Weather in the general media (Newspaper features etc)

[Timmytour]

Well, up until last night I did remain optimistic that we could see another cold spell, this time perhaps a bit more brutal in the cold it delivered nationwide.

But I only saw the Express headline this morning about "Killer Freeeze To Get Worse".....

Pick out the scenic models runs all you want and spout on about the potential of the effects of an SSW....for me nothing says "mild" like an Express headline warning of a Freeze!

You may discount it as ridiculous, but the Express came out with the headline prior to the December let-down and omitted to have one in the run up to this recent cold spell!

There's more to it than meets the eye I tells you!

[Methuselah]

True enough, TT...But, always remember - the Express actually 'prides itself' on the veracity of its weather-related stories!

[pottyprof]

Headaches and thunderstorms........ There is a connection.

If you have a thundering headache, it might be to do with the weather, research suggests.

Scientists have confirmed a link between lightning and headaches and migraines.

A study found that lightning striking up to 25 miles away can increase the risk of headache by 31%. Thunderbolts also led to a 28% increased risk of migraine attacks.

US researchers looked at 90 chronic headache sufferers with an average age of 44 living in Ohio and Missouri.

All had conditions that fulfilled the criteria for migraines defined by the International Headache Society.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/24/thunder-lightning-headaches-migraines_n_2543434.html?1359050924&icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk%7Cdl5%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D148734

[Methuselah]

Headaches and thunderstorms........ There is a connection.

http://www.huffingto...nk2&pLid=148734

Did we really need a scientist to tell us that?

[Summer Sun]

Blizzards As Cold Weather Ends

A final snowfall will sweep across the country dumping as much as 20cm (8ins) in some places before Britain escapes the grip of the cold snap. The last flurries will come ahead of the big thaw which is due over the weekend and will bring with it the threat of flooding. As temperatures rise, heavy rain is expected and will increase the flood risk, bringing more misery to those dealing with the aftermath of last month's heavy rains. Joanna Robinson, Sky News Weather Producer, warned that the cold snap's last gasp would see heavy snow and blizzards moving slowly eastwards across the country today, reaching the far east of England after dark.

She said: "Scotland and northern England can expect 5-10cm (2-4ins), with 20cm (8ins) possible over the hills. The Midlands and East Anglia will see around 2-5cm." She warned: "There will be drifting and blizzards in the strong wind." Temperatures are expected to rise to an average of 4C before reaching more than 10C in the south on Sunday. The Met Office has 12 amber warnings in place from the Midlands up to central England, urging the public to be prepared for likely disruption caused by the heavy snow.

http://news.sky.com/story/1042642/snow-alert-blizzards-as-cold-weather-ends

[hillbilly]

if the met office get their forcast right there are going to be floods.snow then heavy rain sunday,frozen ground,floods,maybe not 47 or 81 but hebden bridge might need their dinghys

[pipsta]

Big joe going for a return around valentines day. Seem to remember his late December forecast mentioning a respite/milder condition and then a return to the cold of better proportions. Trying to find more but this is all he has tweeted so far.

[Nigel Langton]

Can you post a link to comment send about what Joe b said as im very interested in what he said.

Many thanks

Nigel

[kumquat]

Cold wave in Europe to end, winter returns around Valentines day for most. US break in plains and east 36-48hr long, hen colder air comes

https://twitter.com/BigJoeBastardi

Edited January 26, 2013 by kumquat

[Summer Sun]

Rapid thaw fuels flooding fears

http://www.bbc.co.uk...atures/21213966

[UV-RAY]

GLACIERS MELTING

Glaciers in the tropical Andes have shrunk by 30-50% since the 1970s, according to a study.

The glaciers, which provide fresh water for tens of millions in South America, are retreating at their fastest rate in the past 300 years.

The study included data on about half of all Andean glaciers and blamed the melting on an average temperature rise of 0.7C from 1950-1994.

Details appear in the academic journal Cryosphere.

The authors report that glaciers are retreating everywhere in the tropical Andes, but the melting is more pronounced for small glaciers at low altitudes.

Glaciers at altitudes below 5,400m have lost about 1.35m in ice thickness per year since the late 1970s, twice the rate of the larger, high-altitude glaciers.

"Because the maximum thickness of these small, low-altitude glaciers rarely exceeds 40 metres, with such an annual loss they will probably completely disappear within the coming decades," said lead author Antoine Rabatel, from the Laboratory for Glaciology and Environmental Geophysics in Grenoble, France.

Water shortages

The researchers also say there was little change in the amount of rainfall in the region over the last few decades and so could not account for changes in glacier retreat.

Without changes in rainfall, the region could face water shortages in the future, the scientists say.

The Santa River valley in Peru could be most affected; its hundreds of thousands of inhabitants rely heavily on glacier water for agriculture, domestic consumption, and hydropower.

Large cities, such as La Paz in Bolivia, could also face problems. "Glaciers provide about 15% of the La Paz water supply throughout the year, increasing to about 27% during the dry season," said co-author Alvaro Soruco from the Institute of Geological and Environmental Investigations in Bolivia.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has pointed to the importance of mountain glaciers as sensitive indicators of climate change.

Globally, glaciers have been retreating since the early 20th Century, with a few exceptions. Himalayan glaciers are relatively poorly studied and there are suggestions that some are actually putting on mass.

Some scientists say the Chacaltaya glacier in Bolivia, which used to be the world's highest ski run, has already nearly disappeared.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...onment-21163386

Don Easterbook wrote an excellent article on this over on WUWT. Off course some here will dismiss it as it's not been IPCC approved, LOL.

[Methuselah]

So long as it's been properly peer-reviewed, what could be a problem?

[Nigel Langton]

Cold wave in Europe to end, winter returns around Valentines day for most. US break in plains and east 36-48hr long, hen colder air comes

https://twitter.com/BigJoeBastardi

[UV-RAY]

So long as it's been properly peer-reviewed, what could be a problem?

It's an article RP, not peer reviewed science. I would put up a link but posting from iPad at the moment.

[Coast]

UK on flood alert as heavy rain mixes with melting snow

Wales, central England and south-west expected to be worst hit by downpours

More than 200 flood alerts are in place across the UK as heavy rain has mixed with melting snow.

There have been more reports of flooding in south Wales overnight as the downpours replace almost two weeks of snow. Norfolk police have reported flooding caused by melting snow and ice, which has closed a number of roads in the area.

Wales, central England, and the south west will be the worst-hit areas, with at least 2.5cm (1in) of rain expected by mid-morning on Sunday, while the rest of the UK can expect around 1.3cm.

Rising temperatures of up to 12C have sparked a rapid thaw of the snow and ice which has built up in the recent cold snap, exacerbating potential flooding problems. The Environment Agency has issued 30 flood warnings urging people to take immediate action against predicted flooding, in the Midlands, the west of England, central England and Wales. A further 218 flood warnings are in place across England, Scotland and Wales affecting all but the east of England and north of Scotland.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/27/uk-flood-alert-rain-snow

[Summer Sun]

Now floods add to frozen misery

http://beta.dailyexp...o-frozen-misery

SNOWBALL BATTLE ON M6

http://www.dailystar...l-battle-on-M6/

Downpours and melting snow brings floods across Britain as Environment Agency issues 370 alerts

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2JAy3laaI

Thawed help us

http://www.thesun.co...ed-help-us.html

[Summer Sun]

BBC weather for the week ahead

Flood risk

Mild and windy - highs of 13c on Tuesday

Spells of rain

A suggestion and thats all it is that it may turn colder next weekend

http://www.bbc.co.uk...atures/21220996

Edited January 27, 2013 by Gavin.

[Summer Sun]

Country file forecast for the week ahead

[Summer Sun]

Snow you see it, snow you don't: Floods hit Britain as satellite pictures show dramatic how Big Freeze turned into the Big Thaw in a DAY

http://www.dailymail...s-Big-Thaw.html

FLOODS AND MASSIVE STORM SET TO BATTER BRITAIN

Government forecasters said today will see 3cm of rain in the south-west and tomorrow will bring 2-4cm in the west, with rain also expected later in the week.

http://www.dailystar...batter-Britain/

Since when was rain forecast in cm? I thought it was always mm

Flood Warnings As More Rain Forecast

http://news.sky.com/...e-rain-forecast

Major flood crisis hits Queensland, Australia

http://www.bbc.co.uk...d-asia-21226178

[tinybill]

Can't post charts but UKMO at 144 looks quite nice with a half decent cold incursion on saturday.

-

6.30 bbc weather he said its going to get cold again from this weekend even our local girl said winter showers this weekend

[Summer Sun]

One month's worth of rain by the weekend

http://beta.dailyexp...-by-the-weekend

GET READY FOR SKYFALL! 24HR RAINSTORM FORECAST AS 007 FILM CAR STUCK IN FLOOD

http://www.dailystar...stuck-in-flood/

[NickyB]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/295896/Britain-to-be-lashed-by-100pm-hurricane/

Hey ho here we go

[Summer Sun]

Flood peril as a month’s rain sweeps in

http://beta.dailyexp...-rain-sweeps-in

The wind turbine that couldn't cope with a gale: £250,000 tower crashes to the ground after its blades spin out of control

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2JT5c9Tzg

[Summer Sun]

GALES, SNOW AND FLOODS... NO ESCAPE FROM STORMS

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/374530/Gales-snow-and-floods-no-escape-from-storms

[Summer Sun]

Snow to return across Britain this weekend with temperatures falling as low as -6C

http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz2JfXibj6Y

WORST STORM OF WINTER’ BRINGS FLOODING ALERT

http://www.express.c...-flooding-alert