Scotland/Alba weather discussion - Jan 2021 onwards

[A Winter's Tale]

Another pretty heavy snow shower has just rolled through

[sn0wman]

We've been getting lots of graupel here today too. I think you can almost see the difference between graupel and snow showers on the radar - to me graupel showers have jaggy edges whereas snow showers look much more smooth. Graupel showers also tend to become smoother the further inland they get.

Despite doing a meteorology degree, I must admit that I'm not completely sure what atmospheric conditions lead to graupel formation... However, something to note is that showers really should be pepping up during the next 24 hours as much colder air at 500 hPa floods in (see 2 pm today vs 2 pm tomorrow). The North Sea snow machine is already producing pretty beefy showers so somewhere is really going to get pasted. 

[Penicuikblizzard]

9 minutes ago, LomondSnowstorm said:

We're starting to see the southward shift on the convergence zone on the radar. Probably expect it to end up over the Forth (although with the northern end still North of the Tay just about) by 5pm based on the models and the radar, although the heaviest and most persistent stuff will arrive tomorrow morning. 

Surely that’ll finally enhance the shower activity for Edinburgh and Lothian’s

[101_North]

1 minute ago, Blitzen said:

Don't panic!   Touch of reverse psychology!   (Beats standing outside in a bikini in this weather!)

I've been outside since dawn - made no difference so far  

[Zerouali lives]

Quite a cool looking streamer right through the Dee valley at the moment from Aberdeen to Braemar

[asjmcguire]

Been out with the dog, there is between 3-5cm on the ground.

Multiple times throughout the night it sounded like torrential rain was being slammed against the bedroom window in gusty winds - but it was of course snow. It was quite odd, because I am used to the temperature hovering around 0.1C when it snows, but the temperature dropped through the night and continued to fall. During the heaviest blizzard it was -1.7C 

This is how we are looking right now

 

This was 5am:

[Stormeh]

My son is such a daredevil, he decided that he didn’t want to use his sledge yesterday and just throw himself down the hill to see what it was like 

[Allyw12]

22 minutes ago, LomondSnowstorm said:

We're starting to see the southward shift on the convergence zone on the radar. Probably expect it to end up over the Forth (although with the northern end still North of the Tay just about) by 5pm based on the models and the radar, although the heaviest and most persistent stuff will arrive tomorrow morning. 

Can I ask if Perth area will still see any of the more persistent showers tonight/tomorrow?  I feel we’re going to end up missing out again. 

[jon_d1983]

43 minutes ago, cragonmore said:

Thanks guys I think I understand. I do remember the point about graupel and risk re avalanche conditions when I did my winter hill navigation training but didn’t recall what caused it to form in the first place.

It’s caused by super cold water droplets sticking to the snowflakes as they fall....basic explanation lol

[Sceptical]

Snow and plunging temperatures for Scotland

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

---

The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday comes amid wintry weather dubbed the Beast from the East Two.

 

[Ruzzi]

Some parts here have practically no cover and others have about an inch with mini drifts starting to take shape against fences and up kerbs etc 

 

[Jambo Fowler]

6 minutes ago, Allyw12 said:

Can I ask if Perth area will still see any of the more persistent showers tonight/tomorrow?  I feel we’re going to end up missing out again. 

Yes I wonder the same thing 

[aggy]

Just been out a jaunt with the dogs and kids 

definitely feels milder than it should 

Some areas in sunlight have melted also 

[blitzen]

26 minutes ago, 101_North said:

I've been outside since dawn - made no difference so far  

Dawn?   Oh I was up long before that!..The older you get, there's a lot more to erm 'fix' in the mornings!

[aggy]

43 minutes ago, LomondSnowstorm said:

We're starting to see the southward shift on the convergence zone on the radar. Probably expect it to end up over the Forth (although with the northern end still North of the Tay just about) by 5pm based on the models and the radar, although the heaviest and most persistent stuff will arrive tomorrow morning. 

As long as it dosent shift too far south

[101_North]

Radar has really picked up out to sea! Somewhere is getting pasted! 

[metallikat34]

47 minutes ago, sn0wman said:

We've been getting lots of graupel here today too. I think you can almost see the difference between graupel and snow showers on the radar - to me graupel showers have jaggy edges whereas snow showers look much more smooth. Graupel showers also tend to become smoother the further inland they get.

Despite doing a meteorology degree, I must admit that I'm not completely sure what atmospheric conditions lead to graupel formation... However, something to note is that showers really should be pepping up during the next 24 hours as much colder air at 500 hPa floods in (see 2 pm today vs 2 pm tomorrow). The North Sea snow machine is already producing pretty beefy showers so somewhere is really going to get pasted. 

I'll take a shot! Graupel is a combination of lots of cold air aloft, shallow (and i mean quite shallow) warm layer near the surface and pretty strong uplift. All 3 of which are certainly present today. 

[Hairy Celt]

A flurry, a flurry!!!!  

[metallikat34]

9 minutes ago, 101_North said:

Radar has really picked up out to sea! Somewhere is getting pasted! 

How much of this (over land) is sticking? And how much is snow as well. Its a good sign that this activity is picking up as we head into nighttime. Stupid sunshine is screwing up boundary layer temps!

[metallikat34]

1 minute ago, Hairy Celt said:

A flurry, a flurry!!!!  

Sure it's not dandruff? 

[Hawesy]

Heavier shower in St Andrews has left a covering even right at sea level....meanwhile in Pittenweem (courtesy of my other half) 

[Sunny Leith]

15 minutes ago, 101_North said:

Radar has really picked up out to sea! Somewhere is getting pasted! 

Hard to see how the one of the coast of Dunbar can miss us, wee test of this sinking south (TBD) convergence zone.

[JoeShmoe]

18 minutes ago, 101_North said:

Radar has really picked up out to sea! Somewhere is getting pasted! 

is this the convergence line or start of it? .. somewhere getting hit by that later this afternoon anyway!

Edited February 8, 2021 by JoeShmoe

[mardatha]

Had quite a lot of snow this morning, in frequent showers. Drove 30 miles up the A68 in bright sunshine and dazzling white fields and hills, drove home in a full on blizzard.

[cragonmore]

8 minutes ago, metallikat34 said:

How much of this (over land) is sticking? And how much is snow as well. Its a good sign that this activity is picking up as we head into nighttime. Stupid sunshine is screwing up boundary layer temps!

Certainly inland over Angus it’s sticking and boy is it impressive in its intensity when you get a shower albeit brief. As already mentioned convergence line of showers now jogging south and will clear Angus next hour or so I recon. I’m still intrigued however by that cluster of showers off the north east coast of Aberdeen. It doesn’t look like a new convergence line but quite a specific form of showers or something which is creating a radar return. Will it intensify and where is it heading?

Edited February 8, 2021 by cragonmore