The weather - General Thread

[Kevin Farnell]

Why do people get so worked up about snow? There are many photos on the BBC website, along with a video of cars sliding about. In each case, the conditions are described as 'heavy snow'. Nonsense! I didn't see anything showing more than about 4 cm of snow. We don't seem to get snowfall like we did when I was younger. I remember when I was 18, clearing the road of snow with my Dad (we lived at the top of a cul-de-sac, and needed access to the main road). The snow was to the top of my wellies. I also had a driving lesson in 15cm (6 inches) of snow. I learned a lot from that lesson - in snow and ice start off in second gear and move up a gear as soon as possible to keep the revs low. Remembering further back, I recall walking home from school. We'd had about 6 cm of snow which people had walked in leaving footprints. This had then frozen and about another 6 cm of fresh snow had fallen, making for treacherous conditions as the frozen uneven snow below was invisible - very easy to turn your ankle, or worse.
For many years now, it has seemed that a light dusting of snow brings the country to a standstill. We never used to think anything of it. We just got on with our lives.

Kevin

 

[Finger66]

Sign of the times me thinks. If someone can find anything to make an issue out of, they will, and weather is no different. All the "sheep" in the world then think there is a problem which then snowballs (excuse the pun). As Kevin says, just get on with it

 

[HPsauce]

I well recall the 1962/3 winter. I was only seven, and we had a big snowfall, accompanied by bitter winds, which lasted for many weeks. I had to help my father and other neighbours to shovel snow away from the kerb, to enable the road to be seen!. Fortunately, car ownership was very light those days.
With regards today's so called issues, i think the modern term 'snowflakes' sums up the general attitude of today's generation. Health & Safety gone mad springs to mind!!.

 

[Aviador]

Appologies in advance to anyone reading this who is a 4x4 driver but why is it it seems as if every 4x4 driver feels they should go out in the snow at any expense and drive like lunatics to somehow prove to the rest of humanity their driving skills.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Appologies in advance to anyone reading this who is a 4x4 driver but why is it it seems as if every 4x4 driver feels they should go out in the snow at any expense and drive like lunatics to somehow prove to the rest of humanity their driving skills.

If it makes you feel any better, some time back I was watching a YouTube video featuring funny driving incidents. It showed a 4x4 trying to pull out of a T junction uphill in snow and getting nowhere. Then a little front wheel drive hatchback appeared behind the 4x4. The driver of the hatchback waited a while before pulling around the 4x4, out of the junction and up the snow covered hill. The correct tyres are very important and can make the difference between getting traction or not. I guess the little hatchback had winter tyres on while the 4x4 was on it's standard tyres. Below about 8C, the compound of standards tyres becomes very hard and loses a lot of grip. Winter tyres are designed to stay softer in lower temperatures.
The same goes for off-roading . A 4x4 with standard road tyres is likely to get stuck. They need the knobbly off road tyres for optimum performance.

 

[KARFA]

this one?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

this one?

Yes. that's the one 👍😆😆😆
Seeing the video again, I am wondering if the hatchback was a 4x4.

 

[David_itl]

Quite the coldest night I can remember yesterday in Manchester. When I got up at around 6,15am, it was -9c. When I arrived at work art 8.30am, it was still -9c. Took until about 1pm for the temperature to get to -1c then started dropping again at 3pm. Just glad my knee didn't play up.
What i do find moronic is that there are a couple of shops down the main road to my bus stop that chose to throw a bucket of water across the pavement the previous night which had already turned icy when I came back from work. Didn't dare chance going down that stretch of pavement,

 

[Aviador]

I don't know about official figures but I'm sure the last couple of days have been the coldest since 2010.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I remember back in 2010 (or may have been a year or two earlier), I was working at Chesterford Research Park near Saffron Walden. There was a small amount of snow at home, but quite thick fog. I set out carefully to drive the 25 miles to work. The closer I got, the deeper the snow got until it was about 6 inches deep. I got to the bottom of the entrance drive to the Science Park (which was about 3/4 mile long with a steep uphill gradient), to find a queue of stationary traffic trying to get up the hill. The external temp readout from my car was -15C (yes, minus fifteen deg C). One of my colleagues was behind me and he confirmed that his car was also indicating -15C. We tried calling reception at work, but there was no answer. The weather reports over the radio were saying that the fog was getting much denser nearer to home. As such, myself and my colleague (who took the same route as me) decided we would head back home. Of course, when I got home, I tried reception again and the phone was answered. But there was no way that I was repeating that journey that day.

 

[JENNYJET]

Until DWP had my Mini Countryman siezed, I found the 4WD a problem. It was controlled by the computer as assessed by traction control and was often put into a spin on icy surfaces. I determined that it was a lack of experience of the driver. Switching back and forth from 4 to 2 driven wheels did not help.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I've always read that traction control should be turned off in icy conditions. I have always done this, and never had any problems although my Mini Cooper is just front wheel drive.

Post automatically merged: Dec 23, 2022

Huge winter storm sweeping across the USand Canada, with temperatures (including chill factor) reaching as low as -55C.

Deadly winter storm knocks out power for 1.5m in US and Canada

A winter storm has also disrupted holiday travel, with thousands of flights cancelled in both countries.

www.bbc.co.uk

My thoughts to all those in the US and hope you stay safe. It's not unknown for the UK to experience the remains of US winter storms some 7 yo 10 days later.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Coldest wind chill ever recorded in continental US -77C

Coldest wind chill ever recorded in continental US, say forecasters

The cold on Mount Washington in New Hampshire on Friday was producing a wind chill of -108F (-77C).

www.bbc.co.uk

That's going to make your nose run. Then. on second thoughts it probably wont, it will freeze.

 

[Aviador]

When I was a young lad days like today would be called an Indian summer. Today we call it global warming.

 

[KARFA]

have they cranked up the colour scheme on the weather maps to an even more terrifying shade of red yet?

 

[Ashley.S.]

Is it me or is this Indian Summer hotter than usual? I'm overheating down here!

 

[Aviador]

Is it me or is this Indian Summer hotter than usual? I'm overheating down here!

Well if it is I'm not complaining as the weather has been shocking this summer. 😐 blink and you'll miss it. We will be back in cold seasonal autumnal weather before you know it.

 

[Brum X]

When I was a young lad days like today would be called an Indian summer. Today we call it global warming.

It must be Global Warming Aviador, this palm tree in London keeps on growing. I went past on Saturday ;-)

 

[HX3]

Ha 🤭 palms do grow up north too, I have two Trachycarpus (Chusan) palms, both are 12-15 feet tall and flower every year. The last few years they've definitely been growing.

 

[Aviador]

The Met Office has apparently issued a Tornado warning ⚠️ for tonight.