Weather in NW Europe

[PatJ]

About our cold snap,

It warmed up to just above zero so that it could drop a half inch of powdery snow on us. I shoveled it wearing my denim skirt under my heavy long coat. Only my feet got cold.

This is some of the coldest weather we have had in the last 20 years.

My guess is that if school had been in session, (holiday/Christmas break is on) many schools would have delayed or cancelled classes. The diesel fuel can gel in this kind of weather and having a bus load
of frozen students doesn't win any popularity contests.

But the real point I wanted to make is that a skirt is no colder than pants if were talking about temperature. A windy day could be different.

[crfriend]

But the real point I wanted to make is that a skirt is no colder than pants if were talking about temperature. A windy day could be different.

I find that skirts can, in point of fact, sometimes be warmer than trousers. This is most apparent when a stiff wind is blowing and is likely down to the skirt (and other things under it) not pressing as tightly against the legs as trousers and the volume of air trapped inside is larger than trousers allow.

[dillon]

Hearing the accounts of northern frigid weather almost makes the four months of wretchedly hot and humid weather we bear each summer here in eastern NC worthwhile, in exchange for our mild, if dreary, winters. There are plenty of winter days here mild enough for me to enjoy a stroll on the beach, skirted and barefoot. Now, if only we could trade hurricane season...

[Kirbstone]

Despite our latitude and consequent very short daylight hours at this time of year scores of hardy souls take to the briny in normal (Summer) swimming attire. There are organised Xmas & N.Y. swims at most of the well-frequented bathing spots around our coast. One lady lost her life the other day body-boarding at a dangerous surf beach near here.

The North Atlantic Drift keeps the top meter or so of sea water at over 10 degrees C......But that's blxxdy cold in my book. Even in Summer it's not an awful lot warmer in most places.

Mad, the lot of 'em, I say!

Tom.

[skirtyscot]

At a party last night, I was being encouraged to go for a dip in the sea at noon today. Fat chance! Now it's 11.42 and I am having a cup of tea in bed.

[Kirbstone]

Alastair, I bet your seawater temp. is less than 11.42!

I'd be in bed mesel' except I have to drive to DUB airport to collect Son No 1 (43) and his two offsprings, (13 & 9) off the Ryanair from Brum. That'll liven up the house a bit, as it's been very quiet post-Disneyland here.

Tom

[Jack Williams]

The seawater temp in winter is bound to be warmer than the land in winter, as it stores the summer heat somewhat.
You get bunches of people in "iceburg clubs" taking mid winter dips in northern hemishere countries, often in fancy dress. Some here too, although not so much.

[dillon]

My dangly parts are modest enough without subjecting them to an ice bath. We have an expression here in the south for frigid water: "So cold you'd have to stick your finger up your a-- and holler 'Snake!' just to scare it back out again!"

[dillon]

Weird weather. It was 60F yesterday. Tonight it is supposed to go to 14F and the high tomorrow is supposed to be 25F. By Thursday it is supposed to be 60 again. Hoping you guys in the frigid north are bundled up and the woodbox is full!

[crfriend]

The high temperature for us today in Massachusetts was about 52 or 53 (F) with fog sometimes so thick you couldn't see 50 feet in front of you. For instance, the trees that separate my view from my study to the golf-course are maybe 50 feet away and all I saw was white. And it was that in many places in my first commute to my new job -- what should have taken, maybe, 45 minutes was over an hour (I left extra time and was still a few minutes late).

Now, it's 26 and dropping like a stone. The official forecast is for a low of 7 (F) tonight and a *high* of 12 in tomorrow. Right back in the deep-freeze it is for us lot.

[Kirbstone]

I'm just looking at the temp. curve for the US just now and pics. of the Central North. We never get anything like that in Western Europe even in the worst Winters, two of which we've experienced recently.
Right now for us it's mild, but severe storms and surging flood tides (Coastal) and swollen rivers inland.

Storm & Seabirds at Poolbeg.jpg

Stella Maris in Force 8 off Heiligenhafen.jpg

Rs Flooded lock on R. Suck nr. Ballinasloe.jpg

Ah, but I already notice a little stretch in the evenings......

Tom K.

[pleated]

Right now for us it's mild, but severe storms and surging flood tides (Coastal) and swollen rivers inland.
Tom K.

Here is a sample of one of those surging flood tides-
http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/ama ... 18816.html

[pleated]

Here is a sample of one of those surging flood tides-
http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/ama ... 18816.html

This was videod in the same small coastal town as that photo-
Ireland winter storm: Huge waves batter coast, flood streets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAvMcuNik5M
1.09

Other parts of western Europe have had similar weather-
Europe's coastline hit by more giant waves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp2Qrwga9AY
1.18

[dillon]

As an inhabitant of a hurricane prone region, those scenes make me shudder.

[Kirbstone]

Try this one, Dillon, taken just last weekend, & they're forecasting even worse to come.

Porthleven_UK_Weat_2812648c.jpg

Eye of the Storm Rs.jpg

Tom