Following on from the recent 'very mild winter' post, I found something interesting about the weather online. No work tomorrow for me so I am in night owl mode

There is a guy called Joe Bastardi (unfortunate surname), who unlike the scare mongerers like James Madden, actually predicted the mild winter last time whilst everyone else said it would be cold. He also called the previous winters correctly.

He has posted his latest thoughts on twitter and assuming he proves to be correct, the weather related sh*t might hit the fan big time.

https://mobile.twitter.com/BigJoeBastardi/...04/photo/1

https://mobile.twitter.com/BigJoeBastardi/...09/photo/1

https://mobile.twitter.com/BigJoeBastardi/...6591383552 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Hi Doc,

you might want to visit some of the threads here (I came across this site by accident).
http://www.cloudyskies.co.uk/index.php?sid...2b76a704f8

Things could well be about to get very cold.

Stoob

Yes, that's where I got the link about Joe Bastardi. I won't fully believe it until its here but from what I read, this Joe is the main man and got the mild winter bang on with the late cold snap in February. IF his prediction comes to fruitition then it does seem likeky that it will be pretty damn chilly and lots of lovely snow about (fingers crossed) LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

And selfish me will have my fingers cossed that we have a mild winter. That the death toll of the homeless and elderly is kept to a minimum and that people's lives are not disrupted. That there are not endless road accidents or businesses suffering. That people's travelling plans are not ruined at Xmas or holidays cancelled due to runway closure.

Nah, I won't go on, I'm just being too selfish!!

...the snow and cold can bring fun to some and misery to others.

However, I can't imagine a worse world than one where we have eliminated all that is inconvenient or dangerous.
How boring that would be.
Personally, I'm fed up with rain and wind and fancy a change. I like my winter to be winter and not a cooler Autumn if you see what I mean.

wizking wrote:

And selfish me will have my fingers cossed that we have a mild winter. That the death toll of the homeless and elderly is kept to a minimum and that people's lives are not disrupted. That there are not endless road accidents or businesses suffering. That people's travelling plans are not ruined at Xmas or holidays cancelled due to runway closure.

Nah, I won't go on, I'm just being too selfish!!

Valid indeed. There are many problems caused but I just like the novelty of it, always have. At the end of the day, the mildest winter ever recorded or the coldest winter ever recorded or somewhere in between will just happen. No amount of hoping for snow and/or a white Christmas or a mild winter as per your post will alter things. What will be will be.

I guess forewarned is forearmed as they say. We can at least prepare ourselves in light of this (assuming things develop along these lines). The government claim that they are ready for anything this time  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Don't forget that a cold harsh winter kills germs that spread cold etc. Dull grey mild winters don't so a cold winter has a positive effect for the elderly in that respect.

Also, all the issues like the elderly, Christmas travel and transport do exist in countries like Canada, Sweden or Norway where they get lots of snow every winter and they do not grind to a halt like we do.

I do recognise however that they are accustomed to it and there are legal requirements for winter tyres to help transport. Perhaps we need a change of attitude over here. With the exception of the odd mild winter, could harsh winters become the norm? If so, then we need to take action as a country to be ready for it. Winter tyre sales are on the increase I understand so perhaps the message is getting through.

Scientists say that the more Arctic sea ice melts in summer, the bigger the change on the climate. The sheer amount of fresh water dumped into the north Atlantic over the summer broke records and disrupts the gulf stream which brings us mild temps. If this theory proves accurate then cold winters could make a regular appearance. 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

Funnily enough, the swedish weather service is telling us all the same thing here, not this weekend, but the next we can expect our first heavy snowfall apparently.. lucky I get my tyres on Tuesday!

got the coal ready! and the aga is nice and toasty could do with some double glazing but house is old so its leaded glass, i'll just make another fire hehe When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

If we get it like it was way back in the 40 50 and 60's the snow will be up to the top of the lamp posts so no vehicle will be going anyway! I remember back in 1969 or there abouts it was 6ft deep where we lived.

Here's some of the latest quotes from the aforementioned Joe Bastardi:

"Euro December to remember Newsmaking cold on way,.. shades of 2010"

"Snowfall by opening of December pushes deep into Europe"

"Amazing how this looks like 2010 in Europe Nov got warm.. heavy rains smashed into UK, then whip came down in Dec!"

"Monster block and Scandinavian cold coming back southwest"

"Rain means something .. signs of change in pattern when excessive in winter. Here we go again! Heavy UK rains, then the iceman cometh"

Here is his twitter feed: https://twitter.com/BigJoeBastardi 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

wizking wrote:

And selfish me will have my fingers cossed that we have a mild winter. That the death toll of the homeless and elderly is kept to a minimum and that people's lives are not disrupted. That there are not endless road accidents or businesses suffering. That people's travelling plans are not ruined at Xmas or holidays cancelled due to runway closure.

Nah, I won't go on, I'm just being too selfish!!

Second time this week I've totally agreed with wizking, looks like two of that have grown up and been round the block

Kal-El wrote:

countries like Canada, Sweden or Norway where they get lots of snow every winter and they do not grind to a halt like we do.

I am not going to pretend that its fine here in the winter.. our largest problem has to be snowdrifts rather than raw snowfall. Even in heavy snow, its hard to find a road that hasnt been cleared by a local farmer contracted by the council.

When the drifts come however, we are normally shut down for a day, and that is pretty much as far as the drama goes. The landrover Club here has a competition every year to see who can pull up the most cars from ditches and get people home. (I cant wait to see if I can hold my crown with the LR2) but for the most part, people here are exceptional drivers.

When I talk about exceptional driving, I am not talking tail out, 60mph around corners, I am talking about the small things, like seeing a 70 year old granny come off the brake pedal before turning in.

This year they are also making it maditory for lorries to have winter tyres, which wasnt the case before! (or busses). Without fail, a bunch of spaniards would get off the car ferry and make it about an hours drive north on the motorway before wiping out. It will be interesting to see the difference this year, although I cant see it happening.

Videoclip of the difference between a swedish boy racer and the ones back home -

Navigator wrote:

Kal-El wrote:

countries like Canada, Sweden or Norway where they get lots of snow every winter and they do not grind to a halt like we do.

Exactly. We just rely instead on (most) people hoping it will be mild.

However, all the bleating about the drought and the hosepipe bans seems to have fallen silent.