Two images from 2/12/2010
and one from 7/12/2010, just five days later (yes, the rime is nice, which is why I took the pic, but it's not the same - look at the green grass around and in the background, and this was on the highest point of the Downs locally)
Originally Posted by: DEW
I can look back with fondness now but, for most of the spell, we were none dry here. We did have some impressive rime (I think Kev Bradshaw has some great pics from not far from me), and on the coldest nights the freezing fog gave a 'diamond dust' effect, but every time the models showed a front or feature to bring snow here, it'd get to 24 hours away then about-turn. I'd experienced a magic afternoon in York on the last Sunday of the November, when unexpectedly heavy - and very localised - snow had put down about 6" in the space of 4 hours, but nothing here.
That changed on the evening of Friday 17th December. We were forecast light snow showers moving in from the west from around 6pm. I was hoping for a cm, maybe even 2. Both ground and air was so cold that anything falling would stick. Driving westwards home from work, I was about 10iles east of home when I saw the first flake. Within a few miles, the snow got heavy. By the time I was home, there was a good cm or two lying. I was happy.
But it didn't stop, not for a good 3-4 hours. Proper heavy snow, barely a hint of wind. When it was done, 16cm level snow lay deep & crisp & even. The northern outskirts of town where my parents live got around 20cm. On Xmas Eve we went to a country pub for food, about 15 miles north of my house. The snow on their outside tables always a good 25cm, even after inevitable compaction.
Got to Boxing Day before the first hint of a thaw.
A Day or two after the snowfall, Crosby weather station, located literally yards from the beach, bottomed out at -17c, which was remarkable.
That month is a lifetime memory I'll always cherish.
Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan