CC's Preparing for winter

[system 4-50]

Don't throw food away if it's still edible! If it doesn't suit your delicate palate, donate it to your local food bank.

 

https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/

Did that last year. Some of it might still have been good if heavily doused in ketchup despite having been several years old.

[Jambo]

Seem to recall this story in the Express for the last few years.

 

Still they're bound to get it to coincide with a harsh winter eventually.

 

It goes back longer than that and it's quite interesting to see the evolution with time....

 

2016 - UK set for HEAVIEST SNOWFALL in years: Long-range forecast warns of Winter 2016 BIG FREEZE

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/714262/UK-snow-long-range-weather-forecast-cold-winter-2016-Britain-freeze

 

2015 - Coldest winter for 50 YEARS set to bring MONTHS of heavy snow to UK`

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/604619/Long-range-weather-forecast-Britain-cold-winter-2015-arctic-snow-freeze

 

2014 - Winter 2014 set to be 'coldest for century' Britain faces ARCTIC FREEZE in just weeks

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/520672/Winter-weather-2014-UK-forecast-cold-snow-November

 

2013 - Worst winter for decades: Record-breaking snow predicted for November

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/436170/Worst-winter-for-decades-Record-breaking-snow-predicted-for-November

 

2012 - Coldest winter in 100 years on way

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/358717/Coldest-winter-in-100-years-on-way

 

2011 - Are we set for a long, cold winter?

http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/273142/Are-we-set-for-a-long-cold-winter

 

2010 - Winter to be mild predicts Met Office

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/208012/Winter-to-be-mild-predicts-Met-Office

[bastion]

It goes back longer than that and it's quite interesting to see the evolution with time....

 

2016 - UK set for HEAVIEST SNOWFALL in years: Long-range forecast warns of Winter 2016 BIG FREEZE

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/714262/UK-snow-long-range-weather-forecast-cold-winter-2016-Britain-freeze

 

2015 - Coldest winter for 50 YEARS set to bring MONTHS of heavy snow

2014 - Winter 2014 set to be 'coldest for century' Britain faces ARCTIC FREEZE in just weeks

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/520672/Winter-weather-2014-UK-forecast-cold-snow-November

 

2013 - Worst winter for decades: Record-breaking snow predicted for November

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/436170/Worst-winter-for-decades-Record-breaking-snow-predicted-for-November

 

2012 - Coldest winter in 100 years on way

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/358717/Coldest-winter-in-100-years-on-way

 

2011 - Are we set for a long, cold winter?

http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/273142/Are-we-set-for-a-long-cold-winter

 

2010 - Winter to be mild predicts Met Office

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/208012/Winter-to-be-mild-predicts-Met-Office

Odd that, winter of 2010 was the coldest for 100 years according to some records Edited September 26, 2016 by bastion

[Jennifer McM]

 

It goes back longer than that and it's quite interesting to see the evolution with time....

 

2016 - UK set for HEAVIEST SNOWFALL in years: Long-range forecast warns of Winter 2016 BIG FREEZE

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/714262/UK-snow-long-range-weather-forecast-cold-winter-2016-Britain-freeze

 

2015 - Coldest winter for 50 YEARS set to bring MONTHS of heavy snow to UK`

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/604619/Long-range-weather-forecast-Britain-cold-winter-2015-arctic-snow-freeze

 

2014 - Winter 2014 set to be 'coldest for century' Britain faces ARCTIC FREEZE in just weeks

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/520672/Winter-weather-2014-UK-forecast-cold-snow-November

 

2013 - Worst winter for decades: Record-breaking snow predicted for November

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/436170/Worst-winter-for-decades-Record-breaking-snow-predicted-for-November

 

2012 - Coldest winter in 100 years on way

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/358717/Coldest-winter-in-100-years-on-way

 

2011 - Are we set for a long, cold winter?

http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/273142/Are-we-set-for-a-long-cold-winter

 

2010 - Winter to be mild predicts Met Office

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/208012/Winter-to-be-mild-predicts-Met-Office

 

 

Wow..... I'll never believe a word they say, never ever ever again! lol

[Paul C]

Did the story coincide with 1) the equinox, signalling the seaonal change to autumn 2) it being officially "a bit nippy" at night, 3) the journalist turining on his central heating again or 4) a distinct lack of other news that day?

[Jambo]

Odd that, winter of 2010 was the coldest for 100 years according to some records

 

That (and the BBQ summer forecast) is why the Met Office has stopped communicating probabilistic forecasts to the press. Their models might have been outputting a two thirds chance of a mild winter but that still means there's a one in three chance of it being a cold winter - cue howls of outrage from the press when they get the forecast 'wrong'.

[Rob-M]

They've got to get it right eventually.

[Murflynn]

 

That (and the BBQ summer forecast) is why the Met Office has stopped communicating probabilistic forecasts to the press. Their models might have been outputting a two thirds chance of a mild winter but that still means there's a one in three chance of it being a cold winter - cue howls of outrage from the press when they get the forecast 'wrong'.

in my experience recently every forecast by the Met Office, on which the BBC weather forecasts are based, have been probabilistic and generally wrong.

[Jambo]

in my experience recently every forecast by the Met Office, on which the BBC weather forecasts are based, have been probabilistic and generally wrong.

 

The joys of living in an exceptionally complex meteorological environment. Some countries have it easy:

[Chewbacka]

 

It goes back longer than that and it's quite interesting to see the evolution with time....

 

2016 - UK set for HEAVIEST SNOWFALL in years: Long-range forecast warns of Winter 2016 BIG FREEZE

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/714262/UK-snow-long-range-weather-forecast-cold-winter-2016-Britain-freeze

 

2015 - Coldest winter for 50 YEARS set to bring MONTHS of heavy snow to UK`

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/604619/Long-range-weather-forecast-Britain-cold-winter-2015-arctic-snow-freeze

 

2014 - Winter 2014 set to be 'coldest for century' Britain faces ARCTIC FREEZE in just weeks

http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/520672/Winter-weather-2014-UK-forecast-cold-snow-November

 

2013 - Worst winter for decades: Record-breaking snow predicted for November

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/436170/Worst-winter-for-decades-Record-breaking-snow-predicted-for-November

 

2012 - Coldest winter in 100 years on way

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/358717/Coldest-winter-in-100-years-on-way

 

2011 - Are we set for a long, cold winter?

http://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/273142/Are-we-set-for-a-long-cold-winter

 

2010 - Winter to be mild predicts Met Office

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/208012/Winter-to-be-mild-predicts-Met-Office

Typical tabloid mentality - no news so a good scare story about how we are all going to freeze to death fills a page or two and then they can reuse a few old photos of snow ploughs etc. How much copy is there in "pretty average winter expected this year" yawn.

No news? just make something up that wont be remembered.

[BruceinSanity]

Typical tabloid mentality - no news so a good scare story about how we are all going to freeze to death fills a page or two and then they can reuse a few old photos of snow ploughs etc. How much copy is there in "pretty average winter expected this year" yawn.

No news? just make something up that wont be remembered.

Doesn't the Daily Depress use their own amateur metperson who has a secret method he refuses to share with anyone else or submit to systematic evaluation?

 

It would be funny if it wasn't so stressful to all those who already have trouble heating their homes and may well panic when they see rubbish like this in the paper.

[system 4-50]

Check your window seals. It is a right pain trying to fix leaky windows when it is cold, windy, and wet outside.

Have a quantity of wide all-weather sealing tape for emergencies. (I've been relying on this for over a year as I can't get the damn window screws out.)

If you have any exterior steel floor like I do on my cruiser stern, having some of that anti-slip rubber stuff can be useful when it is icy.

I've just invested in some of those solar garden lamps for locating my mooring ring when returning to my mooring in the dark/dusk. Ok, I should mow the grass but I know I'll never get a round tuit. Oh, and they are the pretty ones that change colour.

[dor]

Firstly let me say I DO NOT read the Daily Express. But I often scan through the front pages on the BBC website. It seems to me that at least once a week there are 3 inch headlines on the front page of the Daily Express telling us it is going to be the hottest/coldest/dryest/wetest week for a century. It is invariably wrong. What I find remarkable is that despite getting it very wrong so often, they still churn it out. Doesn't say much for the intellect of the average Express reader, or at least, what the Express thinks is the typical intellect.

 

As for berries, this is more a reflection of the weather in the previous spring and summer than any indicator of a hard winter to come. The idea that the birds know it is going to be a hard winter so they save them for later is, well, laughable!

[Jambo]

Doesn't the Daily Depress use their own amateur metperson who has a secret method he refuses to share with anyone else or submit to systematic evaluation?

 

It would be funny if it wasn't so stressful to all those who already have trouble heating their homes and may well panic when they see rubbish like this in the paper.

 

That was Piers Corbyn (brother of Jeremy) who runs the crystal ball gazing at "WeatherAction" but I think he's a bit too crazy even for the Express. They now use "Exacta Weather" who do a similar job using tea leaves.

 

I should add that Exacta Weather also refuses to submit to independent audit.

Edited September 27, 2016 by Jambo

[spadefoot]

I have it on good authority that winter will last until next spring.

[system 4-50]

I have it on good authority that winter will last until next spring.

for most of us.

[Jennifer McM]

I'm cheered up thinking that the winter might not be brutal! Still, best to be prepared like all good scouts/boaters.

 

Chatting to a fellow marina resident, she was telling me that if we decide to stay at the marina over winter, it would be a good idea (as we've retired) to stay 'in the boat' until the 'workers' have left in the morning as they normally spread salt and sand (provided by the marina) around the icy areas. (Sounds a bit selfish on our part though.)

 

This made me think about the 'salt'! Don't think I'd like to have salt within twenty paces of our boat. So I guess people would use sand for treacherous areas? Sometimes though sand contains salt?

[BruceinSanity]

I'm cheered up thinking that the winter might not be brutal! Still, best to be prepared like all good scouts/boaters.

 

Chatting to a fellow marina resident, she was telling me that if we decide to stay at the marina over winter, it would be a good idea (as we've retired) to stay 'in the boat' until the 'workers' have left in the morning as they normally spread salt and sand (provided by the marina) around the icy areas. (Sounds a bit selfish on our part though.)

 

This made me think about the 'salt'! Don't think I'd like to have salt within twenty paces of our boat. So I guess people would use sand for treacherous areas? Sometimes though sand contains salt?

The ash from your fire is good, too.

[Naughty Cal]

I'm cheered up thinking that the winter might not be brutal! Still, best to be prepared like all good scouts/boaters.

 

Chatting to a fellow marina resident, she was telling me that if we decide to stay at the marina over winter, it would be a good idea (as we've retired) to stay 'in the boat' until the 'workers' have left in the morning as they normally spread salt and sand (provided by the marina) around the icy areas. (Sounds a bit selfish on our part though.)

 

This made me think about the 'salt'! Don't think I'd like to have salt within twenty paces of our boat. So I guess people would use sand for treacherous areas? Sometimes though sand contains salt?

They use salt at our marina.

 

Mind you most of the boats in our marina are salty water boats and it's the closest to salt water they will ever get

[rupertbear]

The editor of the Daily Express has been quoted as saying that the apocalyptic front page stories increase their circulation by a significant amount.

 

One of my all time favourite Twitter exchanges is from, I think, two winters ago:

 

[snappyfish]

Take it week by week.