UK "Mildwave" on it's way!

[Howardh]

Looking at the current weather map, already 14c in some parts of the south west, and expected to top 16c and possibly break England's all-time December temperature record over the next three days >

December*

17.7

2 December 1985

Chivenor (Devon)

With home fuel bills soaring, couldn't have come at a better time! Enjoy!

 

[Cowley]

It’s ridiculously warm for the time of year down here. Currently 15 degrees!

 

[Howardh]

It’s ridiculously warm for the time of year down here. Currently 15 degrees!

Currently only a degree warmer on the Algarve!! Portimao = 16c.

 

[yorkie]

Jetstream Forecast - Jetstream Map Updated Four Times Daily - Netweather.tv

Check the latest Jet Stream map and forecast

www.netweather.tv

The jetstream plays a large role when it comes to the weather across the UK, so from here you can view the latest jetstream forecast right out to 16 days in 3 hour timesteps. Just click the arrow buttons or drag the slider to view the forecasts for different times, or click the animate button to view an animation of the current forecast.

Unfortunately I don't think I am going to get much use out of it before the weather goes back to being very cold again; it's due to return to being 3-4 degrees here next week, when I am going to be out and about a lot more.

 

[J-2739]

Sounds horrible. Winter should be the season of cold, snow, and bright skies. Then again, I'm not paying any heating bills yet...

 

[Peter0124]

Sounds horrible. Winter should be the season of cold, snow, and bright skies. Then again, I'm not paying any heating bills yet...

Agree

 

[backontrack]

Sounds horrible. Winter should be the season of cold, snow, and bright skies. Then again, I'm not paying any heating bills yet...

Agreed. Increasingly volatile/uncharacteristic weather in winter is quite disconcerting considering the climate situation. Apparently mid-January is meant to see freezing weather again.

 

[birchesgreen]

A mild christmas period isn't that unusual these days to be honest.

 

[Paul Jones 88]

I love the mild weather, no heating on, money should stay with me and not go into the hands of fat cats.

 

[backontrack]

A mild christmas period isn't that unusual these days to be honest.

Sadly, correct...

 

[nlogax]

I don't remember the last time it was cold at Christmas. Shame really, driving to London this coming weekend and view from the A74M / M74 is always extremely picturesque when there's been a good fall of snow atop the hills.

 

[Howardh]

A mild christmas period isn't that unusual these days to be honest.

Living in the NW of England, we might expect a lot of snow over Xmas and new year, however going back through the family photo album shows very few years of snow; most show dull gery skies, cold-but-not-freezing temperatures and rain. Although possibly mixing some photos up with summer...

Considering how high our latitude is, the UK should experience a long and bitter winter, similar to Canada however being next to that nice (relatively!) warm Atlantic Ocean with it's drift/Gulf stream keeps us mild (and wet) - "temperate". Therefore long periods of snow/ice should be more exceptional than a few days of very mild weather every winter.

Be interesting to see a vote - prefer mild winters and coolish summers + rain, or severe winters followed by a severely hot summer? Think I'd prefer the former!

 

[PeterC]

I am seeing lots of posts on Twitter of plants still in flower.

 

[PeterY]

I might get my shorts back out of the draw. Its been that warm down here in the south.

 

[seagull]

I might get my shorts back out of the draw.

Better be quick or someone else might win them first.

 

[Busaholic]

Better be quick or someone else might win them first.

Last cold Christmas in Cornwall was 1996: very bright, no precipitation of any kind.

 

[birchesgreen]

I am seeing lots of posts on Twitter of plants still in flower.

Again, this isn't that unusual.

I was looking at some historic weather records earlier, for example on the 30th Dec in 1973 there was a high of 10C in B'ham.

 

[philosopher]

Be interesting to see a vote - prefer mild winters and coolish summers + rain, or severe winters followed by a severely hot summer? Think I'd prefer the former!

Tricky one. I think severe winters and hot summers would be exciting at first but I think would quickly start to annoy. Heating and cooling costs would be very high and in winter a lot of time would be wasted putting on winter clothes, walking slower on icy footpaths and shovelling snow. Many outdoor activities such as hiking would only be comfortable in spring and summer.

The current UK climate does allow outdoor activity almost all year round and still does have somewhat distinct seasons, even if they are not extreme, so all in all I do not think the UK climate is that bad, though it would be good if there was 500 hours extra sunshine a year. The UK gets around 1500 hours of sunshine a year, about a third of maximum possible.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I am seeing lots of posts on Twitter of plants still in flower.

I tweeted one two weeks ago of a tree that had just come out into blossom in Epsom...

https://twitter.com/Peter_Mugridge/status/1470694963436470273?s=20

 

[Howardh]

Tricky one. I think severe winters and hot summers would be exciting at first but I think would quickly start to annoy. Heating and cooling costs would be very high and in winter a lot of time would be wasted putting on winter clothes, walking slower on icy footpaths and shovelling snow. Many outdoor activities such as hiking would only be comfortable in spring and summer.

The current UK climate does allow outdoor activity almost all year round and still does have somewhat distinct seasons, even if they are not extreme, so all in all I do not think the UK climate is that bad, though it would be good if there was 500 hours extra sunshine a year. The UK gets around 1500 hours of sunshine a year, about a third of maximum possible.

Probably a case of better the devil you know! In extremely hot summer climates, no doubt the cost of air conditioning may well equal the cost of heating in winter! On saying that, many would spend most of the summer outdoors so not require much power in the home at all. Probably the "best" climate is the northern Mediterranean one (France, Italy), making sure enough water is stored from the winter months. The Mediterranean climate you would get in, say Egypt, Tunisia etc would be far too hot for me in summer!!

Meanwhile, just noticed it's broken 16c in Peterborough, last May we were playing county cricket in temperatures barely reaching 6c!

 

[brad465]

During the winter, almost all mild weather is accompanied by lots of cloud, sometimes being wet as well. We cannot achieve the temperatures currently being experienced at this latitude at this time of year, it can only be imported from a long way south, off the warmer Atlantic, which is moisture laden.

Cold weather in winter is usually sunnier as this usually comes from the North and/or East, where air masses are colder and drier, thus less cloud. However sometimes "Lake effect snow" results from a cold air mass moving over water that's warmer than the air, so snow showers on exposed coasts and slightly inland are possible; the "Beast from the east" was an extreme example of this.

 

[PeterY]

I might get my shorts back out of the draw. Its been that warm down here in the south.

I did wear my shorts today. I got a few comments in the charity shop I work in.

Better be quick or someone else might win them first.

I have a draw for "seasonal stuff" . My thermal gloves have been put away

 

[MotCO]

I did wear my shorts today. I got a few comments in the charity shop I work in.

I have a draw for "seasonal stuff" . My thermal gloves have been put away

I think @seagull was referring to the fact that you keep your shorts in a drawer, not a draw.

 

[Gloster]

There are still a few buds on the rose bush in my front garden. The pigeons were messing around in the trees at the back yesterday, but I haven’t seen any red squirrels recently.

 

[PeterY]

I think @seagull was referring to the fact that you keep your shorts in a drawer, not a draw.

Totally off topic, but an interesting comment, I've always referred to drawers as draws. probably a Hemel Hempstead thing

 

[Howardh]

There are still a few buds on the rose bush in my front garden. The pigeons were messing around in the trees at the back yesterday, but I haven’t seen any red squirrels recently.

I still have one, lonely, rose still open. It was sheltered by a huge bush which I've now cut down!! Up here in lancashire, our average day for the daffs opening is around March 17th. Down south they'll probably be open next week if this weather continues!

 

[brad465]

As well as being mild, it's also been windy, which has meant that wind power has been managing to produce 30-50% of total power demand in recent days, which, coupled with reduced demand for central heating, is helping limit gas consumption.

 

[trainophile]

I was in Morecambe on Tuesday afternoon/Wednesday morning, and it was icy cold! Wet and miserable too. The mild spell completely passed the west coast by it seems.

 

[Acey]

Just noticed these Daffs in the garden here in balmy Bromley,does seem a bit early

 

[Howardh]

I was in Morecambe on Tuesday afternoon/Wednesday morning, and it was icy cold! Wet and miserable too. The mild spell completely passed the west coast by it seems.

Late February 2018 (?) the temperature at Arnside, just up the road from Morecambe, touched 20c! But yes, the NW hasn't had that extreme mild although today, the sun's out and it's showing 13c preston and 11c Lancaster, so on par with most of England. As I write, Humberside is top of the league at 16c, that'll be the Fohn effect of the Pennines no doubt!