Hi all,

Another year comes to an end. The older you get the quicker time goes and every winter doesn’t seem like it was years ago. At least this winter started with a very notable cold spell with some lovely blue skies and Arctic air. We’ve returned to a more typical December now, with wind, rain and milder temperatures. This pattern can clearly be seen on December’s charts below. Data from Chadderton HQ via a Davis Vantage Pro 2.

Thursday: Windy and feeling cold with a strong wind. Bright spells here and there but equally some wintry showers, especially across the north. Max 7°C

Friday: Early rain clearing quickly to blustery showers, some could be thundery. Milder and windy. Max 10°C

New Year’s Eve: A showery day in prospect with some hail and perhaps thunder and lightning mixed in. Another windy day and mild for the time of year. Max 9°C

New Year’s Day: Improvements. Bright spells and scattered showers. Breezy. Cooler. Max 7°C

Bank Holiday Monday: Tricky forecast as a small area of low pressure might sit across us bringing showery rain which will ease during the day. The track and development of the low isn’t certain and if it doesn’t come off then a drier day is in order with sunny spells. Max 7°C

Outlook: Little change expected as the Jet Stream looks set to drive most of the weather into the second week of January. This means more spells of rain and wind at times; drier spells in between but nothing significantly cold and any snow confined to the highest peaks of the Pennines. Even frosts will be hard to come by.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Finally, I hope you all had a good Christmas and all the very best for the year 2023.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 28th of December 2022 at 8:10pm.
Images: http://www.netweather.tv & http://www.tropicaltidbits.com

Hi all,

We can’t predict what the rest of this winter will bring, but it will take something to beat the recent, lengthy cold spell that we encountered, even if for the majority of us, we didn’t see any significant snowfall. I’m sure we’ll see some decent snowfall at some point over the next couple of months or so, but it’ll be hard to beat those minimum temperatures.

I’ve been looking at the computer models today and they are swinging one way then the other and forecasting what the weather will bring over the festive period is tricky. I’ll give you a mostly likely scanerio as usual, but this time it really is subject to change, so keep an eye on Twitter for updates. There’s a bit of a battle going on with cold air to the north and milder air to the south. Apart from a chilly blast on Boxing Day, we’ll stay in the milder air.

Will we see a White Christmas? No seems certain. The only hope was some evening wintry showers but these showers within colder air looks set to arrive on Boxing Day instead.

Thursday: Any early bright skies fading as cloud thickens from the west. Patchy rain here and there with low-cloud or mist for the hills. Feeling chilly but generally light winds. Max 7°C Min 4°C

Friday: It really looks a poor day. Cloudy with rain, heavy and persistent, will spread up from the southwest. This will hang around all day until turning drizzly into the evening. Cold and windy. Some sleet or wet-snow on the highest peaks of the Pennines. Max 7°C Min 4°C

Christmas Eve (Saturday): Bright spells and showers. Some of these will be blustery with hail. Mild for the time of year. Max 9°C Min 5°C

Christmas Day (Sunday): Mostly cloudy with showers. These will ease as the day progresses and it will turn a little cooler later in the day/overnight. Max 8°C Min 2°C

Boxing Day (Monday): Fresh with sunny spells and a few wintry showers perhaps giving a covering of snow on the hills. Max 5°C Min 0°C

Outlook: The rest of the week looks quite unsettled with further spells of showers or rain and with the colder air just staying to our north, snow looks unlikely.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2023. Thanks for reading my weekly blog and for all your interactions on Twitter this year.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued on Wednesday the 21st of December 2022 at 5:30pm.
Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

WOW. What a cold week that was and although it’s not over yet, much milder weather is on the way, but will it last?

The Arctic weather has been stunning at times; crisp mornings with a severe frost, some snowfall, fog and beautiful blue skies by day, including inversions (I love them!). This has led to some gorgeous photos. Here’s a selection. Thanks to those who tweeted them in.

Temperatures touched as low as -20°C in Scotland, just outside Carrbridge and didn’t get above -12°C in some spots! Locally in NW England, we recorded a low of -10.5°C in Longridge, Preston, on one of the many unofficial but reliable weather stations on the network that we monitor.

Thursday: Another very cold start with temperatures, locally, down to -7°C once again. A stunning day, with blue skies. Make the most of it with change ahead. An ice-day in some spots. Sharp frost again overnight. Max 1°C Min -7°C

Friday: A frosty start with some clear skies but it is expected to become cloudier and even misty as the day goes on. Feeling very cold especially in the slight breeze later on. Chance of a sleet or snow shower. Not as cold overnight. Max 1°C Min -2°C

Weekend: The baltic spell ends. But not without some snow.

Saturday: Generally cloudy and feeling bitter with a strengthening southerly wind. A few wintry showers are possible especially to the west. Slightly less cold on the thermometer. Max 3°C Min 0°C

Sunday: An active weather system will swing in quickly from the south-west bringing much milder air and a spell of heavy rain. With this low pressure bumping into the cold air, we could see several hours of snow, especially on the hills before it turns to rain. As always it’s a marginal event. A few cms can’t be ruled out, but it will be a slushy mush by the evening as temperatures rise significantly. It will also be windy making it feel very chilly in the morning. Look out on Twitter for snow updates. Max 10°C Min 8°C

Outlook: Very mild on Monday with further rain or showers, locally 12°C, which will feel strange after the last two weeks. Low pressure will then move across the north of the UK and introduce a much-colder airflow once again (NW’ly) dropping maximums to 5-7°C leaving us with a week of wintry showers and bright spells. Remember we only need a wintry shower on Christmas Day for it to be officially a White Christmas. At this stage temperatures look favourable, 4°C. Watch this space. Overall December looks like it will be the only month in the year with below-average temperatures.

Thanks for reading as always. If you find this blog useful please tell others.

See you next week for the final blog before Christmas.

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 14th of December 2022 at 7:50pm

Charts: http://www.netweather.tv & http://www.wxcharts.com

Blog Image: @kreacher37 on Twitter

Hi all,

Winters these days never seem as cold as they were when I was a kid and we’re getting used to mild Decembers too. Not this year though, as the month has certainly seen a trend to much colder weather and now we’re under an Arctic airflow with days of frosts, some severe, ahead. It will be cold enough to snow but we need precipitation for that and the general theme for the coming days is mostly dry with the chance of a few disturbances in the atmosphere as low pressure will be close by.

Thursday: After a bitter night the day will dawn with temperatures well-below freezing. Sunny spells during the day with some patchy cloud drifting down from the north later in the day which could produce a few light snow flurries/showers. Temperature struggling to get above freezing. Max 1°C Min -6°C

Friday: Another sharp frost to start and the day is likely to be an ice day for most. Some bright spells but more in the way of mist or fog is likely especially later with patches of freezing fog setting in overnight. Max 1°C (below freezing all day if you’re misty/foggy). Min -4°C

Weekend: Very cold, risk of freezing fog increases and perhaps a few light snow showers cropping up.

Saturday: A bitterly cold day with the odd bright spell but it is expected to be misty/foggy once again with a lot of cloud around. Can’t rule out the odd light snow shower. Not as cold overnight due to cloudier conditions and some of us with freezing fog. Max 0°C Min -3°C

Sunday: Frost and freezing fog to start which will be slow to clear in places. Areas staying in the fog all day will see sub-zero temperatures. Elsewhere some bright spells and again perhaps an isolated snow shower. Max 0°C Min -3°C

Outlook: The working week will start very cold and very similar to Sunday albeit windier and a biting wind too. Perhaps a bit more in the way of sunshine after early freezing mist/fog clears. Tuesday will see a cold easterly wind pick up as an area of low pressure tries to come up from the south-west.

What happens from here is still uncertain. The low pressure could push in bringing a spell of heavy snow before turning to rain and less cold air arrives. This was the favourable outcome from some computer models. Now some computer models are keeping the low pressure slightly further south, so flirting with the south-west of England and Wales, before pushing back towards the south-west as the cold air wins. This would keep the Jet Stream south of us and hence the colder-than-average spell will continue for the rest of the week with frosts and scattered wintry showers.

What the outcome is later next week, will be more certain as this weekend goes on, so look out for updates on Twitter. With current energy prices this is not the weather we needed but it does bring back nice memories of winters starting cold with Arctic air and frost lasting all day.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued on Wednesday the 7th of December 2022 at 7:52pm.
Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

Winter, meteorologically-speaking is here. We ended Autumn as we start Winter, with below-average temperatures and with the weather set in a pattern. A huge high pressure across eastern Europe, originally building over Scandinavia is controlling our weather. When this happens, we can drag in cloud off the still relatively warm North Sea and hence have days on end of little change. The doom and gloom can come in the form of fog/low-cloud especially with little wind and with any brightness to the west or even as far west as the coast. We are currently in this predicament but slight changes are on the way.

Thursday: Similar to recent days. A lot of cloud, low-cloud on the hills, mostly overcast and cold. That said temperatures could be a degree of two up on recent days. Max 7°C

Friday: A slight easterly breeze in place with plenty of cloud being dragged in from the North Sea. The cloud could be thick enough at times for the odd patch of drizzle first-off. As the day progresses, little change but perhaps the odd bright spell to the west. Max 6°C

Weekend: Slowly colder with the breeze picking up leading to a windchill and showers possible.

Saturday: Generally cloudy with a raw easterly breeze. Mostly dry with any lucky spots seeing limited brightness, mainly to the west. Dry but the odd shower may occur. Max 5°C

Sunday: Overcast with a keen wind and cold with a feels-like temperature of 0°C. Can’t rule out an isolated shower which would be wintry on the tops of the Pennines. Max 5°C

Outlook: Very little change for the next couple of days but after that does look interesting as there’s the potential for high pressure to build towards Greenland and low pressure over Scandinavia which will allow for a cold northerly airflow to develop, straight from the Arctic. Nothing extremely cold but cold enough for a few snow showers, even to lower-levels. Temperatures look set to remain below-average with the risk of wintry showers increasing. The second week of December could see a battlefield developing. Will milder air push in from the south-west or could it turn much colder from the east; not exactly what we need with energy prices! Watch this space.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 30th of November 2022 at 7:50pm.
Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

The typical autumnal weather continued over the past week with further rain taking the month total to 95mm. The recent pattern is set to continue then a few models are hinting at a drier, more settled start to December with a possible cold spell with frost and fog on the horizon.

Thursday: A bright start with some sunny spells. Winds will increase, locally 35mph later, as cloud thickens from the southwest. A band of rain, some heavy will move through the region during the afternoon. Showers follow later. Max 9°C

Friday: Not a bad day with sunny spells after morning-showers fade away. Windy though. Max 10°C

Weekend: Rain returns but milder.

Saturday: Any brightness fading as cloud thickens into the afternoon. Rain will arrive later and it will bring with it milder air from the south-west. Windy. Max 11°C

Sunday: Early rain clears to a mostly cloudy picture and the odd scattered shower. Breezy. Max 11°C

Outlook: Becoming cooler again with temperatures around or perhaps just below average. Some rain or showers at first but high pressure is favourable to build in and settle things down; so becoming drier and with some frost and fog where skies clear. Beyond that there are a few hints of a cold easterly or north-easterly airflow setting up which could deliver the first cold spell of winter. For now though, as always, it’s too far away to confirm.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 23rd of November 2022 at 6:30pm
Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

A very mild but mobile outlook as bands of rain push north-east over the next few days, with brighter skies following on behind. Timings of these areas of rain will change over the coming days so look out for updates on Twitter.

Not only will the daytime maximum temperatures be above-average, we will have mild nights. Once we enter November, temperatures start to return to more nearer to normal, as winds swing westerly, perhaps north-westerly at times.

Thursday: Showery rain will move through during the morning. The afternoon will consist of bright spells and a few showers. Windy but not as gusty as Wednesday. Very mild. Max 17°C

Friday: Another windy day and with temperatures into the mid-teens. Sunny spells and showers are likely again, some heavy and more frequent during the morning. Max 16°C

Weekend: Little change.

Saturday: Cloudy with a spell of rain easing into the afternoon but staying particular overcast. Very mild and breezy. Max 17°C

Sunday: At this stage Sunday looks drier as we are sandwiched between rain out west and to our east. A strong southerly wind but a little cooler, signs of things to come. Bright spells at times. Max 15°C

Outlook: It looks like it will turn even more unsettled with several areas of low pressures which could be quite deep bringing the risk of gales and perhaps a named-storm. Generally it will become cooler with temperatures back into the 11-13°C range.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 26th of October 2022 at 7:15pm.
Images: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

It’s likely to stay on the mild side as we go through the latter stages of the second month of autumn as winds generally come from a moist source. Tuesday was a beautiful day, cold and fresh to start, locally 3°C and lovely and warm {in the sunshine} during the day. Sitting out for my lunch felt so warm. None of that luxury over the coming weeks as showers seem to dominate.

Thursday: Less windy but generally cloudy with some patchy rain out west and localised downpours to the east, chance of thunder and lightning. Risk of some heavier rain for a time before it turns showery and then drier and brighter later in the day. Mild. Max 15°C

Friday: Low pressure in charge, anchored to the south-west of the UK. A fresh breeze again with bright spells and after a dry start showers will push north-east, some heavy with thunder. Mild for the time of year. Max 16°C

Weekend: Fewer showers?

Saturday: After a cloudy start any showers should begin to fade and it turns drier with bright or sunny spells. Still breezy and mild. Max 16°C

Sunday: A nagging easterly wind and bright spells for the morning. Uncertainty for the afternoon with the chance of some rain developing to our south-west and moving in later. A bit cooler. Max 14°C

Outlook: The working week looks set to be quite mobile with low pressure parked out in the Atlantic, driving spells of showery rain across the country for most, if not all of the week. Again, some downpours will contain hail and thunder. With a south-westerly airflow temperatures are set to be above average with overnight frosts unlikely.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 19th of October 2022 at 7pm.
Image: http://www.wxcharts.com

Hi all,

September’s stats are in and finally a month where the total rainfall was not below-average. September is definitely a month of change and it’s feeling a lot more autumnal now and we have more rain to come after a wet start to October.

Thursday: Sunny spells for the morning but cloudier for the afternoon as an area of showers moves in. Drier into the evening. Windy. Max 15°C

Friday: A band of rain will move south-east followed by bright spells and showers. Breezy. Max 14°C

Weekend: Drier with a ridge of high pressure.

Saturday: Overall not a bad day. Dry with bright or sunny spells. Not as windy as recently. Max 15°C

Sunday: Bright start with cloud increasing. Patchy rain arriving during the evening. Max 14°C

Outlook: Drier start to the working week with another ridge of high pressure but limited amounts of sunshine. More unsettled during the week as bands of showery rain return. Temperatures above-average and windy at times.

September 2022 Stats

Max 22.5°C (5th)
Min 2.9°C (28th)
Av. 13.5°C
Wettest 25mm (30th)
Av. Humidity 82%
Av. Barometer 1014.0 hPa
Max Gust 27.6mph
Av. Wind Direction W
Rain 94.2mm (average)
Rain Registered Days 17
Dry Days 13

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks for reading as always.

Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 6th of October at 5:30pm.

Hi all,

The weekly blog is back this week and with it news of unsettled weather as the Jet Stream returns across the UK. September is definitely the month of change and another grass-frost this morning, signalling the trend to much cooler weather compared to only a few weeks ago. That said, milder air is on the way but plenty of rain and wind to go with it.

Thursday: A fresh start with sunny spells but cloud will soon increase. Breezy but warmer than recently. Bright spells continue into the afternoon with the chance of a fleeting shower. Chilly night. Max 16°C

Friday: A large area of low pressure will anchor to the northwest of the UK and dominate the weather. Cloud thickening quickly, and any brightness fading as heavy rain sweeps in from the west during the morning. Winds increasing later to gust locally to 40mph. The rain will turn showery into the evening. Max 14°C

Weekend: Autumnal but improvements.

Saturday: Windy with frequent showers which could be thundery with hail. Bright spells in between. Feeling fresh and gusty during showers. Max 13°C

Sunday: Showers continuing for most of the morning but these will ease and become more scattered into the afternoon. Still windy. Max 14°C

Outlook: Maximum temperatures staying in the mid-teens. Mixed conditions with bright spells and showers. Nothing significantly cold or warm. Ground-frosts unlikely.

Follow @ChadWeather on Twitter for the latest forecasts and warnings.

Thanks,
Jon

Forecast Issued: Wednesday the 28th of September 2022 at 5:10pm
Image: www wxcharts.com