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Cold Spell (of depth and duration uncertain!) starting Tuesday 7th March

  • 03-03-2023 2:28pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    Hi all

    Appreciate I will get criticism for starting this thread but I'm starting as:-

    1. Cold spell threads are fun (even when they are a bust)
    2. Its the last hurrah for this winter (and see 1 above)
    3. There are a lot of us following, specifically, the potential for cold next week and having to post about it on the technical charts - which isn't correct
    4. I said on a thread about 3 days ago that someone would open a thread - and so I'm now doing it to make my own prediction come true!
    5. Most importantly, because the current indications mean there is chance we will see an event next week actually worthy of its own thread.

    On that there is lots of model uncertainty. There seems to a general consensus now (and apologies for the non technical description, I'm not one of the more knowledgeable posters) that will see artic air descend from the N/NE over the entire country overnight Monday into Tuesday 7 March. I think there is a consensus also that it will be, to use a technical term, bloody cold on Tuesday.

    Beyond that the consensus ends. The ECM, the most reliable model, has it as a 1 day "event" only before mild air pushes back in. Even as a one day event it might be pretty forgettable with no snow and, in truth, nothing remarkable in terms of temps, etc.

    The GFS, being the American model, is far less reliable but, for what it is worth, has the spell lasting several days.

    Moreover, all the models are flipping here and there and clearly it is a knife edge situation as to what happens after Wednesday.

    The most up to date charts we have are the 6z GFS. They do show fairly notable weather for next Tuesday morning. I've pasted the charts for 7am below and they show temps down to -6, windchill adjusted temps down to -10, upper temps over the country of -8 and below as well as thickness values that would easily support snow if there was the precipitation.

    Snow prospects definitely best for northern areas at first. If the spell is prolonged though there is always the holy grail scenario of atlantic fronts pushing up against, and ultimately sliding under, the cold air leading to a potential white gold fest. Highly unlikely but...

    Just as a teaser, here's a chart of 10 March on the 6z GFS showing sneachta as far south as this here county (and yes, its only 1cm)

    So all in all, there's definitely a good chance this could be a whole load of nothing, but there is a chance it could be something more than that and worthy of a thread.

    If it turns out to be a bust, so be it, its fun to post anyway....

    Post edited by Meteorite58 on


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,402 ✭✭✭✭Cluedo Monopoly


    Good on you Rebel! I am beginning to believe...

    What are they doing in the Hyacinth House?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭sparrowcar


    ReKbeElbRroMwsIeTr



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    Its probably telling that Kermit hasn't opened a thread alright!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 240 ✭✭konman


    @Rebelbrowser at least its there for the archives if nothing else.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Roll on April!



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    12z GFS still similar but both the 12z GEM and JMA have it as a 2 day affair. What's the record for the shortest thread ever started. Not asking for any reason.....



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,033 ✭✭✭WolfeEire
    Clare (410ft asl)


    Slider low still in the shakeup, Rebel. Keep the faith

    www.x.com/wolfeeire



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,509 ✭✭✭SpitfireIV


    How long before the words 'Cork snow shield' get uttered?! 🤔😂



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    ECM actually much better. Cold is still there on Wednesday and is putting up much more of a battle on Thursday so the slider low a runner there also.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    Actually in the unlikely event of the slider low coming off Cork will be well positioned (though North Munster and south Leinster may be best placed)



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,300 ✭✭✭pauldry


    It could be somewhat longer in Ulster but less than a full 24 hours for most of the country before maybe another cold blast at the weekend.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,630 ✭✭✭StrawbsM


    No idea on all the weather terminology but I’m posting just to boost your thread numbers, rebel 😂

    I’ve got a VERY long awaited NCT on Wednesday in Donegal so I hope the snow isn’t not too bad.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,402 ✭✭✭✭Cluedo Monopoly


    What are they doing in the Hyacinth House?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,445 ✭✭✭.Donegal.


    ECM Monday 1pm and the cold air is knocking on the door of the north coast

    Tuesday

    Wednesday

    By Thursday there’s a huge contrast. Uppers of 2c touching the extreme South coast and -8 over the northern third.

    Friday is pretty similar

    By Saturday -6 uppers cling to the far north but milder air is beginning to have more of a presence across the country

    Small distances and big margins. It will chop and change as ever. Let’s see how it plays out.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    Nice to see the thread opened!!

    I'll focus mainly on Cork for this one. Two decent shots from what I can see. Firstly on Monday night ppn seems to move South and if anything intensify before clearing on Tuesday. Nearly all models show this and could well be our best chance in seeing snow next week. (Telling that Gerry Murphy while saying little had snow symbol over the Southwest for then) The beeb also mentioned a wave forming over Cornwall for this timeframe which is same system. So watch this closely!!

    The second event is for Wed night and Thursday and many options remain on the table. BUT for now all we can go with is the favoured option which is for the low to move across the South Coast but not displacing the cold air. Somewhere across the South is likely to get disruptive snow from this particularly South Midlands.

    I think Gerry mentioned it turning colder on tonight's broadcast. Sitting on the fence I guess which is fair enough. Doesn't bother me the warnings will come eventually! What does annoy me though is how the risk isn't even mentioned unlike UK Met who admit snow is likely but they can't tell where.....honest information on a risk that may or may not happen.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,719 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    I wouldn't be too critical of MÉ being circumspect about these things, its all far too marginal in terms of precip in this neck of the woods, whereas Scotland, by comparison, is in a prime position to have significant mountain snows.

    The battleground scenario for next Wednesday to Friday is certainly interesting though, could be some heavy snow for a very short amount of time in Munster and South Leinster, with maybe 30 or 40 kilometres making all the difference between a good plastering and cold drizzle.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    Again, I'm no expert but it is basically when a low pressure rain front comes up against a sitting pool of cold air but instead of just displacing the cold, it essentially gets somewhat repelled - given our lows usual travel west to east what usually happens in that scenario here is that the rain front "slides" under the cold block and the, say, 50km band of land over which the airmasses meet can see the rain turn to snow (sometimes called a rain to snow event on these threads).



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 12,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭Meteorite58


    Thanks Reblebrowser for starting the thread, no doubt lots of uncertainty , when is there any certainty especially with snow in Ireland and March to boot! But too many signs to ignore with the forecasted cold and possibility of snow at times 😀

    First spell of interesting weather in a long while. Definitely a battleground situation over Ireland but that is where you want it for snow in a set up like this and as said above the margins are on a knife-edge. Huge cold to tap into, track of LP systems and the associated fronts will be eagerly followed no doubt over the coming days. Certainly a chance of a dump of snow or two ( currently looking around Thurs and the weekend is possible further North ). How far the fronts will progress into the cold will be interesting. Will also have snow showers and hail showers in their own right drifting on to the coasts and further inland coming from the instability over the sea. The LP's look deeper on the GFS which would give breezy to windy conditions at times leading to some notable sharp Windchill's.

    Some very sharp frosts during the week possible which must be of concern to farmers and horticulturists. Could get some big temperature contrasts between the North and the south of the country at times, ECM showing 10 to 12C in the Saturday and 1 or 2C in the North for a time.

    Be it snow or rain the ECM is showing accumulations higher than recent times but probably around average for the time of the year, heaviest in the S of the country. It will put an end to the gorse fires if anything!

    So, much debating and scrutiny of the charts and forecasts over the coming days .








  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 107 ✭✭AnFearCeart


    Basically we stay on the northern flank of the low pressure centre as it crosses from Mizen Head to St. Davids in Wales if you can draw a line. The low slides under or keeps south of the high pressure to the north.

    You want lows running in along the blue arrows to help keep the cold north east flow coming.



  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, RicherSounds.ie Moderator Posts: 2,505 Mod ✭✭✭✭The Ritz


    Thanks @Rebelbrowser for starting the thread, I’m here for the incomprehensible techno talk and the lovely colouredy moving maps :-)

    Definitely the fun thread, and probably the last chance this year ?



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    JS, hadn't noticed it til you said it but the 18z GFS (which prolongs the cold to Fri/Sat) really does show snow falling, especially in Munster, as the cold front clears away south on Tuesday. Interestingly.....



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭giveitholly


    Was wondering why the T120+ thread was so quite until I discovered this one



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    It sure does, usually these fronts fade as they cross the country but this one if anything intensifies. Very deep cold racing in behind it should catch up!! Could be the best chance of the cold spell

    Perhaps we've nothing to worry about though, Gerry said turning cooler next week with temps of 4 to 8C. We'll soon see who's right



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,383 ✭✭✭✭nacho libre


    It looks like it could stay cold in Scotland throughout. We will turn milder, that looks inevitable now, but hopefully somewhere in the country gets a right dumping before that happens. In any case we may get a second round of cold pushing south a few days after the milder turn.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    Jma also has quite a lot off ppn for Monday night. Certainly one to watch



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 541 ✭✭✭weatherfiend


    Uh oh!!!! Hope the rugby guys have their long-johns with them 🫣



  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    I'll kick of the travel questions. 😂

    I've to travel from Kerry to Dublin Thursday leaving at 5am. Returning early afternoon. What kind of weather am I expecting?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,719 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Nobody can tell you that with any certainty at all, at this remove.

    The most likely right now is cold and quite calm, but not especially icy by day in a light northerly flow. The motorways will be well gritted for your early departure.

    Given the road journey is mostly at low level, disruption is currently unlikely, but a push of mild and more moist air against the colder flow could result in some sleet and snow on the boundary.

    Honestly, the whole thing is so marginal it could be any outcome in the range being discussed. By Tuesday you should have a fair idea what to expect and the State forecasters will have had to pick a winner by then.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    Way too early to tell tbh. Could be mild or freezing, depends which model is right. Better idea by Monday



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    There has been no wind in the longest time. So QUIET without it. Dry too ...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Charts this morning have the mild air pushing back in by Wednesday with the cold barely arriving on Tuesday. Not expecting much, if anything in Dublin of note.

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,779 ✭✭✭✭fits


    Ahh I just want spring now.


    Ryanair have very reasonably priced flights to Lapland for March if anyone is craving snow. It’s a great time to go north. We are just back and that’s my snow fix until next year I hope.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    All the charts I see Supercell have the cold fighting back again and have cold potential off and on til the weekend. Still very much in the balance



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 157 ✭✭Niall145


    Also several frontal snow opportunities showing on both the GFS and ECM for later next week (Thursday/Friday in particular)



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,544 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Maybe, my feeling is its just too late, even if the cold does win out its going to be a hillls and mountains affair away from the far north and northwest.

    Here's how midday Tuesday looked yesterday :


    And today - Note the placement of the 528 dam for the same time, atlantic lows to the sw deeper also, milder air pushing in earlier, maybe it will push back later on though as the high is higher too, could be very stormy in the south:


    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭Rebelbrowser


    I hear you Supercell. Not saying for a moment this won't prove to be a damp "squid"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭esposito


    “More runs needed” 😀 As you say Rebelbrowswer it is very much in the balance.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    It's 50/50 at the moment

    The coldest uppers have subtly backed off which of course could upgrade again.

    An interesting week but no 2018



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,990 ✭✭✭squonk


    What’s the point in getting a snowfall only for it to melt within the hour? I don’t see the point of this thread with the temperatures the way they are. This isn’t going to be match 2018 again and whatever does fall will melt as the temperatures aren’t generally low enough plus it looks way too marginal for me so if you’d do get score it’ll be wet snow.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    Game on again for the South as the deeper cold is back on the 06z. The South Coast is looking the sweet spot for now, cols enough for snow and close enough for ppn

    Probably be all change again later



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 319 ✭✭almostthere12


    If we have to wait to start a snow thread until we have a match for 2018 then hopefully we will be able to start another one within the next 95 years!! 😉



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,300 ✭✭✭pauldry


    Think Ulster could get a repeat of 2013. The rest of us will be excited to just see some snow showers but not much lying away from high ground.

    The deep blue is mainly focused on Ulster so Monday into Tuesday for most of us but a little longer for Northern Ireland with snow building all the time there.

    While it will likely stay cold all week in many parts away from the South the uppers will be slightly too high for widespread snow after Monday night into Tuesday morning. More messy hail and sleet type showers after this.

    At least there will be weather. I actually see a clear slot to the Northwest today. Is it possible that after 8 days of cloudy nothingness we may see the sun today? Probably not but we can hope.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 776 ✭✭✭Foggy Jew


    Now I know where the expression ‘Changes like the weather’ comes from. 😬

    It's the bally ballyness of it that makes it all seem so bally bally.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,044 ✭✭✭Gusser09


    Bitter out last few days. Hopefully its just the last bit of winter.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 17,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gonzo


    Next week looks nothing more than nuisance cold for the majority of Ireland, extremely marginal stuff, not expecting anything other than maybe sleet or snow falling onto wet ground if we're lucky. We need a long fetch unstable direct hit and none of the models suggest anything like that for us other than glancing blows of cold into the north with uppers too mild across the southern 2/3s of the country with too much of an Atlantic influence.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,300 ✭✭✭pauldry


    But there will be weather instead of ☁️ ☁️ ☁️ ☁️ ☁️ ☁️ ☁️ ☁️ which has been the last 8 days.

    Hail and sleet and looking at pink and greens on net weather beats this.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,383 ✭✭✭✭nacho libre


    I think there will be some snow about in places. The problem is the direct Northerly that was on the table a few days ago is gone due to frontal systems, so there won't be many showers about. We don't get the coldest uppers but you still can get decent frontal snow events when things are marginal. This remains a possibility for some parts of the country. What we can say for definite is this is more or less standard winter fare not a beast from the north. If there is another build of high pressure towards the north west after mid month, hopefully we get a direct hit- we will need it to deliver at that stage. In any event I think March is going to come in colder than average. So those wanting spring warmth may have to wait till April for that. In the worse case scenario spring could below average temperature wise.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 12,337 Mod ✭✭✭✭Meteorite58


    No Beast from the East or North East or anywhere else but cold early Spring weather with wintry showers some of snow for a time maybe later Monday coming onto the NW, N and NE coasts and possibly running down the Irish sea and maybe clipping the East or along Western coasts and maybe moving more inland on Tuesday and then will have to see what the fronts do and how much cold is present for them to interact with . The charts have been showing different tracks with every run , some slow moving and stalling or pivoting depending on the track and forward momentum of the parent Lows. Pot luck on who gets the rain, sleet, wet snow or dryer snow on more elevated ground. There is no doubt what falls as snow may not last very long ,if it is snow men you are wanting to build you better not wait too long 😁 and of course what falls at night has a better chance of lasting longer in the ground.

    Coldest weather favoring the Northern half of the country in general. ECM is showing frontal snow dump potential, especially the weekend.

    For me not expecting snow in my area here near the Kerry coast, rarely get any in any year but interesting in a meteorological point of view to observe how this develops and in my own very amateur way try and guess the outcomes. Would expect some great photographs next week of at least hill and mountain snow and I feel there is a good chance of a dump somewhere from frontal snow. Cameras at the ready.

    I think we must not forget some or most areas next week that although will be on the dry side for good parts of the week up until after mid week will be just getting cold, at times sleety , frontal rain. The weather turns more unsettled from around mid week /Thursday by the looks of it. But the fun is trying to predict where will get the snow if any closer to the time.

    All the time happening as we move further into Spring with ever increasing strength in the sun but as has been said at least it is weather watching, a good entry point into the the more unstable airmass later March into April as we get some big Cb's with hail and thunderstorms.

    Around next weekend GFS showing windy wet and snowy weather from frontal systems, ECM going for a good frontal snow dump and getting windy for a time after the weekend but all along way off to know for certain but watching with keen eyes.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,167 ✭✭✭JanuarySnowstor


    The Icon is further South again with Wednesday ppn. South as in missing us entirely. The benefit is its also a little colder!



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