Weather in the general media (Newspaper features etc)

[Coast]

Even London is braced for snow as Britain shivers in temperatures 'colder than the South Pole' and Army is put on standby Department of Health issues weather alert as freeze poses significant health risks. Forecasters warn 'it's going to be pretty cold' with temperatures in some rural areas as low as -11C

Forecasters warned today that extreme cold will grip the country over the next few day with the possibility of snow even in London and the south. The Met Office upgraded its cold weather alert to level three at the beginning of the week, which means 'severe' conditions. Some areas have been told to expect temperatures of minus -11C and the Army has been put on standby should conditions get even worse.

Around four inches of snow and ice are forecast for parts of the country due to a high-pressure system over Scandinavia which is pushing raw eastern winds towards the UK. Record low temperatures in Eastern Europe have caused dozens of fatalities with 43 dead in Ukraine alone, where the mercury dropped to -33C. Paul Mott, forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: 'The nights will be really cold throughout the week and there will be the occasional snow showers over the eastern counties of England, eastern Scotland and even London.'

Mr Mott said the mercury could plummet to as low as -10C in rural parts of central England on Thursday night, with average day time readings only reaching 3C-4C. BBC Radio 5 Live said temperatures could fall as low as -11C. MeteoGroup forecaster Clare Allen said: 'We've got an easterly wind bringing snow showers off the North Sea. Most areas of the UK will see daytime maximum temperatures of 2C and 3C. London will be a maximum of 4C, so it's going to be pretty cold.'

Devon and Cornwall have already felt the brunt of the bad weather. Police in the two counties have warned motorists not to travel unless it is essential after snowfalls on Exmoor and Dartmoor. The icy blast meant staff at Luton Airport had to defrost a fleet of easyJet planes yesterday before passengers could get on, as temperatures dipped below freezing at the airport in Bedfordshire. It warned that low temperatures can be especially dangerous for the young and the elderly or those with chronic disease.Health chiefs have also started warning that as a result of the freezing conditions, more than 1,500 people a week could be killed by the weather.

The Department of Health's Chief Medical Officer said that around 1,560 people, many elderly, would die due to cold weather each week between now and March in normal winter weather. That figure will rise 'substantially', however, due to extreme cold like that we are currently experiencing.

During last year's big freeze, the death rate in England and Wales shot up by 21 per cent from 9,220 a week to 11,193. Dame Sally Davies said: 'Mortality rises by 19 per cent in winter months in England, amounting to 27,000 excess deaths or 1,560 more people per week compared with the rest of the year. And very severe weather can substantially add to this death toll.'The majority of UK deaths are among older people, especially women, and those with underlying health problems - but they are not people who would have died anyhow at that time.' The military have been put on alert should conditions deteriorate to a Met Office level 4, which means a 'major cold weather incident'.

When freezing conditions struck in 2010, members of the armed forces were called in to help clear snow from the roads and assist residents in particularly hard-hit areas. Mobilised soldiers will also help clear special locations such as doctors’ surgeries, care homes and hospitals. The cold spell breaks what has so far been one of the warmest winters on record. Forecasters said it was becoming increasingly likely that the freezing temperatures would stick around and even last through the whole of February. There are fears that the sudden onset could bring travel chaos and catch many drivers off guard. AA spokesman Luke Bodett said: ‘We have had a very mild winter so far and motorists need to get into their winter mindset from today. It is going to be important not to charge around in the way they may have been used to and be prepared for the unexpected.’

The Met Office has briefed government departments and local councils about the cold period so that extreme weather plans can be put on standby. Meanwhile, well-prepared residents in a Cornish village have bought their own snowplough and gritter after they were cut off for a week in a blizzard during previous winters. The Badgall and Laneast Action Group (Blag), have raised £2,650 to buy the plough and mechanical salt spreader. Two farmers in the area have been designated to operate them during heavy snowfall. Blag said residents 'voted with their pockets' after being cut off during the last two winters.

http://www.dailymail...South-Pole.html

[lorenzo]

Fail

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16852429

[Dorsetbred]

Just looked at Metchecks 7 day outlook and I know it's warming up, but 19C. What is that all about

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/7days_icons.asp

[> mark]

METO warnings have just been issued :-D

[Rob K]

Just a heads up to snow fans - today's Times comes with the "Eureka" science supplement which this month is about snow. Looks an interesting read. Haven't been through it yet but there are features on the future of snow with AGW (yes I know...), avalanches, ski racing etc.

[Crepuscular Ray]

Just looked at Metchecks 7 day outlook and I know it's warming up, but 19C. What is that all about

http://www.metcheck....7days_icons.asp

I think they have a problem with their 6.am. forecasts in particular... according to them it's supposed to be 15C in Shetland at at that time tomorrow!

[The PIT]

Embarrassing listening to the news today. It's tropical compared to December 2010 and certainly tropical compared to Europe who having proper deep cold. I guess when I go walking this weekend I'll need a shot gun to kill the polar bears, a couple shovels and a good blade to make my igloo.

Only one of my ponds has begun thinking about freezing and the bird bath finally froze today.

Anyway hoping for a bit of white stuff this weekend and at least I should be able to find some.

[rob48]

Like the way he differentiates between climate scientists and proper ones:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100133247/children-just-arent-going-to-know-what-sun-is/

[La Bise]

James Delingpole...I don't think you need saying anything more...

[syed2878]

The worrying thing is that those papers are quoting people from health department. I beleave that a statemen from the gov health department and u.k met should be made to put their side of the story.t

[Coast]

Britain shivers at -11C as cold snap brings snow

Temperatures plunged to minus 11C today as Britain braced itself for more bitterly cold conditions ahead of a spell of snow this weekend.

Chesham in Buckinghamshire recorded a temperature of minus 11C at 5am, and forecasters expect a maximum of 2C across the UK during the day. It comes after the Met Office raised fears for the elderly and ill by issuing its first country-wide Level 3 Cold Weather Alert of the winter. The alert, which is the second most serious, is tied in to the Government's Cold Weather Plan and are relayed to organisations such as Age UK, which help the elderly through winter.

Meanwhile, severe weather warnings are in place until Sunday, with icy conditions expected in parts of the England today and snow forecast in Wales, south-west Scotland and much of England tomorrow. Tom Tobler, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association said: ''Most places will see temperatures of no more than 1C or 2C today and a few won't get above zero. ''By tomorrow morning there's some patchy rain and snow arriving in north-west UK. ''It will move south eastwards during the day, bringing quite a lot of snow with it. ''There could be several centimetres in much of the country, except for some western areas where it will turn more readily to rain. ''The snow should clear through Sunday, although we might see a bit more in the South East in the morning.''

With temperatures this week as low as minus 6.2C in Pershore, Worcestershire, minus 6.1C in South Farnborough, Hampshire, and minus 5.7C in Hurn, Dorset, the Cold Weather Alert is expected to remain in force until the weekend. The Met Office said: ''This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.'' The only higher alert is Level 4, which sees normally healthy people at risk from the cold. Across Europe, popular travel destinations are even worse off, with bleak temperatures such as minus 14C in Berlin, minus 17C in Prague, minus 8C in Paris, minus 13C in Stockholm and minus 20C in Warsaw.

Britain's deep freeze has seen daytime temperatures plummet four or five degrees lower than average for February - traditionally the coldest month of the year. While the sub-zero temperatures continue, a new shelter has opened for rough sleepers in the capital, funded by London Mayor Boris Johnson and run by homeless charity St Mungo's. Plans are in place throughout the winter to ensure the 24-hour shelter in Lambeth is open and ready to receive people whenever three consecutive nights of freezing temperatures are predicted.

The AA said it was 80% busier than normal and yesterday expected to attend more than 17,000 breakdowns as the cold caused a surge in flat batteries.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/9058395/Britain-shivers-at-11C-as-cold-snap-brings-snow.html

[Methuselah]

I was on tenterhooks thismorning, as LBC were about to provide an 'expert' appraisal of the coming weekend's meteorological potential...Unfortunately, said 'expert' was none other than Piers Corbyn. But he did criticize the MetO's weather warnings!

Why don't the media consult meteorologists!

[Coast]

Why don't the media consult meteorologists!

Because some people will turn up for the opening of a can of beans http://cdn.nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png

[Coast]

Best to stay in the warm! Weekend travel chaos looms with big freeze sweeping across the country… as last night’s temperature fell to -11C

• Drivers told to pack cold weather provisions before setting off
• AA reports massive increase in the number of breakdowns
• Temperature plunged to -11C in Buckinghamshire last night

Drivers must take extra precautions before venturing out on the roads as Arctic conditions tighten their grip across the country, the AA warned today. The breakdown service has told drivers to double check their vehicles and pack cold weather provisions, including food and warm clothes, before setting off. It has also reported a massive increase in the number of breakdowns over the past few days, as the cold takes its toll on roads and cars. Last night temperatures in the UK plunged to minus 11C, after forecasters yesterday issued a nationwide cold weather alert.

Chesham in Buckinghamshire recorded a temperature of minus 11.1C (12F) at 5am, while the mercury fell nearly as low in areas including the South West, Wales, Yorkshire and Northumbria. Forecasters were expecting a maximum of 2C (36F) across the UK during the day, and warned that snow is on the way tomorrow. It comes after the Met Office raised fears for the elderly and ill by issuing its first country-wide Level 3 Cold Weather Alert of the winter. The alert, the second most serious, is tied in to the Government's Cold Weather Plan and has been relayed to organisations such as Age UK, which help the elderly through winter.

Meanwhile, severe weather warnings are in place until Sunday, with icy conditions expected in parts of the England today and snow forecast in Wales, south-west Scotland and much of England tomorrow. Gavin Hill-Smith, a spokesman for the AA, warned drivers against 'complacency' if they are planning to take to the roads this weekend. 'Unfortunately some people are still going out rather ill-prepared,' he told MailOnline today. 'We have got very cold temperatures and I think that is going to continue over the weekend. People should be very well prepared. 'We have seen a massive increase in breakdowns over the past few days because of the cold weather. You don't need to have snow and ice to cause problems.'

Mr Hill-Smith said anyone making journeys by road should make sure they check weather and traffic reports before leaving, pack extra clothes, and make sure they bring along high-calorie snacks in case they get stranded in the cold weather. 'It's worth as well if you are visiting friends and family then tell them when to expect you,' he added. Drivers should check over their vehicles before leaving home, paying particular attention to windscreen wash, tire pressures and snow and ice covering the windscreen. In the past few days, Mr Hill-Smith said, many breakdown call outs had been to drivers who had got into their vehicles and tried to use the wipers to clear windscreen.

This had led to blades becoming damaged by sharp bits of ice or even, in the worst cases, the motors burning out trying to drive wipers stuck to the windscreen.

Tom Tobler, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association said: 'Most places will see temperatures of no more than 1C or 2C today and a few won't get above zero. 'By tomorrow morning there's some patchy rain and snow arriving in north-west UK. 'It will move south eastwards during the day, bringing quite a lot of snow with it. 'There could be several centimetres in much of the country, except for some western areas where it will turn more readily to rain. 'The snow should clear through Sunday, although we might see a bit more in the South East in the morning.' Around two inches of snow covered Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in white yesterday, while in the Pennines, fences and phone masts resembled ice sculptures. The east of the country will again be covered in snow today and the South-East, Midlands and North will be hit tomorrow afternoon.

The Met Office said up to four inches of snow could fall over the weekend across much of England and Wales, with southern and central areas likely to see the worst of it. Freezing weather has been sweeping towards us from eastern Europe where temperatures plummeted to -30c (-22f) this week and up to 150 have died. A level three ‘amber’ cold weather alert - the second most serious - was issued, which warns of health risks to the elderly and vulnerable, and the likelihood of disruption to transport. Level four 4 would mean a 'major cold weather incident', in which normally healthy people are at risk from the cold. The alerts are tied in to the Government’s Cold Weather Plan and are relayed to organisations such as Age UK, which help the elderly through winter. The military have been put on alert should conditions deteriorate to a level four.

When freezing conditions struck in 2010, members of the armed forces were called in to help clear snow from the roads and assist residents in particularly hard-hit areas and help clear special locations such as hospitals and care homes. Paul Gundersen, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: ‘We are expecting an area of snow to develop across a good part of England and perhaps east Wales late on Saturday and into Sunday, although the timing and extent is still rather uncertain. ‘Milder air moving in from the west on Saturday will come up against the cold air from the east, and this battleground is likely to see rain, sleet and snow across the UK.’ Temperatures are unlikely to go above 2c (36f) today and will plunge to -5c (23f) at night in cities and -10c in rural areas, with the same happening tomorrow night. Milder weather coming in from the Atlantic will see a thaw in the South-West and Wales on Sunday when daytime temperatures could reach 9c (48f). But freezing conditions will persist in the East into next week.

Temperatures have hovered around zero all week but took a dive yesterday to a low of -9.4c (15f) in Shap in Cumbria, and -6c (21f) in parts of Worcestershire, Hampshire and Dorset, with some snowfall. Michelle Mitchell of the charity Age UK said that the elderly can be unaware how seriously their body temperature has fallen in the cold weather. ‘Low temperatures raise blood pressure, which puts people at a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as increasing the likelihood and severity of flu and other respiratory problems,’ she said.

February is traditionally the coldest month with a daytime average of 6.3c (43.3f) and night-time low of 0.6c (33f), but temperatures are expected to stay well below average all weekend. Retailers reported that shoppers have been stocking up on salt, grit and warm clothing for the first time after three months of relatively mild weather. The Highways Agency told drivers to take care on all motorways and A-roads. Its 500-strong gritting fleet is gearing up for its busiest week of the winter and it has already spread 60,000 tons of salt. The extreme cold has continued to bring misery for the nation’s motorists. Yesterday, the number of breakdowns reported to the AA was around 1,700 every hour.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095955/Snow-warning-Weekend-travel-chaos-looms-big-freeze-sweeping-UK.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[Summer Sun]

SNOW CHAOS: RED ALERT ON THE FREEZE AS BAND OF COLD WEATHER SWEEPS IN

HEALTH officials were on standby last night to take action as snow and a killer winter blast hits Britain The bitterly cold weather will see temperatures plunge to -12C (10F) today while tomorrow will bring up to four inches of snow. The Government is preparing to issue a severe Level 4 cold alert because of the risk to life.

Forecaster Netweather warned heavy snow could lead to traffic disruption from tomorrow as two “battling†weather fronts from east and west meet. It said: “It is looking increasingly likely that parts of the UK will see a spell of significant snowfall over the weekend as a weather front moves in off the Atlantic and bumps into the cold air across the UK. “A spell of snow is likely across many areas during Saturday as the front moves in. It will turn back to rain across western and north-western areas.â€

Forecasters say the cold snap could last until the first week of March. James Madden, of Exacta Weather, said: “February is when I feel we are likely to see the most severe part of this winter. A cold start to spring is also possible, with some especially heavy and widespread snowfalls.†After a brief mild spell mid-month, he said temperatures would fall to below average again, bringing school closures and more transport chaos.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/299771/Snow-chaos-Red-alert-on-the-freeze-as-band-of-cold-weather-sweeps-in

SNOW WARNING: CHILLER KILLER TO HIT UK

SNOW and ice will bring death and havoc to Britain this weekend. Temperatures have already plunged as low as -9.4C and the bitter weather is set to worsen. Snow and ice will cause travel havoc this weekend as Britain freezes. The UK endured its coldest temperature of the winter yesterday as vicious Siberian winds blew in from the east. The mercury fell as low as -9.4C in Shap, Cumbria during the night. Prime Minister David Cameron is set to call a Cobra meeting – of MPs and emergency services heads – to help deal with a rocketing death rate as extreme cold sets in.

Forecaster Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook added: “This is the coldest week of winter so far and if you are travelling, keep checking local forecasts and travel information.†The Met Office is briefing the Cabinet Office, Department of Health and other Government departments about health risks.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/233383/Snow-warning-Chiller-killer-to-hit-UK/

Mercury plunges to -11C as cold snap bites UK

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/02/03/mercury-plunges-to-11c-as-cold-snap-bites-uk-115875-23733436/

Brrrritain shivers in -11°C freeze

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4106389/Brrrritain-shivers-in-11C-freeze-with-snow-forcecast-for-Saturday.html

[Coast]

Coldest day of winter expected as frozen UK to hit -12C and six inches of snow forecast

Britain's whiteout weekend will deliver up to six inches of snow and ice this weekend with temperatures falling to -12 and windchill making it feel significantly colder.

The Met Office said snow will deliver what is expected to be the biggest and most widespread snow dump of winter. Saturday is expected to be the coldest day of winter, with -12C temperatures due in the early hours feeling like -15C due to bitter windchill. The majority of England will remain at 0C or lower all day - but feeling like -6C in Siberian winds. Transport chaos is forecast, with widespread ice and snow lying until at least Monday, while weekend sport faces postponements, including football and horse racing. Twitter users have reported frozen canals and lakes, while other tweeters dug out toboggans ready for a weekend of sledging.

Friday night was due to see widespread -6C to -8C lows, with a new record winter low of -12C in places, a severe frost and up to two inches more snow from Kent to The Wash. The Met Office issued an amber “be prepared†warning for today (Sat) for almost all of England bar the south-west and far north, predicting between two and four inches of snow between 12noon and midnight. Most other parts of England, Wales and southern Scotland are on yellow alert for an inch to two inches of snow.

The snow will start in the west and move east - with all parts including in low-lying areas due to be affected. A third yellow warning was issued for almost all of England and Wales for snow to continue overnight until tomorrow lunchtime. (Sun) Independent forecasters Netweather and Weatherquest both predicted up to 15cm of snow in parts of the midlands and east. Today (Sat) is also expected to be the coldest day of winter, with the Met Office forecasting that most of the country away from the south-west will remain below 0C all day.

The snow is expected to lie until Monday at least, with widespread ice and freezing fog making for nightmare travel conditions. The Met Office said windchill is making temperatures feel colder than they are - meaning overnight -12C temperatures were feeling like -15C.

Forecasts said windchill will double this afternoon (Sat), taking 6C off how temperatures feel, making most places feel sub-zero as 30mph wind gusts hit England, with up to 45mph on Irish Sea coasts and in Scotland. Tonight (Sat night) will be less cold at -4C due to cloud cover - but feeling like -10C due to windchill. A sheep watches as it stands in snow that has settled on Dartmoor Met Office forecaster Dave Britton said: “Temperatures fell to their lowest level this winter in many places on Thursday night. “Friday night was due to see temperatures fall to -6C to -8C in many places, and perhaps as low as -11C in rural areas. We could even see temperatures as low as -12C.

“Windchill is also affecting how temperatures feel. It affects the body and makes temperatures feel several degrees or more colder than they actually are.â€

Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwhite said: “Snow amounts are likely to peak in central and eastern parts on Saturday night, with 10-15cm possible in places, perhaps more on hills. “Travel disruption is very likely, although there is uncertainty over which areas are at highest risk. “At least the snow will encourage people to venture out by sledge rather than by car.†Independent Weatherquest forecaster Dan Holley tweeted: “Expecting 15cm of snow in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire on Saturday night.â€

http://www.telegraph...w-forecast.html

[greybing]

I was on tenterhooks thismorning, as LBC were about to provide an 'expert' appraisal of the coming weekend's meteorological potential...Unfortunately, said 'expert' was none other than Piers Corbyn. But he did criticize the MetO's weather warnings!

Why don't the media consult meteorologists!

I think thats unfair and judgemental as i am also being judgmental.Piers Coryn has his ideas concerning meteorology,he may actually be an astro- physicist but he believes he knows his stuff as do mteorologists.Come to rhink of it Piesrs is concerned with long term weather so you may be right.Sorry. Edited February 3, 2012 by greybing

[Summer Sun]

The Beeb expect the cold to return to all parts during next week the snow and ice risk returns too

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/feeds/16889574

[A Winter's Tale]

I'm ashamed of the BBC describing the cold spell and snow event as a big freeze. Leave the Sun, Daily Express and Daily Mail to over dramatise.

[Coast]

Heavy snow disrupts travel across much of Britain

Heavy snow has brought disruption to many parts of Britain, with road closures and flight cancellations. Up to 16cm (6in) of snow fell in some areas, and icy conditions have prompted warnings from the Met Office. The M25 was shut in both directions between junctions 23 and 25 after an accident overnight, while on the M40 about 100 vehicles were stranded. A third of flights from Heathrow have been cancelled and some trains and Tube services disrupted.

Snow fell over parts of Scotland, Wales, northern England and the Midlands on Saturday before sweeping down to London and East Anglia. Church Fenton, in North Yorkshire, reported 16cm (6in) of snow, contributing to more than 60 accidents on the region's roads. Rain or sleet is forecast once the snowfall eases on Sunday morning, but then clear skies will lead to widespread icy patches forming across much of England and Wales, the Met Office said, advising people to "be prepared".

In other developments:

There were warnings of icy roads after 5cm of snow fell in parts of Scotland In Wales, treacherous driving conditions were reported in the Brecon Beacons and heads of valleys A 35-year-old woman was taken to hospital with hypothermia after being rescued from a frozen lake in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday evening There were several incidents in Surrey overnight, including a car that ran into the back of ambulance in Ashford The AA warned motorists to pack shovels, warm clothes, snacks and fully charged phones

Heathrow operator BAA said on Saturday it was cancelling one-third of Sunday's approximate 1,200 flights to "minimise disruption". Air passengers at London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have been advised to contact their airline for more information about flights on Sunday. At Luton Airport 10cm of snow fell overnight and its runway was closed for a period, causing three departing flights to be cancelled. But so far there have been no cancellations for Sunday, although the majority of flights are delayed for an hour or more. British Airways said it would allow passengers scheduled to fly on Sunday to re-book for journeys between Monday and Thursday. Stansted airport in Essex closed on Saturday night for a period to clear snow from its runway, while Birmingham Airport said it had been clearing snow from the airfield and runway. Leeds Bradford Airport has warned of delays or cancellations.

Richard Scott, from BAA, said because Heathrow operated at capacity, there was no slack in the system to deal with the reduced number of flights that could take off and land in bad weather. He added: "If you can imagine you're driving, you have to drive slower, leave more space for the car in front in fog, strong winds, snow. It's the same with aircraft. "If we don't proactively cancel flights, the delays build and build and build and it's much worse for passengers."

On the roads, Thames Valley Police said as many as 100 vehicles were stationary on the M40 between Junction 4 High Wycombe and Junction 9 Bicester for several hours and snow ploughs were brought in to help clear the roads. Motorist Katie Jones told BBC News she had spent hours sitting in her car on the M25 in Hertfordshire. "We were stationary for about seven and a half hours. We passed cars abandoned in the side of the road, having crashed off. We passed lorries jack knifed across two, three lanes of the motorway and it's been impassable in large part." Treacherous driving conditions will continue on Sunday

Transport for London said several Tube lines were hit by suspensions or delays because of the weather late on Saturday. This included the Central Line, where passengers became stuck on a train that broke down between Snaresbrook and South Woodford and say they were asked to walk 15 minutes down the tracks to the next station.

'Dangerous cocktail'

The RAC's Kevin Andrews said heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures would create "a dangerous cocktail of driving conditions" and urged drivers to stay at home where possible. BBC Weather forecaster Alex Deakin said there was still some snow falling across East Anglia and the South East, but it would stop falling quickly after dawn. He added the main concern for Sunday was icy roads. February has seen daytime temperatures plunge four or five degrees lower than average over the past few days, and cold conditions are likely to continue into the early part of next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16892848

[Summer Sun]

Latest from WeatherOnline

Valid from 30/11 to 27/12 2011

Cold much of February

Issued: Saturday 4th February 2012

Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling & Captain Bob

Winter has thrown down its heavy cloak on whit upon the Continent; it may be a while before it is removed?

The winter forecast has been premised upon the idea that although 'late', the winter would have a notable 'sting', I believe this has may have been vindicated at least in part, much of Europe suffering much worse than here in the UK. The anticyclonic block responsible for the wintry weather appears to be holding at least in the short to medium term, thereafter there appears to be indications that it'll reposition to the north or northwest, keeping the conditions here in the UK and the cold and at times unsettled 'bag'? I have a feeling that this rather cold and wintry spell may extend well into the latter stages of February before relenting in early March.

*10/02/12*

High pressure looks as if it'll be holding fast to the east through the period maintaining the rather cold and wintry feel to the conditions feeding a continentally sourced air mass through all areas of the UK. Cold and frosty overnight with some freezing fog patches too, clearing to a crisp cold sunny day, lingering in prone areas with low cloud and a raw feel to the day. Not entirely dry beneath this anticyclonically influenced regime, some wintry showers appearing along exposed eastern coasts and always the threat of enhanced showery activity should lines of showers run through on an easterly drift.

*12/02/12 - 18/02/12*

It is here where I believe the anticyclonic block is removed from the east but relocated closer to the UK perhaps to the northeast or north, destabilising the general and overall pattern into one orientated from the northwest or north, still with the balance swung into the wintry ballpark? Showers or longer spells of unsettled weather, sleet and snow for many, rain fo western areas, the chill accentuated by the strength of the wind too.

*19/02/12 - 25/02/12*

High pressure reasserts here and one final spell of rather settled and quite wintry conditions falls over the UK, a large anticyclone drifting slowly south-easterly from the north or northwest. There'll be a return of frosts and fog to all areas during the overnight period. Clearing into pleasantly sunny days, perhaps feeling a little 'warmer' given stronger late winter sunshine and light winds? As the high slips southeast into the near Continent, a light southwesterly flow may establish firstly across northwestern Britain then remaining areas as the month comes to a close, becoming less cold later with increasing cloud ahead of patchy rain through western Britain.

*26/02/12 -05/03/12*

High pressure remains a large feature to the southeast of the UK, however with a southerly drift establishing across all areas temperatures will be recovering gradually, a modified Mediterranean sourced flow establishing. Pleasantly sunny in most areas with perhaps the signs of spring warmth at last being noted.?

Simon & Capn Bob

http://www.weatheron...ad&DAY=20120205

[Summer Sun]

GAS PRICES SOAR AS UK FACES WHITEOUT

LARGE parts of Britain face a total “whiteout†today as freak weather conditions created the “perfect†winter storm. Millions will be waking up to a hefty layer of snow this morning after wet weather from the Atlantic collided with the freeze that has gripped the country for the past week. The unusual combination of biting cold temperatures, as low as -12.4C (9.68F) in Oxfordshire, and a 300-mile weather front moving in from the west is expected to leave a deep blanket of snow along a belt stretching from London to Newcastle. Met Office forecasters have issued an amber warning, the second highest level, to alert the emergency services to the increase of health risks to vulnerable people and a major disruption to transport.

Europe has already been paralysed by some of the worst weather conditions as temperatures plunged to as low as -40C in the Ukraine, Romania and the Czech Republic, claiming more than 220 lives. The freezing conditions have seen snow falling in Rome for the first time in two decades. Until yesterday, Britain had escaped the worst of the 2012 Big Freeze, but just after lunchtime snow fell steadily across parts of Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Derbyshire. Driving conditions on some routes were described as “hazardousâ€. Prime Minister David Cameron has asked to be briefed by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, the Cabinet Office’s emergency planners, about the threats posed by the cold weather in coming days.

http://www.express.c...-faces-whiteout

BRITAIN COLDER THAN ARCTIC

BRITAIN was colder than the Arctic yesterday as temperatures plunged to –12.4C in some parts of the country. Up to six inches of snow fell in central, eastern and south-East England prompting severe weather warnings. And millions faced travel chaos as icy roads, freezing fog and the heavy snowfall combined to create havoc. Air passengers face problems at the UK’s busiest airport today after bosses cancelled one-third of all flights from London Heathrow.

They said that the decision had been taken to minimise disruption. Flights from other UK airports also faced being grounded. The Highways Agency warned drivers to make only essential journeys as the severe conditions created gridlock on the roads. A spokesman, said: “If you must travel, be prepared for bad weather by checking travel bulletins and taking warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade.†The AA revealed it attended 14,000-plus call-outs yesterday – compared to its usual Saturday average of 8,400. Sports fans also had their weekend ruined as a host of football fixtures and race meetings fell foul of the elements. Casualties included the Championship clashes at Portsmouth and Doncaster and racing at Ffos Las, Sandown and Wetherby. Experts warned the big freeze was also putting lives at risk.

http://www.dailystar...er-than-Arctic/

Snow-go Britain! UK hit by up to six inches leaving hundreds stuck on M40 (and Heathrow cancels flights BEFORE flakes even fell)

Over six inches of snow fell yesterday and throughout the night bringing travel chaos to parts of Britain, with 100 vehicles stranded on the M40, huge tailbacks on the M25, hundreds of flights cancelled and severe disruption to train and Tube services. With most of the UK on amber alert, the Met Office's second highest severe weather warning, a string of sporting fixtures were also hit by the big chill. Flurries fell over Scotland, northern England and the Midlands yesterday before moving down to London and East Anglia.

http://www.dailymail...-stuck-M40.html

Snow hits Britain and causes chaos

The big freeze gripped ­Britain yesterday with the coldest day of winter so far – and Heathrow Airport grounded almost a third of flights before a single ­snowflake fell. As temperatures tumbled as low as -12C and up to 15cm of snow was dumped on parts of the country, furious air passengers were left stranded. Heathrow’s Spanish-owned operator BAA triggered anger after cancelling around 200 flights at 2pm yesterday - even though snow wasn’t due for another two hours. The decision means that flights of up to 18,000 travellers could be rescheduled or cancelled as the big freeze grips Britain. The cancellations brought back bitter memories of Christmas 2010 when Heathrow shut for five days. BAA spent £32million boosting its snow plough fleet after a damning report. But last night one runway was closed and planes were only allowed to land, with none taking off. Stansted, Luton and Birmingham airports also closed last night as temperatures dropped. A spokesman for Heathrow said: “We deeply regret any disruption caused to passengers by the cold weather.

http://www.mirror.co.../#ixzz1lW9gvlT2

Snow-go Heathrow

MUCH of Britain woke up to a blanket of snow today after the big freeze brought dumps of up to 16cm - meaning a THIRD of flights out of Heathrow were axed today. The extreme weather also caused mass road and rail disruption with many motorway drivers forced to spend a freezing night in their cars as the snow brought traffic to a standstill. Although the worst of the snow will move eastwards, swathes of the UK have been placed on amber alert, with the Met Office warning of icy conditions. Flurries fell over Scotland, northern England and the Midlands yesterday before moving down to London and East Anglia. Church Fenton in North Yorkshire and Wattisham in Suffolk recorded 16cm of snow, while up to 15cm was forecast for parts of Cumbria, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, North Yorkshire, the Peak District and the Midlands.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4109436/Snow-go-Heathrow.html

[Coast]

Britain faces a month of weather chaos as snow wrecks travel plans

Britain is facing a month of snow, ice and freezing temperatures after the first Big Freeze led to cancelled flights at Heathrow and treacherous conditions on the roads.

• Heathrow cancelled half of flights after it stopped snowing
• Coldest temperature overnight in Yorkshire at 16.5F (-8.6C)
• Big Freeze could last until end of the month, says Met Office

Forecasters have warned the biting temperatures, snow showers and overnight frosts could last until the end of February as the first spell of wintry weather took hold of the country. Parts of the UK woke up to lying snow of up to five inches (14cm) this morning while the coldest temperature of 16.5F (-8.6C) was recorded overnight in Church Fenton in North Yorkshire. Heathrow Airport faced questions last night as to why half of all flights were cancelled hours after it stopped snowing. BAA, the Spanish-owned airport operator, incurred the wrath of passengers after 600 flights were grounded at Heathrow despite just three inches of snowfall, disrupting the plans of as many as 18,000 travellers.

This morning, the airport was operating its normal flight schedule but warned of a backlog of cancellations. Schools and roads were expected to be affected as the country returns to work today. The Met Office said the rest of the week would be cold for most parts of the country. "Most of England and Wales will be staying relatively settled but cold. The biggest risk is hard overnight frost and freezing fog," said Steven Keates, Met Office forecaster. "It looks as if this cold snap will last two or three weeks and this weather system looks as though it will erode from the west in the second half of February."

The disruption was in stark contrast to airports across Europe where, despite record low temperatures, flights took off as normal. In Germany, no airport had to shut even though Munich saw temperatures plunge to -27C. In Stockholm only six of 350 flights were cancelled. Copenhagen had four inches of snow but no disruption. In contrast, by Saturday afternoon BAA had already cancelled a third of flights nine hours before any snow had fallen in a pre-emptive plan to avoid the chaos of previous winters. Yet even as the snow began to melt from 6am on Sunday and passengers reported clear runways, more than half of flights remained grounded. It comes less than 14 months after the airport was crippled for five days because there were not enough snow clearance vehicles to keep runways open.

Despite an inquiry and promises by BAA that it had increased its snowplough fleet by 68 to 185 at a cost of £32.4 million, the airport was only able to handle just one in two flights. “It’s unbelievable. The runways seemed clear and they have cancelled the flights,†said Philippa Britton, of Kendal, Cumbria. Those flying in from Moscow voiced their disbelief that they were stranded, despite flying out from Russia in -20C snow storms. Miriam Walters, 62, a teacher, said: “The runways at Moscow were covered with snow and still we managed to leave.†Although the bad weather caught airport operators unaware in 2010, The Met Office had predicted the weekend snowfall days in advance. Gatwick, Stansted and London Luton had no disruption as did Manchester, Prestwick and Edinburgh. The number of planes stuck on the tarmac at Heathrow meant incoming flights were forced to divert elsewhere.

Hundreds of passengers were last night stranded in Ireland as six flights were sent to Shannon Airport. British Airways was badly affected, with two thirds of its flights between 9.15am and 2.15pm cancelled. Stranded passengers said the airport refused to put them up in hotels, forcing them to sleep on yoga mats in terminals. Elin Mabbutt, a mother of three from Aberystwyth, was due to fly to Mumbai on Saturday but her flight was cancelled. “It is frustrating especially as there is no sign of snow on the ground,†said Mrs Mabbutt, 33. Lengthy delays meant many crew had exceeded their working hours and could not fly.

In December 2010 4,000 flights were cancelled over a week as cold weather and snow hit Britain. The economy lost an estimated £1.2 billion a day, and BAA some £20million. A report by Prof David Begg, an independent adviser, criticised the lack of preparedness and equipment. Transport experts said Heathrow struggles because the airport is stretched to the limit. “Heathrow operates at full capacity all of the time so anytime there are adverse conditions, such as snow, some leeway has to be given, such as closing runways and parking stations,†said Mike Carrivick, the chief executive of the Board of Airlines, which promotes the business interests of airlines. He said a review would now be carried out to establish whether changes to procedures, introduced after the weather problems in 2010, had worked and if “things went right and what went wrongâ€.

A spokesman for London First, a business group that represents 200 major companies, said employers would be concerned how the airport would cope on Monday. "We think the important thing is how quickly things get back to normal," he said. "Employers will be thinking 'yes it snowed over the weekend and we got through it' but they will ask how are is the airport going to cope today and will staff be able to travel and get into work." A spokesman for ABTA, the travel association, said: “The disruption once again raises the issue of capacity constraints at the busiest airports and highlights the need for a robust long term strategy for UK aviation.â€

A spokesman for the British Bankers Association, who was stranded in Edinburgh, said any disruptions were of concern. “It makes it more difficult for people to do business in the UK,†she said. “Clearly safety comes first but our concern is always with the transport systems and (such) disruptions have on business life.â€

Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, has called for a new airport in the Thames, dubbed Boris Island. Plans for a third runway at Heathrow have been shelved. BAA defended the way it had handled the weekend’s snow. Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, said they had taken “the right approachâ€. She said: “The most important thing is making sure that we put safety first. BAA said on Sunday night that the airport was expected to be running at full capacity on Monday.

http://www.telegraph...avel-plans.html

[Summer Sun]

MAYHEM AS THE COLD BLAST TURNS ROADS INTO ICE RINKS

BRITAIN faces a week of ice chaos with sub-zero temperatures giving no respite from the Siberian deep freeze, forecasters said yesterday. An ice warning is in place for much of the country as commuters wake to freezing fog, “treacherous†road conditions and the threat of more snow. The bleak outlook comes after a weekend in which the country seemed to be caught on the hop again by heavy snow on Saturday evening. Thousands of motorists were trapped in their cars overnight, while motorists took to Twitter to complain that even motorways were not adequately gritted.

There were reports of drivers abandoning their cars to build snowmen on the gridlocked motorways. Meanwhile, half of the 1,300 flights scheduled at Heathrow yesterday were cancelled while many other incoming flights were diverted. Flights were also suspended at Stansted, Birmingham and Luton. Britain was colder than the Arctic with temperatures below -12C (10F) as snow fell across Scotland, northern England and the Midlands earlier on Saturday, before moving towards London and East Anglia. Church Fenton in North Yorkshire and Wattisham in Suffolk recorded almost 6.5in of snow, while temperatures hit -12.4C in South Newington, Oxon, compared to -8C in Tromso, the Norwegian city in the Arctic Circle.

The Met Office warned there will be little respite over the coming weeks with “daytime maximums and night-time minimums below averageâ€.

http://www.express.c...into-ice-rinks-

BIG FREEZE 'MAY LAST FOR MONTHS'

A FREAK weather system that brought this weekend’s arctic conditions could leave Brits shivering for weeks or even months. Experts reckon a phenomenon called “block weather pattern†is preventing a milder Atlantic system from reaching the UK. And they warn the huge area of high pressure currently chilling Britain is so stubborn that it could take “a long time to break downâ€. Met Office forecasters reckon the current freezing weather system, dubbed the Beast From The East, could be caused by global warming melting Arctic ice, changing wind patterns and helping freezing blasts of air to travel further than usual.

But the bad news is it won’t blow itself out any time soon. Spokesman Steven Keates said: “This Atlantic weather system will come to the edge of the high pressure system and stop. It gets to the west of the UK and stalls so the weather remains static. “The mild air is not making its way into the UK. These blocks can take a long time to break down. They can last weeks or even months, although we aren’t saying it will last that long.â€

http://www.dailystar...st-for-months-/

A WEEK CHILLIN’

BRITAIN could be hit by more snowfalls today as the freezing Russian air blows in. Met Office forecasters said up to 10cm of snow could fall in parts of Wales. Southern England was also expected to see up to 5cm, with Devon and the south-west set to be the worst hit. Overnight temperatures as low as -15C mean the snow could lie for days.

Most of the country will remain dry, bright and cold tomorrow and on Wednesday, with temperatures unlikely to rise above freezing. Conditions on Thursday will be similar, although western parts of the country could see snow and rain. And a cold weather system carrying freezing air from eastern Europe may bring further snow on Friday. Met Office forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “It’s going to be cold across most parts of the UK, particularly in central and eastern areas of the country. “On Friday it looks like there could be further snow moving eastwards across part of the UK.â€

http://www.dailystar...-week-chillin-/

Travel chaos hits roads, rail and air as snow turns to ice and creates treacherous conditions for Britain's return to work

Treacherous conditions threatened Britain's return to work today as the weekend snow that blanketed the country turned to ice, striking at transport on road, rail and in the air. While thousands ventured outside to enjoy the snow at the weekend, the onset of the working week is likely to bring widespread disruption with problems reported on the roads, railways, at airports and even on the ground as people struggle with icy pavements. On the roads the RAC today said it had had the busiest February weekend in its history, with 41 per cent more calls than usual, while the worst overnight problems saw a 25-mile long stretch of the A1 closed after a series of accidents that included four jack-knifed lorries. The A27 is also partly closed this afternoon after a serious crash involving three vehicles.

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1lcKdLQEb

Britain's big freeze could last for FOUR WEEKS, say forecasters

THE wintry spell which caused transport chaos at the weekend could last for a month say forecasters. They warn that once the snow starts to thaw and temperatures dip again the biggest hazard will be ice. Meanwhile, Arctic conditions and 3ft snow drifts plunged the country into travel chaos yesterday. Almost seven inches fell over the weekend and temperatures dropped to -12.4C – with forecasters warning that the big freeze could last a month. It caused widespread disruption on roads, railways and at airports and put many sporting fixtures out of action. Thousands of drivers were stranded or delayed, hundreds of flights were cancelled and the icy conditions also disrupted train and Tube travel.

http://www.mirror.co.../#ixzz1lcLfszZx

It will be snow better for weeks Big freeze brings chaos... and will last whole month

BRITAIN will be blanketed in snow and ice for another month, Met Office forecasters predicted last night. Dozens of schools were closed today with NINE severe weather alerts from the Met Office remaining in place as ice threatened motorists across England and south-east Wales. And the RAC said it had been its busiest February weekend in history with 41 per cent more calls than usual.

A Met Office spokesman said: "It is going to stay very cold and some areas can expect -10°C or worse.

"This cold snap is stubborn and any temperature improvements will be very gradual for at least three to four weeks."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4110047/Snow-news-Met-Office-says-Britain-will-face-snow-for-another-month-and-10C-temperatures.html

[Polar Maritime]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/02/deep-freeze-spreads-across-europe/100239/

Some amazing photo's, realy captures how cold it is over there.