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Snowjoke
  • Snowjoke
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
23 February 2014 22:16:15

Winter is nearly over and in the minds of most (sensible) people has been one of the worst, if not 'the worst' winter ever experienced in the UK. Dreadful wind and gales; ridiculous levels of rainfall especially in the south and virtually no cold weather or snow or even frost.


I have often wondered with several of the mildest and wettest winters on record occuring in the last couple of decades whether we have reached a tipping point? I am a climate change convert and believe strongly that our climate is changing at an alarming rate. 


If winter 2013-14 is a sign of UK winters to come and summer 2012 (washout) is how the majority of our summers are going to be how do you feel it will effect your lives in the UK?


Would terrible weather convince you to leave? Could you handle a winter 2013-14 every year? I realise there is more to life than weather, but potentially climate change could wreck havoc with the UK climate in every season, if in fact we get seasons in the future. We may just end up with one eternal Autumn!! 


 


 


 

Medlock Vale Weather
23 February 2014 23:11:49

Well being age 60+ I have seen enough snow to last a lifetime. I still really enjoy it though when we get it. In regards to moving away altogether of course it has crossed my mind many a time in the past. Being the age I am I was thinking of Florida a while back due to the health benefits of the strong sun after reading a book called "solar power"


I'm more of a global warming sceptic. Throughout my life we have always had changeable seasons (at least here).


From the little ice age in the middle ages and the bitter Winter of 62-63 and now this wet current Winter. To the hot very dry Summers of 1976 and 1995 and the very wet Summers of 2007 and 2012.


So our climate has always changed ("climate change" is a rather new word for it). You cannot guarantee what the next year will bring in this country and that's what make our climate interesting to me.

Alan in Medlock Valley - Oldham's frost hollow. 103 metres above sea level.
What is a frost hollow? http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wxfacts/Frost-hollow.htm 
Chiltern Blizzard
23 February 2014 23:40:31


Winter is nearly over and in the minds of most (sensible) people has been one of the worst, if not 'the worst' winter ever experienced in the UK. Dreadful wind and gales; ridiculous levels of rainfall especially in the south and virtually no cold weather or snow or even frost.


I have often wondered with several of the mildest and wettest winters on record occuring in the last couple of decades whether we have reached a tipping point? I am a climate change convert and believe strongly that our climate is changing at an alarming rate. 


If winter 2013-14 is a sign of UK winters to come and summer 2012 (washout) is how the majority of our summers are going to be how do you feel it will effect your lives in the UK?


Would terrible weather convince you to leave? Could you handle a winter 2013-14 every year? I realise there is more to life than weather, but potentially climate change could wreck havoc with the UK climate in every season, if in fact we get seasons in the future. We may just end up with one eternal Autumn!! 


 


 


 


Originally Posted by: Snowjoke 


Although I agree that this has been the most 'autumnal' winter in memory, and probably on record,  have we reached a 'tipping point'?....... Well, I thought the UK climate had irreversably changed back in early 2007 to a pattern of mild winters and hot summers after a long trend (I remember seasoned writers on here claiming that though we may see a below average month temperature-wise  (i.e. 1961-1990 comparison), we'd be most unlikely to see a below average season again)........


But since then, we've had washout summers 2007 & 2012 to name the worst.... and numerous snowy spells that were almost entirely absent in the 1992-2007 period (for the South-East at least), the second coldest December in the entire CET record, and the coldest CET March for over 100 years.   Therefore, even if this winter had been preceded by a decade or more of similar autumnal winters, given the post-2007 weather, I'd be very reluctant to call any 'tipping point'.


So in conclusion, no, one season isolation such as this definitely isn't enough to consider that a 'tipping point' has been reached, any more than it would have been to herald the next mini-ice age after December 2010.


Andrew

Rendlesham, Suffolk 20m asl
Gooner
23 February 2014 23:49:03

I agree with Alan........................is it really at a tipping point ( whatever that is ) extreme weather happened many many years before we were here , in my book the weather is just that and it is really just swings and roundabouts

Remember anything after T120 is really Just For Fun



Marcus
Banbury
North Oxfordshire
378 feet A S L


SydneyonTees
24 February 2014 01:07:16

Anyone who moves country based on weather alone will fail as an expat and be back in the UK within 2 years I am certain of it.


The reasons for leaving the UK can be many and varied and usually a combination of many factors and the right mix for you will mean success.

NickR
24 February 2014 01:18:42


Winter is nearly over and in the minds of most (sensible) people has been one of the worst, if not 'the worst' winter ever experienced in the UK. Dreadful wind and gales; ridiculous levels of rainfall especially in the south and virtually no cold weather or snow or even frost.


I have often wondered with several of the mildest and wettest winters on record occuring in the last couple of decades whether we have reached a tipping point? I am a climate change convert and believe strongly that our climate is changing at an alarming rate. 


If winter 2013-14 is a sign of UK winters to come and summer 2012 (washout) is how the majority of our summers are going to be how do you feel it will effect your lives in the UK?


Would terrible weather convince you to leave? Could you handle a winter 2013-14 every year? I realise there is more to life than weather, but potentially climate change could wreck havoc with the UK climate in every season, if in fact we get seasons in the future. We may just end up with one eternal Autumn!! 


 


 


 


Originally Posted by: Snowjoke 


As doc has said, given that we have had some of  the snowiest and coldest winters/winter months in years in the last 6 winters... the answer must be "no".

Nick
Durham
[email protected]
SEMerc
24 February 2014 02:27:20


Anyone who moves country based on weather alone will fail as an expat and be back in the UK within 2 years I am certain of it.


The reasons for leaving the UK can be many and varied and usually a combination of many factors and the right mix for you will mean success.


Originally Posted by: SydneyonTees 


In my experience it's usually in order to be able to whine about the old country. I find that the people who whine the most are usually the ones who've been away the longest.


I still find it astonishing that an expat, who hasn't lived in the UK since the 1970's, can still pontifcate about this country. I've come across one or two of those.

SEMerc
24 February 2014 02:28:27


Winter is nearly over and in the minds of most (sensible) people has been one of the worst, if not 'the worst' winter ever experienced in the UK. Dreadful wind and gales; ridiculous levels of rainfall especially in the south and virtually no cold weather or snow or even frost.


I have often wondered with several of the mildest and wettest winters on record occuring in the last couple of decades whether we have reached a tipping point? I am a climate change convert and believe strongly that our climate is changing at an alarming rate. 


If winter 2013-14 is a sign of UK winters to come and summer 2012 (washout) is how the majority of our summers are going to be how do you feel it will effect your lives in the UK?


Would terrible weather convince you to leave? Could you handle a winter 2013-14 every year? I realise there is more to life than weather, but potentially climate change could wreck havoc with the UK climate in every season, if in fact we get seasons in the future. We may just end up with one eternal Autumn!! 


 


 


 


Originally Posted by: Snowjoke 

SEMerc
24 February 2014 02:29:50


Winter is nearly over and in the minds of most (sensible) people has been one of the worst, if not 'the worst' winter ever experienced in the UK. Dreadful wind and gales; ridiculous levels of rainfall especially in the south and virtually no cold weather or snow or even frost.


I have often wondered with several of the mildest and wettest winters on record occuring in the last couple of decades whether we have reached a tipping point? I am a climate change convert and believe strongly that our climate is changing at an alarming rate. 


If winter 2013-14 is a sign of UK winters to come and summer 2012 (washout) is how the majority of our summers are going to be how do you feel it will effect your lives in the UK?


Would terrible weather convince you to leave? Could you handle a winter 2013-14 every year? I realise there is more to life than weather, but potentially climate change could wreck havoc with the UK climate in every season, if in fact we get seasons in the future. We may just end up with one eternal Autumn!! 


Originally Posted by: Snowjoke 


Bloody hell, reading this I've no idea how I can get out of bed each day.

Retron
24 February 2014 03:43:35


 we have reached a tipping point? 

Originally Posted by: Snowjoke 


No. There were other rubbish winters in the past (88-89, for example) and there will doubtless be more rubbish to come. There will also be snowy winters to come as well, you cannot say based on a sample of one winter that there's been a change!


As for summer, the duller and cooler the better IMO.

Leysdown, north Kent
SydneyonTees
24 February 2014 03:49:28



Anyone who moves country based on weather alone will fail as an expat and be back in the UK within 2 years I am certain of it.


The reasons for leaving the UK can be many and varied and usually a combination of many factors and the right mix for you will mean success.


Originally Posted by: SEMerc 


In my experience it's usually in order to be able to whine about the old country. I find that the people who whine the most are usually the ones who've been away the longest.


I still find it astonishing that an expat, who hasn't lived in the UK since the 1970's, can still pontifcate about this country. I've come across one or two of those.


Originally Posted by: SydneyonTees 


 


I find that there  are people who whine and moan about countries they have never even been to / experienced. Or there are those who spend their life regretting / moaning about their missed opportunity to try something different because it was too difficult or hard work.


 

Retron
24 February 2014 04:56:08


 Or there are those who spend their life regretting / moaning about their missed opportunity to try something different because it was too difficult or hard work.


Originally Posted by: SydneyonTees 


Indeed, you only get one go at life so if you want to do something badly enough then find a way to do it.


(Hence my current manic hoarding of Tesco points. I want to see Alaska, travelling in style to get there, and by gum I will - all being well in just over a year's time I'll be there.)


As an aside, the more I see of North America the more I like it. If I were to emigrate from the UK it'd be to Canada, although getting a permit would probably be very hard!

Leysdown, north Kent
KevBrads1
24 February 2014 06:43:23

Winter is nearly over and in the minds of most (sensible) people has been one of the worst, if not 'the worst' winter ever experienced in the UK. Dreadful wind and gales; ridiculous levels of rainfall especially in the south and virtually no cold weather or snow or even frost.
I have often wondered with several of the mildest and wettest winters on record occuring in the last couple of decades whether we have reached a tipping point? I am a climate change convert and believe strongly that our climate is changing at an alarming rate.
If winter 2013-14 is a sign of UK winters to come and summer 2012 (washout) is how the majority of our summers are going to be how do you feel it will effect your lives in the UK?
Would terrible weather convince you to leave? Could you handle a winter 2013-14 every year? I realise there is more to life than weather, but potentially climate change could wreck havoc with the UK climate in every season, if in fact we get seasons in the future. We may just end up with one eternal Autumn!!UserPostedImage


Originally Posted by: Snowjoke 



Hasn't the Scottish highlands had a pretty snowy winter? Unlike 1988-89, where they struggled for snow.

It's swing and roundabouts. You are still going to get seasonal weather in the appropriate seasons. You are going to get duff seasons.

We just had the coldest spring for decades, only 4 years ago we had the coldest pre Christmas spell for decades. Last July was a superb summer month.

The weather will do what the circumstances of the time permit it.

It could be next winter is one of the driest on record.
MANCHESTER SUMMER INDEX for 2021: 238
Timelapses, old weather forecasts and natural phenomena videos can be seen on this site
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgrSD1BwFz2feWDTydhpEhQ/playlists
Andy Woodcock
24 February 2014 08:04:49

Well being age 60+ I have seen enough snow to last a lifetime. I still really enjoy it though when we get it. In regards to moving away altogether of course it has crossed my mind many a time in the past. Being the age I am I was thinking of Florida a while back due to the health benefits of the strong sun after reading a book called "solar power"
I'm more of a global warming sceptic. Throughout my life we have always had changeable seasons (at least here).
From the little ice age in the middle ages and the bitter Winter of 62-63 and now this wet current Winter. To the hot very dry Summers of 1976 and 1995 and the very wet Summers of 2007 and 2012.
So our climate has always changed ("climate change" is a rather new word for it). You cannot guarantee what the next year will bring in this country and that's what make our climate interesting to me.

Originally Posted by: Medlock Vale Weather 



I don't think we have reached a tipping point, it was only 12 months ago the talk was of cold blocked winters caused by melting polar ice!

What this winter has shown me is that I couldn't live in the UK once I retire during the winter, yes a week or two of wind and rain sat by a warm fire is nice but 5 months! It's the endless damp and darkness that was so depressing. Living this far north the lack of daylight in a cloudy winter is terrible, it's an effect Londoners will not notice as it's always 'brighter' in the capital as I have experienced many times this winter.

I plan to spend at least half of winter beyond 2018 in Lanzarote, renting a small Villa where friends and family can come to stay, I can still get a fix of cold, snowy weather during January and February but October, November, December and March I will be abroad.

I must read that book Solar Power, it will probably confirm everything I believe about the power of sunshine and the negative effect a cloudy UK winter can have on one's health.

Andy

Andy Woodcock
Penrith
Cumbria

Altitude 535 feet

"Why are the British so worried about climate change? Any change to their climate can only be an improvement" John Daley 2001
Andy Woodcock
24 February 2014 08:36:20


Anyone who moves country based on weather alone will fail as an expat and be back in the UK within 2 years I am certain of it.
The reasons for leaving the UK can be many and varied and usually a combination of many factors and the right mix for youwill mean success.

Originally Posted by: SEMerc 


In my experience it's usually in order to be able to whine about the old country. I find that the people who whine the most are usually the ones who've been away the longest.
I still find it astonishing that an expat, who hasn't lived in the UK since the 1970's, can still pontifcate about this country. I've come across one or two of those.UserPostedImageUserPostedImageUserPostedImage

Originally Posted by: SydneyonTees 



I don't think Syndey was pontificating at all just expressing an opinion which after all is what you do on a forum!
Andy Woodcock
Penrith
Cumbria

Altitude 535 feet

"Why are the British so worried about climate change? Any change to their climate can only be an improvement" John Daley 2001
Solar Cycles
24 February 2014 08:46:02
I think others have summed it up nicely by stating the obvious regarding the previous six winters, also like Kev Brads says parts of the highlands have had near record breaking snowfall amounts this winter. Tis weather which in this part of the world equates to a predominately mild climate year round, with extremes thrown in to break up the monotony every other year.
domma
24 February 2014 08:46:18

Anyone who moves country based on weather alone will fail as an expat and be back in the UK within 2 years I am certain of it. The reasons for leaving the UK can be many and varied and usually a combination of many factors and the right mix for youwill mean success.

Originally Posted by: Andy Woodcock 

In my experience it's usually in order to be able to whine about the old country. I find that the people who whine the most are usually the ones who've been away the longest. I still find it astonishing that an expat, who hasn't lived in the UK since the 1970's, can still pontifcate about this country. I've come across one or two of those.UserPostedImageUserPostedImageUserPostedImage

Originally Posted by: SEMerc 

I don't think Syndey was pontificating at all just expressing an opinion which after all is what you do on a forum!

Originally Posted by: SydneyonTees 


 


There are many reasons why people move abroad, but my wife who is Thai has been in the UK since October loves the weather here I have not heard her once complain about all the wind and rain and she thinks the lack of warmth is fantastic, she says that Thailand is always to hot. Of course I want to move to Thailand because of the heat she wants to stay here because of the lack of heat.!!!!!!


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Gary

vince
24 February 2014 08:48:22


I agree with Alan........................is it really at a tipping point ( whatever that is ) extreme weather happened many many years before we were here , in my book the weather is just that and it is really just swings and roundabouts


Originally Posted by: Gooner 


 


brilliant post , very rare for me to agree with you ,but this is tops

Charmhills
24 February 2014 10:21:49


I agree with Alan........................is it really at a tipping point ( whatever that is ) extreme weather happened many many years before we were here , in my book the weather is just that and it is really just swings and roundabouts


Originally Posted by: Gooner 


Indeed, the weather its just as its always been ever since I've been alive on this planet.

Loughborough, EM.

Knowledge is power, ignorance is weakness.

Duane.
yorkshirelad89
24 February 2014 10:39:31

I think the British weather is certainly becoming more volatile, varying from one extreme to the other more often, being either cold or warm.


The will always be natural variability with processes such as the NAO which will allow UK winters to still be cold despite the presence of higher global temperatures.


I see climate change as changing a dice (an extreme event is like hitting a 6 and climate change is adding more 6's) , you can't pin an indivdual event on climate change but in the long run it is having a role.


One of the reasons for such intense storms this winter is cold air spilling into the NW Atlantic which has been much warmer in comparison to the past. This fuels more cyclogenesis.

Hull
Osprey
24 February 2014 11:43:43

Difficult to say


It maybe just our turn (along with a few other countries) to have the very bad weather


Several more turns and we may know one way or the other


and by then it may turn out to be normal or maybe time to move to higher ground and buy a boat


 

Nobody likes a smartass, especially another smartass...
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Saint Snow
24 February 2014 12:00:17


I think the British weather is certainly becoming more volatile, varying from one extreme to the other more often, being either cold or warm.


Originally Posted by: yorkshirelad89 


 


Perhaps it's just childhood memory syndrome, but I remember the weather of the late 70's & 80's to have been more volatile than much of the 90's & 00's.


Perhaps it was just that the 90's & 00's - dominated as the were for long periods by the 'Euro High' - which were the anomaly?


Or perhaps we go through periods of calm & more volatile as natural variation.


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
ARTzeman
24 February 2014 12:06:42

Volatile and Variable but would like to  see a return of 62/63 as I remember it.





Some people walk in the rain.
Others just get wet.
I Just Blow my horn or trumpet
Matty H
24 February 2014 12:31:03
It's been the best winter ever for us cold haters. Absolutely loved every second of the mild temps. Find it hilarious people getting grumpy because they havent had a frost, lol!!! Hated the rain though.

Have we reached a tipping point? No, of course not.
Yate, Nr Bristol
Say NO to misogyny 
https://human-rights-channel.coe.int/stop-sexism-en.html 
Russwirral
24 February 2014 12:55:03

Theres flooding all the time - somewhere in europe.  Last year or the year before it was Germanys turn.


 


Where you have large contrasts in temperatures it cant be helped.  Europe unfortunatley has very complex topography and geography and is influenced by many different heat/cold sources.  It was bound to happen sooner or later.


Weather station:
https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=IWIRRAL24#history 

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