Snowy garden

We have now had snow on the ground for several days, which is unusual. After overnight rain it's mostly gone.

It's no good - I know you've been here!

Unusually, we have had snow for a few days and a very cold start to the year. 

This bird was hunting for some food. 

I doubt it had ever seen snow before. 

These days it is unusual to get snow on the ground. In fact it is about 7 years since we had snow like this. Many winters pass without much snow at all.

Snow …. at last

We have had a cold and sunny start to the year but avoided the snow .....until now!

Snow - NOT amateur radio

This winter we have had far more snow and frosts than in most winters. This was our rear garden yesterday. Afterwards there was bright sunshine!

Real winter - NOT amateur radio

This winter we have had more frosts and snow on the ground than for a long time. Years ago, we had snow on the ground every winter, whereas now to get any snow is the exception. This winter has been more like the winters in the 1950s. As I write there is snow falling and snow on the ground, even though it is officially spring according to the UK Mat Office!

Although I quite like the look of snow, I prefer milder sunnier weather. Roll on spring.

In the car - NOT amateur radio

This was the view through the car window yesterday on the way into Cambridge. We do not get much snow these days. 

We have had snow on the ground since last weekend, then it froze. Lovely to look at, but hard to walk on.

Winter wonderland - NOT amateur radio

This morning we drove into Cambridge. My wife had her U3A course and I went shopping. She took this photo through the car window. 

Snowy churchyard - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was taken on this day in 2009. Obviously we had December snow then.

Snow! - NOT amateur radio

Our back lawn earlier

Last week it was mid 20s C and "shirt sleeve" weather.  

What did we get this morning? Snow! April can certainly be changeable! Most had gone within a few hours.

Kent snow - NOT amateur radio

Our son sent us this photo of the snow near Canterbury yesterday. It looks quite picturesque. Our son and his children have been sledging.

Yesterday's snow - NOT amateur radio

We had snow yesterday. Most of it had gone by late afternoon, which surprised us.

It is sunny, but icy, this morning. Wind has dropped.

When we get a drop of snow here in the UK we all panic. I can only imagine what people in New England and Canada think of us!  To us, 0 deg C is cold!

Overnight snow - NOT amateur radio

Although it snowed again overnight here in Burwell, I suspect it is much worse to the east. We have some fresh snow on the road and plenty of ice, but it could be much worse. This is the coldest winter here for some time although nothing like 1947 or 1963.

Snow in Kent - NOT amateur radio

 

They have had plenty of snow in Kent as the photo shows.

You can see they are having fun!

Snow in Burwell - NOT amateur radio

At last in this cold snap we had snow overnight and there are slight snow flurries now. 

This winter is proving colder than for several years and this is the second "proper" snowfall. It is much worse to the east of us. 

At least the children can go sledging and build snowmen. These are rare treats nowadays here.

No snow.....yet - NOT amateur radio

Although we have snow to the east of us, there is no snow here yet. I expect we will see some this week, although it often manages to just miss us.  Snow looks nice for a few days, but icy pavements can be a fall hazard best avoided.

UPDATE 2000z:  Still no snow here.

Yesterday's snow - NOT amateur radio

These days we do not get that much snow. We have had more this year than for several years. More was forecast for this afternoon, but we are still waiting.

The photo shows the snow falling yesterday.

Surprise - NOT amateur radio

We get little snow here these days. When I drew back the curtains this morning I was greeted by this surprise. 

I expect it will have gone by lunchtime. It looks good at the moment.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

When I first came to Cambridge in 1970 the winters were cold and dry. Nowadays winters are wet and mild. Snow is a rarety. Many winters we see no snow.

This morning we had snow, although it had all gone by lunchtime.

The photo shows the snow this morning.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

A thin coating of snow, but bright and sunny here.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

Michael Rainey posted a photo of the snow outside his house earlier on Facebook. We complain if we get a few inches as if it was a major disaster. By comparison, this snow in the NE USA was huge. I expect they just brush it off and carry on.

We really are a load of wimps over here!