All those wanting snow can come and take mine. It's great for those who don't have to go anywhere or happen to be off work/school etc... or when it first falls so you can go out and photo it or play in it, as did I (see the aerial images thread). After that it quickly becomes a pain in the butt.

I ventured down the street today, attempting to get to work on my motorbike. 6 days in, our road finally developed a couple of clear narrow car tracks down it with the rest being made up of two inch thick ice. Thought I could manage the 400 metres to the main road and failed miserably. Managed to get 380 metres and was then unceremoniously dumped into the road when the front wheel decided it wanted to go in a totally different direction to the rest of my bike.

As it happens I was only doing 3 MPH so no damage done aside from a bit of a bent gear lever.

Thankfully the road was empty as it's a quiet side street and a helpful UPS driver helped me pick quarter of a ton of bike up off the road.

So, bring on the warm weather and rain and let's see this icy crap washed away.

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It sounds excellent

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I think what can also frustrate a lot of cold weather or snow enthusiasts is the fact that many of the recent cold spells DON'T seem to end in a proper break down - like we use to have in the 90's and early 00's - when mild Atlantic air meets colder continental air etc bringing a spell of sleet and snow before it turns back to rain. I

I never forget the Wednesday on 11th March 2004 - Sleet turned to snow and we (South West) had "2-3" of snow before it turned back to rain and then melted the next day by mid afternoon, but it was a proper break down and then the milder air eventually won as some of you may remember.

For some reason the colder spells only end with milder air coming around the high pressure from the North so warmer air aloft. It's not the traditional warmer air from the =south meet's colder air to the north. Shame really.

On the plus side it's nice to have 5 dry days in a row with cold frosty nights and at least this was better than last year. Also we in Exeter have recorded the coldest lowest minimum night temp since early Feb 2012 here in Exeter, on Monday morning 29th (5am ish) Temperature fell to -5c in the city centre of Exeter. Even 2012/13 winter never got that cold - lowest was -3.4c.

It would have been nice to end this colder or cooler spell with a wintry break down so we all got to see something white - because last week the snow was so restricted to the Pennines and Yorkshire. Plus this spell of colder weather never delivered any snow to any parts of the South.

It's been a snowless year in the south and I agree with whoever said this in a previous page that this year 2014 has probably been the year when many parts of the south never saw a flake of snow - perhaps the first year ever, if not the first year in a long time. My cousin lives in Bristol - not a flake of wet snow there either and I think it's fair to say that 2014 has been snow-free across many if not all parts of the south.

Here for some better luck after mid JANUARY 2015 then. I guess we can't moan. Winter 2012/13 never really started until 17th January 2013 - but then it lasted until April 2013.

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Oh dear!  It sounds like you are sharing my experience and feelings.  At least I have four wheels which follow the ice ruts along the road.  Amazingly the bin men made it down our street today, though they haven't managed to get to some roads.

Yesterday, our youngest spread some grit salt down on the pavement and driveway.  It barely melted any ice but it readily finds its way into our utility room and makes an awful mess of the floor.  Daniel has now learned how a mop works! 

On the plus side, the temp is above freezing and for the past few days it's been well below by this time of day, so we might be seeing the start of a thaw.  Chin up! 

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Aye, it will all be gone this time tomorrow

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The only moan I have so far this winter is the last week has been too cold. 

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You may well be right Andy because since my last post, the temp has risen a couple of degrees to 3.9c and there's a lot of steady dripping and the occasional rumble and thud of snow sliding off rooftops. 

I wonder how long it will be before my short memory kicks in and I'm wishing for snow again? 

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Plenty of snow left in Sheffield today, but guess most of this will be gone by the end of New Years Day.  Let's hope the next lot isn't too far away...

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Lol Gonner & Matty :-D

So 2014 passes and not a single snowflake spotted imby.

Will be bit gutted if I dont see any in the remainder of this winter but I'm already looking forward to some early spring warmth if I'm honest....just hope winter doesn't arrive in Spring 😮

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Lol Gonner & Matty :-D

So 2014 passes and not a single snowflake spotted imby.

Will be bit gutted if I dont see any in the remainder of this winter but I'm already looking forward to some early spring warmth if I'm honest....just hope winter doesn't arrive in Spring 😮

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Cities currently colder than England (midday) 1/1/15:

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Barcelona: +10c

Rome: +7C

Naples, Italy: at +9c

Cagliari (Sardinia): +10c

 

Vlorë, Albania: +3c

 

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Now across the pond:

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Las Vegas: -2c (snow).

San Diego, California: +5c

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I think you get the idea - how much further south are they? and wonder why I am ranting, this is erratic to the extreme, - yet all cities in England are between +11 to +13c and damp or wet. - Well, if you want snow there is more chance in the med or perhaps in Las Vegas than anywhere in England! I just spoke to a friend in ALbania (Vlore) she said it was +2C last night and is 5c today when the average temperature should be around +19C. Rant over.

Oh and Jonesy same here 2014 has been the first snowless year ever for Exeter and perhaps for me.

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Perhaps reading about maritime versus continental climates may be good new year reading Tally?

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Somebody please pm him with some climate graph links.

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Yes I know all about it - was just having a rant and making a point but thanks anyway.

 

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I agree, we know the UK doesn't have a continental climate but neither should it be totally Atlantic dominated either.

The amount of snow that has fallen in most parts of the UK during the past 4 years is WELL BELOW average, all most of us want is our fair share, nothing more.

As I put in a previous thread I have 'lost' 270 days with snow lying in the last 25 years compared to the 20th Century average.

As Sigourney Weaver would say to the Weather Goddess "Give Me Back My Snowfalls You Bitch"

Andy

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A lovely seasonal picture.  Ours was a similar picture yesterday but today it's totally different.  How much snow do you have left today?  

Here the temp rose slowly during the evening causing snow to slide off rooftops and the steady overnight rain had washed most of it away by this morning.  We just have piles of dirty snow on the roadside where it had been shovelled and small patches on grass but all our roads are clear now. 

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Even in the depths of model watching hell I still come back 4 times a day. I need to go cold turkey for 3 days and hope something turns up. But what if a new theme is spotted when I don't view it........like choosing the same lottery numbers and thus playing every god damn week.

Yes nurse I know I need more cheese and port to get me through this tough time......

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Sounds like you're in need of a bit of therapy from Doc but my advice is, give it up slowly.  Going cold turkey at this time of year could have you spitting feathers! 

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I am with you there AS although this year is not as bad for the rain and wind like last year what is uncanny is the ensembles that have been so sure in what they are showing (mobile dross) and no fun at all with any flips or last minute changes.......booooooring!

Ps I'm at a 4 lol

 

It was pretty damned windy here last night/this morning!!

Incidentally, when I left for work this morning, the snowman (from Boxing Night) had melted to just a small stump of dirty snow. I don't expect him to last the day 

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There there AS I feel your pain 😞 maybe February will be different 🙂

I think most of us just want one night of snow and to wake up to a covering! We don't need days of snow...but - just one....surely it's not too much to ask for? I mean for goodness sake these ensembles are getting worse - run after run the GFS are downgrading the colder spell to a cool spell and now quieter spell. This is terribly frustrating.

We had a decent colder spell between boxing day and 31st with a low of -5c in Exeter city centre on morning of 29th December, but what a shame there was no proper wintry breakdown like there use to be. - That night was perhaps the coldest since December 2010. Last time I recorded such low temperature in the city centre was Saturday early morning on 4th February 2012. (-4.3c) and temperature rose to -1.5c and there was powdery dry snow falling. - albeit very light.

So Just one day of snow or even sleet or rain/sleet and snow or a snow shower...surely this isn't asking for too much. - All I need is one and then I won't be posting on here.

Every other country seems to get this - be it eastern USA, Greece, Italy - even my friend from Albania on the coast of Vlora has had snow (last week). We can't go for two years (winters) without seeing a single flake of snow.

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Living where you and myself do there is every likelihood we will go a whole lot longer than 2 years(winters) without seeing snow.

Snow is as rare as hens teeth here,even when the rest of the uk gets a big load we see little or none.

 

Unless there is a channel low?

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I don't expect much either, just one decent covering and a cold snap for a week or so and I'll be quite content with a winter. I mean Egypt has seen more snow in the past 2 years than most here in Blighty.

http://news.sky.com/story/1182209/egypt-sees-first-snow-storm-in-years

I preferred last winter personally, had much more interesting weather here. Even had some good thunderstorms in January. Has been pretty dull weatherwise since mid-November.