North West Regional Discussion Feb 2021 onwards

[AmatuerMet1963]

Although I have officially left the winter forums. (I only join these type of forums in Winter).  I Just wanted to comment on our weather in general in N West, that will probably be moved by Mods to to a less read forum which is a pity seeing as we are still in a raging climate change which we have 9 years left before a state of no return come 2030.  The recent "Perfect planet" series by Sir David, shows far reaching consequences for specialised animal habitats and  as humans as well.

Although I have been into met since 1963, my technical knowledge is virtually nil. But what my forte is, and my best subject since 2009 is the effects of climate. This I have studied more than The weather, and taken  whole Open University.nl  Ocean pollution courses in conjunction with "Cleaner Seas" and the United Nations, plus numerous other seminars.

Although this winter has been colder of winters  late. Its still  no where near the norms of the seventies.

However through many years, there is a trend , most alarmingly that puts our UK climate in summer under "Mediterranean". I no longer call our climate a typical English one we had 30 years ago with soggy summers. 20 years ago the Spanish plume as its called was extremely rare, and any warm summers was tempered with light Easterly's which made it bearable and not as humid.

Again through excessive use of Carbon producing industries,  Oil and petrol emissions, brake dust particulate and NO2, we still are not reducing C02 levels to the pre 40 year levels. Add to that Huge amounts of Methane, (an even more deadly warming gas) from melting perma ice and perma frosts, the Alaskan and Russian ice  and lakes is melting so much most lakes are boiling with methane trying to escape into the atmosphere.

The next forecast for this weekend, send alarm bells ringing in my ears again.    17%C in February is a dangerous anomaly, its yet , by far the earliest flood of African southerlies I have ever noted.   These plumes were once very rare, but now in the UK we can expect them almost every year now several times in one summer period. They bring heavily polluted air from the near continent together with substantial dangerous temperatures, plus violent storms to northern France and Southern England.

The expansion of this African air is because far too much heat is now expanding from the equator, it has to go somewhere, and that expansion is now faster and faster impacting countries who have always called their climate Temperate.  In the N West,  the heat is unbearable in May, June onwards. Very little rain falls in summer now, almost as less as my home county experienced many years ago with drought orders through out Kent and Sussex. I take this opportunity to wish everyone a fine summer and hope we can get outside more soon. But keep in mind that Summers in the UK are at risk from more heatwaves than ever. This not only affects us, it also  effects bird migration, tinder dry areas which many animals find it hard to survive, plus the ever increasing risk of major Moors fires and forest fires like I used to see in the New Forest when I lived in Bournemouth as a youngster for several years. stay safe guys!!!!

[alr1970]

Gorgeous out there this morning, just been out on the bike with no gloves needed. Time to dig the shorts out!

1/3 of my broad beans appear to have survived the cold, but the sufficient have perked up nicely this morning.

[damianslaw]

The SW tropical airstream in full force, for the South Lakes it usually always means grey cloud and bits ic rain and that's what we have. Current temp 8 degrees, not especially mild. It was very misty this morning, the cold air easing out of the ground.

Rest of the week more of the same for here, may see something brighter. Bring back last week please!

[A Face like Thunder]

Sorry damianslaw, but you can keep last week. Give me today with its sun and mild conditions anytime!

[Rain Lady]

Can't get warm today despite some occasional weak sun.  Our stone Pennine buildings hold on to the damp cold and are slow to wam up.   Similarly they hold on to heat like storage heaters when the sun ever turns on full power.    The land is still frozen below the top 3 inches.

 

[Rain Lady]

Meant to add that skies over Cheshire and S Lancs have looked clear this afternoon. Mostly cloudy in the E Lancs hills.

[The Northern Ramper]

Dry and blue skies here, a nice afternoon.

[damianslaw]

40 minutes ago, A Face like Thunder said:

Sorry damianslaw, but you can keep last week. Give me today with its sun and mild conditions anytime!

SW airstream generally means poor weather in South Lakes, cloud rolls in off the Irish Sea/Morecambe Bay, skies are usually clearee north lakes. Many a day you hit Junction 36 of M6 under such airstreams and the cloud invades and the drizzle starts, you can look from Morecambe and see grey to the north whilst bathed in sunshine, all year..even under the strong June sunshine. 

[Frost HoIIow]

We reached double figures here today, felt balmy compared to just a couple of days ago. Ground has thawed out now and softened up after being frozen. If the rest of this month is like this I don't mind at least it's saving on the heating bill, not had to have it on much today. Although when the missus gets in she'll crank it up full notch, I can't say anything of course or I'll never hear the end of it.

[Had Worse]

Hoping this will be the Snake and Woodhead pass in March.

[damianslaw]

Just maxed out at 8 degrees today, the very low cloud main reason. Not exactly very mild. A dull drab day.

[Had Worse]

Been out in the back garden with just T shirt (yes i was wearing pants), it was fairly pleasant.

[NickyB]

20 minutes ago, Had Worse said:

Been out in the back garden with just T shirt (yes i was wearing pants), it was fairly pleasant.

me too! Not for very long though. My dog also enjoyed going ‘naked’ on his walk (needs a coat when it’s cold) 

[Cheshire Freeze]

Felt lovely today. No bitter wind cutting straight through you.

[severe snowstorm]

A bit of a miserable week this week for sure with wet/damp weather at times coming up over the next few days. A complete contrast to the lovely crisp cold days we had last week. I'd at least like it to be dry if it's going to be mild, but unfortunately this is frequently not the case in winter, although to be fair, yesterday wasn't too bad.

Edited February 16, 2021 by Dexter

[cheshire snow]

Athens last night.

C.S

[Iceaxecrampon]

18 hours ago, A Face like Thunder said:

Sorry damianslaw, but you can keep last week. Give me today with its sun and mild conditions anytime!

Yes used to be quite content with cold even to the point of water bottles freezing up at altitude. Maybe an age thing creeping in but that Easterly was something else.

No thanks.

 

[trickydicky]

One thing I always enjoy, whether it’s during a summer dry spell like we’ve had a few of recently or during a cold frosty period like last week, is the novelty of dryness. I can’t speak for everywhere in the North West but probably 80% of the time everywhere in Cumbria is at best damp, if not soggy, and venturing off a made surface involves mud. I enjoyed the ground being rock hard last week and not needing wellies or walking boots to step off the concrete. If you add in the snowy hills and the blue skies then you can see why I prefer last weeks weather, regardless of the cutting easterly wind, to this claustrophobic, stuffy, soggy dankness that we are back in now. I’ll never understand people who say they prefer it when it’s like this. If it was 10c and sunny then fair enough but mild in this country generally means grey and wet. Plus even though it was cold last week it was England cold, so not really that cold. You’re quite a delicate being if you can’t cope with it. 

[Iceaxecrampon]

20 minutes ago, trickydicky said:

One thing I always enjoy, whether it’s during a summer dry spell like we’ve had a few of recently or during a cold frosty period like last week, is the novelty of dryness. I can’t speak for everywhere in the North West but probably 80% of the time everywhere in Cumbria is at best damp, if not soggy, and venturing off a made surface involves mud. I enjoyed the ground being rock hard last week and not needing wellies or walking boots to step off the concrete. If you add in the snowy hills and the blue skies then you can see why I prefer last weeks weather, regardless of the cutting easterly wind, to this claustrophobic, stuffy, soggy dankness that we are back in now. I’ll never understand people who say they prefer it when it’s like this. If it was 10c and sunny then fair enough but mild in this country generally means grey and wet. Plus even though it was cold last week it was England cold, so not really that cold. You’re quite a delicate being if you can’t cope with it. 

Agree - Yes made a change not hosing the Terriers down but that cold could've been toned down a bit.

[Joe Snow]

Hmmm looks as if the very mild temperatures forecast for early next week have downgraded somewhat this morning. Mild for February 11-13c but rather cloudy, more of an Atlantic influence and not a Feb 2019 repeat that looked possible only a few days ago. Doesn’t seem much but for many particularly Joe Public it’ll make a big difference as many will still have their big coat & heating on in February at 12c and cloudy vs. 16c/ 17c and sunny spells. 

[Chris.R]

Bring on the Spanish plumes want as many as possible this year they are brilliant.

[severe snowstorm]

4 hours ago, trickydicky said:

One thing I always enjoy, whether it’s during a summer dry spell like we’ve had a few of recently or during a cold frosty period like last week, is the novelty of dryness. I can’t speak for everywhere in the North West but probably 80% of the time everywhere in Cumbria is at best damp, if not soggy, and venturing off a made surface involves mud. I enjoyed the ground being rock hard last week and not needing wellies or walking boots to step off the concrete. If you add in the snowy hills and the blue skies then you can see why I prefer last weeks weather, regardless of the cutting easterly wind, to this claustrophobic, stuffy, soggy dankness that we are back in now. I’ll never understand people who say they prefer it when it’s like this. If it was 10c and sunny then fair enough but mild in this country generally means grey and wet. Plus even though it was cold last week it was England cold, so not really that cold. You’re quite a delicate being if you can’t cope with it. 

Yes, I agree regarding the dryness. It's amazing how quickly everything has turned to slop around here in the space of just a couple of days after being rock solid over the past week. The reality of 'mild' winter weather is that it is invariably accompanied by damp/wet weather in this country. Settled weather is more likely to occur during colder airstreams in winter. If it's cold, just add on an extra layer or two if venturing outside.

[cheshire snow]

Were is the laughing emoji

C.S

[Frost HoIIow]

1 hour ago, Chris.R said:

Bring on the Spanish plumes want as many as possible this year they are brilliant.

And bring on ridiculously high CAPE! Last summer was great for thunder in our region.

[A Face like Thunder]

Turned very dark here followed by a monsoon downpour, more like April than February!