Blustery weekend weather for parkrun February 12th

Saturday morning won't be as cold as it is on Friday. There is a frost with Glasgow and Newcastle down to -4C. This week we have seen a change from mild air to cold and wild, wintry weather for northern parts of the UK. There have been several cms of snow for parts of Scotland and sleety flurries and ice for Northern Ireland and northern Britain. These winds seem endless in the north now. Southern parts continue to benefit from a nearby high pressure which has already brought a lot of settled, dry weather this year. However, this weekend looks windy and there will be some rain.

Saturday parkrun

Winter parkruns bring decisions for the organisers as well as attendees. Making sure that the routes are safe and clear beforehand but also that the conditions underfoot are okay on the day and the weather conditions are suitable. It is then up to the runners to decide to get out of bed and turn up, even if it is rainy and cold. Since Storm Arwen hit NE Britain at the end of last year, the conditions of trees and forest areas have been a concern. There is an ongoing lookout for weakened trees and hanging branches. Town areas bring different winter worries with icy pavements and roads which might get gritted in time on a Saturday morning. 

This winter, heavy rain and flooding have not been a concern. Last year, Scotland was very dry through until September. Now it has been very dry for much of England and Wales. So less splashing through puddles before 10am on a Saturday morning. High winds can cause cancellations if the local route is through woodlands or too soon after a storm. Coastal routes have to take care when there is a big swell, large waves or flooding is forecast. In Edinburgh at the end of January, the winds were so strong that benches were being blown over along the route.

The start of 2022 was dry and very sunny in the east. 

Another issue can come from ice and snow but there has been little of that this winter. A complete absence of snow for many parts of the UK. There are signs that this void will continue. There have been frosts in the south in January but not widespread black ice which can be so dangerous for runners, affect their journey to the run and passing vehicles.

Saturday 12th February 2022

After a fine day on Friday, the winds will be back as low pressure and a band of rain move in during Friday night. This waving front will affect the accuracy of your weather app information. This frontal band across the UK will have ripples and there will be variations in the forecast. So, the rain band could be nudging a bit further north around 9/10am or edging to the south. Around the frontal rain band, it will be windy with a fresh SW wind, strong for Irish Sea coastal runs. Showers will pass over Northern Ireland and western Scotland. For SE Britain, it will be a fair morning, although worth keeping an eye on the progress of the rain to the northwest on the Netweather Radar.

Most northerly parkrun Bressay, Shetland 9:30am 6C feels like 1C  windy

Land’s End, Cornwall 9am    9C feels like 5C in the wind and rain

Cardiff  9am 8C feels like 4C blustery

South Manchester 9am 7C feels like 3C windy

Waterworks Belfast 9:30 9C feels like 5C gusty

Great Notley, Essex Nippy start 6C feels like 1C breezy

Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear 7C feels like 1C blustery

This time of year might not be the most enticing but a good start to the weekend and if don’t fancy a walk, jog or run, parkruns are always looking for new volunteers.

Check out your parkrun location weather here. 

Thanks to R.Taylor of Lochend parkrun for the photos