Still snowing - NOT amateur radio

As I write, it is still snowing here. This is the heaviest snow we have had for several years. Definitely a day to stay at home and keep warm!

Snow - NOT amateur radio

This is a photo of our grandson enjoying the snow on his birthday. It is still snowing now and this winter has been the coldest for several years.

Beast from the East - NOT amateur radio

Today, we had a few snow showers. During the week it is likely to get worse. I like the look of snow for the first day or so. After that it normally turns brown and slushy.

Cold snap - NOT amateur radio

OK, I know our friends in the USA and Canada will be having a laugh, but apparently we are in for a cold snap in the UK with a good chance of snow in the east. This is all due to a big high pressure system out east feeding Siberian cold winds in the direction of the UK.

We seem to get few really cold snaps these days with little snow. Although this winter has been colder than for a while, it is nothing like 1947 and 1963 when it was very cold and snowy for months.

There is little doubt that the climate is changing and generally things are getting warmer, even if we do get a cold spell now for a while.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43167583 .

Rare snow - NOT amateur radio

Until this winter, we have not seen snow for some years. We have had the odd flurry, but not decent snow that has stayed. Yesterday it snowed (unexpectedly) all morning and there is still snow on the ground this morning.

This is a photo of 2 of our grandchildren in the snow yesterday with their mum.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

We still have a bit of snow on the ground, but it remains very cold. Already there are signs we are in for a colder winter than we have had for some years. Already we have had many more frosts than last winter and it is still 2 weeks to Christmas.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

Today we had our first "proper" snow since 2013. Snow is quite rare here these days due to our warming world. Someone explain this to President Trump in words of one syllable. Silly me, this is all a Chinese hoax.

It has been snowing all morning although I suspect it will soon go. It could turn to ice. Nice as it lasted.

Is that it? - NOT amateur radio

We had some snow this morning here, but it has stopped now. Barely a covering on the ground! In some ways I am pleased, but it was nice to see a snow covering for a week or so. Not these days.

If people tell you the climate is not warming on average they must be blind or stupid. The evidence is that this is largely due to us. A Maunder Minimum may help in the short-term, but only a bit. The trend is a warming world. That this is just due to natural fluctuations is a myth and the sooner we wake up the better.

UPDATE 1246z: It has all gone and the sun is shining in a cold, blue sky.

Snow? - NOT amateur radio

Usually when the Met Office predicts snow here we get rain. We may get snow here tonight or tomorrow, but I'll believe it when I see it!

Last winter we had just one day of snow and our "London" grandchildren made a tiny snowman. I think this was the first time they had seen snow on the ground. Years ago we had several days of snow each winter, but things have changed. The climate is, on average, getting milder and wetter here. Mind you, we have had more frosts this winter than last season, so who knows?

Snow - NOT amateur radio

This picture was taken 7 years ago today. It shows our local churchyard enveloped in snow. Today by contrast it is mild and dull! Last winter we got very little snow.

Snow - NOT amateur radio

We had our first real snow of the winter briefly this morning. It was on the ground, but soon went. Our "London" grandchildren thought it was magical and enjoyed eating the snow, having a snowball fight and making a very small snowman. Like childhood itself, the snow was soon gone.

No snow - NOT amateur radio

We seem to have missed the snow. Although there is a biting cold north wind, it is dry and the sun has come out. It would not surprise me if we got a frost tonight. This would be the first time this autumn. Up to now it has been very mild.

This afternoon, a walk is called for, although we will have to dress in warm clothes!

UPDATE 1540z:  We walked around the village.

Pre-Christmas snow - improved 500kHz?

In the East of England we have had a treat these last few days: deep (for us) snow that is crisp and beautiful. We've had about 10cms here with a little more last night and everywhere is a picture. The attached photo is the lane immediately behind my QTH. This is a video of my house from the road in the snow.

Not sure if it is the improved ground conductivity, but my signals on 500kHz have been reported stronger these last few days.

Snow

Today we had more snow at this QTH than I can remember in a very long time, certainly for at least 18 years. Here is a picture of the G3XBM back garden today. The 15m end-fed long-wire antenna slopes from the house guttering down to a post in front of the tree in the back left of the picture. You can just make out the antenna wire.