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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: BuzyG on 12:47:48, 01/12/20
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Just studying the mountain weather forecasts for the next couple of week ends. It looks like even us southerners could be seeing some snow on the high ground. I can feel a trip up to South Wales coming on, if it's allowed.
Any one else hoping to find some UK Snow?
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Oh yes. O0
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I hope so, running in snow can be great fun. I also like it when we have hard frosts.
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I hope so, running in snow can be great fun. I also like it when we have hard frosts.
We are already having those. In fact we had frost in August this year.
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Definitely looking forward to snow. Had a good walk up the Cheviots on Friday, very autumnal still; winter kit all sorted and ready!
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It's fun seeing snowmen on Brighton seafront :)
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It was raining hard and consistently in Portsmouth this morning so I decided to take advantage of it and dressed up to be 'fully waterproof' just to check that all of my clothing is working ok. I then went for a two-hour walk, across fields and through a couple of woods.
I wore my Berghaus Superlight boots, my waterproof gaiters, my rain skirt, my waterproof jacket with a hood. I wore my homemade waterproof tubes made from two cut off sleeves from another jacket and my thin gloves.
It rained all of the time, when I goit back to the care I was totally dry inside, wet outside.
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It was raining hard and consistently in Portsmouth this morning so I decided to take advantage of it and dressed up to be 'fully waterproof' just to check that all of my clothing is working ok. I then went for a two-hour walk, across fields and through a couple of woods.
I wore my Berghaus Superlight boots, my waterproof gaiters, my rain skirt, my waterproof jacket with a hood. I wore my homemade waterproof tubes made from two cut off sleeves from another jacket and my thin gloves.
It rained all of the time, when I goit back to the care I was totally dry inside, wet outside.
Good to here. I'm not sure two hours is a very thorough test though. The odd occasion the rain has got past my rainy day gear it has taken several hours.
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I know you are right, two hours is not a long time at all when compared to whole days walking but as always my 'weak link' is the area around my face, if the water is going to get in that's where it will happen. I just wanted to make sure that none of my gear had any obvious leak areas, like a seam or around the back of my neck. And of course today I was walking on the flat so no problems about inside perspiration to bother me.
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Well the weather report for The Breckon Beacons still looks excellent for this weekend. O0
Alas the Covid map looks less perfect. More cases just in Cardiff, than in Devon and Cornwall combined. So here's hoping there is a sprinkling of snow on Dartmoor. For those of you lucky enough to be getting proper snow. Have a good one and be sure to post up pictures to give the rest of us hope.
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Snow in Essex this morning, 2 inches and still falling in places.
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There's a photo of Striding Edge under snow taken yesterday by the Lake District Felltop Assessor
https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/ (https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/)
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Nice, some more desktop backgrounds for me!
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Nice, some more desktop backgrounds for me!
You might like this image then GWM
https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/__data/assets/image/0019/370315/IMG_7382.jpg (https://www.lakedistrictweatherline.co.uk/__data/assets/image/0019/370315/IMG_7382.jpg)
To quote Weatherline's readings from Helvellyn summit: "Winter arrived in earnest today with around 3 inches of snow down to valley level on the Thirlmere side of Helvellyn this morning. Knee deep drifts of snow were encountered frequently on the way up, burying the path over large areas."
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Very good, is that you?
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Wonderful stuff, Skip - has me reaching for my ice axe! With cold weather for the next few days, perhaps it will stay for a while.
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I couldn't resist going up my local fell on Thursday, just to get my boots in the snow.
(https://i.ibb.co/ctWPP7x/20201203-Hampsfell.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/W6QDf2Z/20201203-Hospice.jpg)
Hampsfell Hospice
The dog loved it - but was virtually invisible amongst the patchy snow!
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We had a couple of inches of snow, the first significant fall of the winter. Most of it has gone, due to following heavy rain. The amount of snow varied significantly over quite a short distance. There was little on the southern slopes of Bennachie, maximum height 528m, but the lower hills to the west of the Howe of Alford were completely white.
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Lovely short walk yesterday afternoon, evening. Plenty of snow had fallen on Dartmoor Thursday night and the temp stayed around Zero all day so it had stayed around above 450m.
The view South from Dinger tor towards the heart of the moor.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zGSJS8vv/20201204-152202.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/G4twb0kn)
And a snap of Yes tor as it was getting dark.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XYZfp1Ys/20201204-161540.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
We had a warm patch of air pass through last night and it's pretty much gone today. :(
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BuzyG.....what's that on top of the summit please? Looks like some kind of aerial set up.
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BuzyG.....what's that on top of the summit please? Looks like some kind of aerial set up.
The taller pole is a simple flag pole for raising the range flag, when live firing is taking place. Yes tor is on the Armies Okehampton Training rage. There is a second pole that I think could be an VHF/UHF radio mast. There are two army huts at Yes tor. Not sure what is in them. The lower one on the east side, certainly has comms to somewhere. as it has the little green plug connection that is common across the ranges.
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Thanks for the info O0
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Just checking the mountain forecast. Fingers crossed for plenty of snow heading into the new year. I so hope it holds. Not getting up to Scotland for a second winter in a row is a loss. Just thankful we are still free to walk the Moors down here and if the snow arrives properly it will be something fun to enjoy.
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I dont tend to take any notice of weather forecasts more than a day or two old, the weather is so unpredictable. I use a few weather sites ... Windy, Windfinder, Sometimes the MetOffice but mainly R.A.S.P
If i'm out on a hike I do what like most people do and just take note as the day progresses
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Just checking the mountain forecast. Fingers crossed for plenty of snow heading into the new year. I so hope it holds. Not getting up to Scotland for a second winter in a row is a loss. Just thankful we are still free to walk the Moors down here and if the snow arrives properly it will be something fun to enjoy.
Tue-Fri looking quite good. Not sure about the New Year forecast, seems a lot of precip, but hopefully can get some lovely crisp sunny days mixed in there with a snowy carpet to cheer everyone up.
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I dont tend to take any notice of weather forecasts more than a day or two old, the weather is so unpredictable. I use a few weather sites ... Windy, Windfinder, Sometimes the MetOffice but mainly R.A.S.P
If i'm out on a hike I do what like most people do and just take note as the day progresses
They have improved a lot the past twenty years. Thanks to satellites and computers. They still seem to have know idea what the clouds are doing more than a few days ahead. But I find the temperature predictions tend to be in the right ball park a week or more ahead. Along with the Met office data, I use this site a lot.
https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/High-Willhays/forecasts/621 (https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/High-Willhays/forecasts/621)
It worked well in New Zealand too, allowing us to find a one day window to climb Mt Tahurangi, in the middle of a southern ocean storm. O0
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Tomorrow night, the most important of the year, (well it is for me) we can all start to look forward to increasing daylight!
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BuzyG
A few weeks after lock down finished I was at the top of Whitestone Fell. Forecast was sunny with a western wind direction on my XCWeather phone app
It was hammering it down with a south wind direction. Granted they are better but as I said i look first at RASP on the day and take it from there. If RASP looks good you can usually bet your house on what it says
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BuzyG
A few weeks after lock down finished I was at the top of Whitestone Fell. Forecast was sunny with a western wind direction on my XCWeather phone app
It was hammering it down with a south wind direction.
What do you expect using XCWeather. ;D
I have that site in my weather favourites, but only for the wind map, Which I find better than on other sites. The actual overall weather predictions are vague/hopeless. IMHO.
The trick is to look at several trusted sites and have some understanding of what is likely to be valid data from each site. A hangover from my surfing days is I spend hours studying weather data ahead of most walks.
I have no weather apps at all on my phone. Once on the hill it's a bit late for a day walker like me. ;)
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Well happily the forecast from two weeks ago was spot on. Time to get the winter gear out and enjoy some snow and ice for a few days at least. :) O0
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Sprinkling of snow here in Grange over Sands this morning. Looking forward to a wander over Hampsfell with the dog....
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Thick frost here, not seen the like for years.
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Snow, ice, more snow and now rain. The snow and ice will be gone soon.
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Looking like a week of snow and ice on the fells for Cumbria. Definitely getting the crampons out once the New Year festivities have come to a close, it's long overdue and hopefully a bit of glorious fresh air will help raise the spirits.
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Looking forward to getting out in the Shropshire hills tomorrow..Snow on the tops at least
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I went out on Dart moor yesterday evening and it was freezing cold and not much Snow. Woke up this morning and clearly several inches fell overnight. Just about got the car into the carpark at the Dartmoor Inn, I was skidding backwards and four lads give my little car a shove the last few meters up the slope. O0
Dozens of people in the car park and on Brat tor. But once away from the usual tors, there was know one out just mile upon mile of virgin snow, with hardly a breath of wind making it feel rather warm in the sun shine. I spent several hours just wandering and enjoying the winter wonderland, until it started to go dark and I headed back to the car.
A few heavy snow showers came in during the day and visibility was down to a few yards at times, for extended periods. Happily I had taken my old Phone with me, that has no SIM in it, so has never updated the OS App. That one still has all my maps loaded and works perfectly. Unlike the latest version on my current phone that won't work without a phone data signal. Progress ay ::)
Best of all whist stopped for my last cuppa tea, at Hare tor, I decided there was time to build a small snowman. I'm assured snowmen are Covid safe. ;)
A few pics from my Phone.
Chat Tor, With Great Links left and The Dunna goats Right. Five mins earlier you couldn't see it from here.
(https://i.postimg.cc/0jWQ42pr/Chat-Tor-and-Great-Links.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Hare Tor, with the next load of snow about to arrive from the right.
(https://i.postimg.cc/DfB805tF/Hare-Tor.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
So I legged it for the cover of Sharp Tor near by and made a new friend. While the snow blew through.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mk2kVF10/My-New-Freind.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/1n2y3XHH)
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Very good, is that you?
Lord no! I'm twice as old as that and much uglier :)
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Only frost and a slight sprinkle of snow so far for me up North. I'm praying for snow. My sleds in garage and I have two huskies. Once the snow comes im out in it. The beast from the east was the best year. The dogs love it im hoping for a decent layer.
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Lord no! I'm twice as old as that and much uglier :)
Can I ask for an introduction to the young, handsome man in the photo :)
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Set off from Penrith this morning with eldest daughter and her husband. Intention was to do Helm Crag and another 3 Wainwrights on the route but the blizzard on the way towards Keswick and the sky to the south when it cleared changed our minds. Ended going up Catbells which was ok and got the chance to try my new crampons ( the ones which fit onto your boots, £16 so wasn't expecting much ) on the way down the other side. Turned out they were brilliant and money well spent. Pleasant walk in sunny conditions and with hindsight we could probably have managed our planned walk but can do that another day. Heated gloves are next on the to buy list.
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Ray, that sounds very like my walk today. I set off up Yes tor, thinking I might push for a full day and head into Fur tor, Lovely day though forecast to change at 1pm. A 16mile round trip in the snow would be nice I thought. By great Kneeset it was clear conditions were not the solid frozen ground they had been on Thursday's walk. So watching the weather coming in, I turned around and reversed my route back to the car. Very happy I had my micro spikes on coming back down Yes tor I was romping passed the youngsters slipping and sliding around on the damp snow and clitter. O0
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BuxyG. The weather forecast was for snow in the east but clear, dry and sunny in the west so it was a bit of a shock when the big flakes came down at about 9am. I think we made the right choice to change our plans and can do Helm Crag another day. Could see people on the top of Skiddaw and Blencathra where the snow looked like it could be quite deep.
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The forecast is showing another cold spell for the he SW next weekend. Might yet get to build a Snowman in the the garden. :)
Anything would be better than the weather here this weekend. :-X
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Fresh and frosty here in Northumberland this morning. An excellent walk near Rothley Crags with a short snow shower, much preferred to last weeks mud.
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I recorded a temperature of -9C on top of Diffwys, this afternoon.
The ground was set like concrete, but thankfully little wind, and a light dusting of snow on the summit of Moelfre.
Billerly cold though, here in Dyffryn, and i am on the coast, heaven knows how cold it must be further inland
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Nearest to winter (snow) we get this side of the country is a hard frost in a morning :-\
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Nearest to winter (snow) we get this side of the country is a hard frost in a morning :-\
Where about are you Mell. The forecast for here in the SW is still for a real cold spell, kicking off with snow and winds from next weekend. Then hopefully calm cold and sunny for a few days. Fingers crossed it holds true.
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Bright and frosty here in Northumberland; am going out to look for otters :)
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A few miles north of Mel in Scarborough we have had no snow whatsoever so far this winter. There has been a bit on the moors but nothing at sea/town level.
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The moors definitely count.
Here, close to the South Cornish coast, the gulf stream keeps us warm and cosy. But up on the moors it was excellent over the Christmas period. Our local SW weather, like other places, Snowdonia, the Western Lake District and West highlands. is vastly different down on the coast to up on the moors, especially in the SE of the region, where the moors create a dryer shadow for us to bask in. The rain dumps on First Bodmin then Dartmoor and any thing that is left up on Exmoor. Meaning the South Coast of Cornwall and Devon sees less rain and very little snow. The prevailing SW wind sees that we get some rain here. But when the N, NW winds bring in the Snow the moors catch it and store it like a huge playground and Dartmoor being the largest and importantly highest, has the best swings. O0
Never having lived on the East coast I don't follow the weather patterns over that way. I would be interested to here from those that do. I love learning about weather.
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I've never seen the Cairngorms with as much snow as covers them at present.
Have a look at the Loch Morlich webcam. It does move so wait for it to show the mountain view. Absolutely magnificent looking!
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BuzyG – aye, I’m down the coast and slightly inland of Scarborough. Nestled in our own micro-climate. We only get snow here if it’s been below freezing for a few days then the wind swings round to attack us from the north and picks up a bit of humidity from the sea on the way, and even then, it can be a bit hit and miss. The beast from the east was the last proper snowfall we had.
Usually the weather offloads itself all over the Pennines long before it reaches the east coast – we just get the drizzly dregs at sea level. Having said that, we’ve got a weather warning for snow over the next couple of days… watch that not happen ;D
.. probably why I got so excited at seeing some benign patches of snow on the Red Screes forum meet last March .. :-[
Sparnel – I’ll take a look at that webcam in daylight (not making the mistake of looking at a webcam at night again :D )
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Everything was deep frozen again this morning.
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Mel. It won't come as a huge surprise that the so called, beast from the East, was more of a grumpy puppy down here in the SW. Though it did catch a few out on Haldon Hill as I recall. It never really made it down to us in earnest.
I actually booked a day off work due to the apparently Red weather warning and drove up to Dartmoor for a bit of foul weather training. We had wind chill at -22 up on Great Links Tor and I loved it up there. But it was nothing particularly bad. Next weekend is currently forecast at wind chill -19 for example.
The best thing was they closed the Dockyard for the day. So I got my leave back. ;D O0
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Sparnel – I’ll take a look at that webcam in daylight (not making the mistake of looking at a webcam at night again :D )
Not just me then ;D
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Didn't think you would have looked at it in darkness! Go om...have a look now - 3.50pm
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Didn't think you would have looked at it in darkness! Go om...have a look now - 3.50pm
I took a look and almost a complete White out on every Cam or they are all broken. ;)
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Probably white out condx. Was nice and bright earlier. Some amount of snow and to think all the ski centres are closed >:(
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Didn't think you would have looked at it in darkness! Go om...have a look now - 3.50pm
I looked at a Whernside webcam at 11pm a few years ago and scratched my head a bit wondering why I couldn't see anything. Took a few minutes for the penny to drop ;D
Still no snow at Mellie-Towers despite the local forecasts for the area. Heaved it down with rain last night though and the wind had a bit of a nip to it. We're having more problems with flooding at the moment. Having said that, the wind's apparently swinging round to the north east for this weekend and will clash with the rain coming up from the south west so we might get a bit of snow from that... buuut probably not.
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Loch Morlich webcam showing winter right now!
https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam
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Loch Morlich webcam showing winter right now!
https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam (https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam)
Is that cam live Richard. Just watching it now and it looks like a very dangerous place to be. Thing is there is a dog running around on it and two young folk prodding with their feet edging out onto the lake. Quite uncomfortable to watch.
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Well Happily all three have now come back into the tree line. That was an interesting 10 mins watching them out walking on the lake.
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Is that cam live Richard. Just watching it now and it looks like a very dangerous place to be. Thing is there is a dog running around on it and two young folk prodding with their feet edging out onto the lake. Quite uncomfortable to watch.
Yes it is, I believe. Pushing your luck with snow covered icy lakes is not wise!
Edit - still snowing!
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Yes it is, I believe. Pushing your luck with snow covered icy lakes is not wise!
Edit - still snowing!
Indeed. Looking at the web cam this morning, I think they were pushing their luck. They went a fair way out and it's clear sections they crossed were not safe ice, as there is mush there today. Glad they got away with it. I was, in all seriousness, sat here in Cornwall thinking, what do I do if they go through the ice.
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A bizarre situation, but Dial 999. I would in the circumstances - I might be the only person watching and there might be no-one around.
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According to the forecast it will definitely be winter here tomorrow. Beast from the East 2. Possibly 8" of snow in some parts of Essex. Will be interesting to see how the next few days unfold. Haven't seen any serious snow for 3 years.
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According to the forecast it will definitely be winter here tomorrow. Beast from the East 2. Possibly 8" of snow in some parts of Essex. Will be interesting to see how the next few days unfold. Haven't seen any serious snow for 3 years.
Same here in Suffolk. I think we’re just on the edge of the heaviest snow expected. And it’s meant to feel like minus 8 next few days. I suspect we won’t be doing any long walks :(
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Blizzard conditions here in Northumberland at present, snow and hail, just a dust of snow on the ground so far ???
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So this is winter round my way:
(https://i.postimg.cc/bJSfbxCk/20210208-124724.jpg)
Impressive huh? :-X
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The Humber Bridge I presume Mel. Nice distant back drop to the snow.
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You got more than us Mel - we had a layer of hail stones. Even the dogs didn't get excited.
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So this is winter round my way:
Impressive huh? :-X
Agree with Buzy G and looks an interesting goal to walk toward . :coolsmiley:
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Past couple of days have had a much better wintryfiediness feel to them:
(https://i.postimg.cc/PrSb3wRf/20210209-122739-1.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/sXP7pQWr/20210210-111317-1.jpg)
Yes BuzyG, it is the Humber Bridge in the background and no G&P walking towards it isn't a good goal due to the country park underneath it being a magnet for people - at any time of year.
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You got more than us Mel - we had a layer of hail stones. Even the dogs didn't get excited.
It's all coming from the north east - that's why we're getting it at the mo.
It's dolloped bigger and better white stuff round my house but I'm only getting to see it in the dark at the mo :(
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. . . a much better wintryfiediness feel . . .
Oooh, "wintryfiediness" is a cracking neologism. Mind if I pinch it? :)
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No snow worth mentioning here in Carlisle. Lovely sunny blue sky day and just had a pleasant warm 13Km walk round the streets. Wish I had gone out on the bike instead but will do an hour on the turbo trainer in the garage after dinner.
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The Cairngorms are looking fabulous from the Loch Morlich web cam this morning!
https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam
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The Cairngorms are looking fabulous from the Loch Morlich web cam this morning!
https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam (https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam)
Stunning.
I did notice that Braemar hit -21C last night so it's for sure proper wintery there.. I've got my snow goggles and skis ready to head out but something tells me by the time we're all 'let out' the powder will be well gone!
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Just had another look.......folk walking across Loch Morlich! The ice must be very thick!
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The Cairngorms are looking fabulous from the Loch Morlich web cam this morning!
https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam (https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam)
Wow. Makes me just want to pack my gear jump in the car and get up there. Looks just perfect. :)
Sooo missing getting out in the Snow. :(
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Stunning.
I did notice that Braemar hit -21C last night so it's for sure proper wintery there.. I've got my snow goggles and skis ready to head out but something tells me by the time we're all 'let out' the powder will be well gone!
That is chilly indeed. Alas I fear -60 on K2 this past week will have done for the team lost near the summit.
https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2021/02/sadpara_snorri_and_mohr_missing_on_k2_rescue_mission_temporarily_suspended-72708 (https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2021/02/sadpara_snorri_and_mohr_missing_on_k2_rescue_mission_temporarily_suspended-72708)
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Past couple of days have had a much better wintryfiediness feel to them
Glad you got some snow in the end Mel, maybe it will last so you can have a walk in it.
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The Cairngorms are looking fabulous from the Loch Morlich web cam this morning!
https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam (https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam)
I keep going back to this web can. Beautiful sun shine just now. Young child jumping up and down in the middle of the now clearly well frozen lake. Other people just mulling around a snowman near to the edge. An idilic winters scene there today.
Here is another Well known Scottish web cam, to torture us all with it's inacsesible view today.
https://visitfortwilliam.co.uk/webcam_images#group=nogroup&photo=photograph-14639 (https://visitfortwilliam.co.uk/webcam_images#group=nogroup&photo=photograph-14639)
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As long as the snow keeps away, walking is just about tolerable at the moment.
Visited Bryn Cader Faner yesterday, and the windchill was punishing.
Its the first time, since that shocker, back in 2010, when i could not keep warm in my Buffalo clothing.
If it was -21 in Braemar, it was not that far behind here in Dyffryn.
Its just unbearably cold at the moment, so cold in fact, that the heating indoors, is just about coping.
Here's to some milder weather, if you please.
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The view from the Loch Morlich webcam (https://www.lochmorlich.com/webcam) is magnificent right now - everywhere plastered with snow, glimpses of the higher slopes, the wind whipping up spindrift 'dust devils' on the iced over loch.
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No body out on the loch today. All the lose snow has been blown away. Just a huge ice ring now.