrive from the West and stay for the rest of the week.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/466518/Climate-change-could-lead-to-hundreds-of-deaths-in-Britain-as-summers-get-hotter

   

Giant pumps removed from Somerset Levels as flood water recedes

 

GIANT pumps used to funnel flood water away from the Somerset Levels are set to be switched off and dismantled. A total of 13 Dutch pumps were brought in by the Environment Agency to be used to divert water in a bid to reduce levels in the River Tone and River Parrett. Eight of them were installed at Dunball and five at Beerwall, near Bridgwater. Today the Environment Agency said the "hugely effective" pumps had been so successful at lowering water levels they were "they were no longer needed".  They said plans were in place to dismantle the huge pumps over the weekend and before sending them back to the Netherlands. At the height of the floods the pumps were shifting a staggering rate of 7.3 million tonnes of water a day- enough to fill Wembley Stadium seven times over.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/466454/Giant-pumps-removed-from-Somerset-Levels-as-flood-water-finally-recedes

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

HAILSTONE HORROR: Heatwave interrupted by surprise snow storms

 

BRITAIN’S weather took another twist as hail and snow storms battered some areas on the first weekend of Spring. The big freeze came just a week after some parts of the UK had been hotter than Corfu and basking in 17C (63F) sunshine. The north shivered with temperatures plunging to -4C (25F) last night and giant icicles forming at Teesdale, Co Durham. Thick snow also covered areas of Cumbria and North Yorkshire as drivers battled through blizzards. As far south as Devizes, in Wiltshire, residents were battered by a freak hail storm yesterday morning.

 

Local youngsters played with monster hailstones which fell on the town and even made “hailstone cakesâ€. Weathermen warn that the cold snap will continue to chill the nation this week. A Met Office spokesman said it would stay mainly cold, windy and rainy, with lows of 2C (35F) and highs of 10C (50F). More snow could also be on the way soon. Ironically, Winter officially ended last Thursday which marked the start of the Spring equinox. Bookies are now slashing odds that snow will fall in London, which has already been hit by thunder and hail showers.

 

Ladbrokes are offering 10-1 that the capital will see a flurry before March finishes next Monday. Spokeswoman Jessica Bridge said: “In a matter of days, March has gone from sunshine to snowfall and unfortunately the odds suggest the latter is on the way for the remainder of the month.†Two men aged 25, from Walsall, are recovering after being rescued from Snowdon in Wales.

 

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/371149/Durham-and-Wiltshire-hit-hard-by-unexpected-hail-storms

 
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