Tag: weather

Wet and Windy UK


rainJust like many others, I’m sure, I’ve been listening to the wind for several hours. Apparently Lee on the Solent has been experiencing 60 mph winds and that is only a couple of miles away. Sometimes it sounds like an express train passing through a station at speed. The 80 foot high Beech Tree at the front of the house is perhaps the most vocal although the wall of smaller trees to the back are competing well. It’s as well that it is dark outside as I would probably become rather anxious if I could actually see the trees moving in the wind.

The gutters are also making quite a bit of noise.Or, rather, the water spilling out of them is. Forming an impromptu waterfall and pool by the lounge window.

Well I’m heading to bed now. Keeping my fingers crossed that the dawn is going to reveal any damage.

Good Night and Good Luck to the rest of my fellow UK residents.

Slow Snow, Slow Slow Slow


Against my better judgement, I drove my wife to work today. Normally the round trip, not accounting for waiting time, is around 30 – 35 minutes. Today, due to the inclement weather conditions, the whole journey took around 130 minutes. Of course I moaned all the way to my wifes place of work. Problem is that I had no one to moan to on my way home and that was by far the longer and worst part of the journey.

I took a few snaps during the journey which was punctuated by many tedious stops.

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Stakes Hill Road approaching Purbrook Way roundabout.
snow1
London Road, heading towards Widley
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London Road atop Portsdown Hill, waiting our turn to dive down towards Cosham
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London Road heading down the south face of Portsdown Hill
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A3(M) Heading north on the Junction 4 slip.
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A3(M) Heading north, still on the Junction 4 slip. Matrix says 40. You’ll be lucky. I think they display motorists wish lists
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Purbrook Way and the College Road Junction. Thanks to the guys in the fluorescent jackets who were trying to keep us all moving. The road here was very icy under the snow. You can just see the car on the other side has gone askew.
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View from my front doorstep. Boy was I glad to get home. Only a two-hour round trip. And I have it all to do again later today.

Topping Off


Tree
Getting Started

Temperatures were barely making it above zero during the last couple of days. That didn’t stop these fellows lopping the tops off my neighbours trees.

Tree1
Taking A Breather
tree2
Is That The Last Bit ?

No Story ? Let’s Just Make It Exciting Anyway


The UKs media are, this morning, falling over themselves to report on, well, nothing really. Who can make the UKs weather the big story of day.

Last night they were warning us about the snow and the big freeze that is going to engulf the country. The ITV News and Weather were advising us that “much of the country” was going to be impacted.

This morning that has translated into “about a third of the country”

Last night we were being warned that even if we didn’t get any snow we could expect to get the severe icy conditions with temperatures as low as -6 degC dropping to -15 degC by the end of the week.

This morning we have +2 degC and no snow

On the TV we have had reporters dramatically describing to us how Stansted Airport is operating as normal, how the roads are clear and traffic is flowing unimpeded by the weather.

To a degree I can understand why they are doing it. After all the last big freeze caught many of us with our pants down. In some case the authorities let us down but predominantly we let ourselves down.

Britain does have four seasons every year, pretty much without fail. So it follows that we will have Winter at some time. We should not be surprised when the winter brings with it snow and ice.

Only in Britain are such conditions or even the lack of them deemed suitable for such a media frenzy.

 

Back To Earth With A Bump


Yes indeed. Back to earth with a bump. Back to work, in the office. Its soggy wet outside. Raining hard and blowing a hooley.. Its only taken two days for the holiday shine to be tarnished.
Ce la vie !!!

Two cars in Waterlooville crushed after tree topples in strong winds – No Injuries


A lucky escape for the vehicle owners but two cars were severely damaged after tree topples in strong winds.

Apparently the tree had received a lightning strike a short while ago which may have weakened it.

Two cars in Waterlooville crushed after tree topples in strong winds – Local – Portsmouth News.