Winter 20/21 - General Discussion

Nqp15hhu · 25-01-2021 3:20pm

sryanbruen wrote: »

According to Met E's Snowfall in Ireland article from 2012, Dublin Airport sees 20 days of falling snow every year which even including sleet, I find a bit hard to believe. I compiled days of snow falling for every winter (October to May) at the station since 1987 using weather bulletins which they stopped doing after 2015. 2015-16 to present day I compiled using my own observations with my relatively close locality to the airport. Open to error. Not many years here of 20 snow falling days, 2009-10 being the only one of this century so far.

This winter, I've observed 6 days of "snow falling" with 1 of them being mainly sleet (December 28th). Same as last year although the ones this year have been more significant.

It is not difficult to get 20 days of falling snow over a whole winter.

You only need to have a few cold spells from December-March.

Gonzo · 25-01-2021 3:25pm

I've seen falling snow 2 days so far this winter and lying snow on about 4 days but the amounts are very small.

I have to admit I was rather jealous looking at those heavy snow showers in Dublin yesterday, that was a decent covering shown in the videos yesterday. We had nothing like that in Meath, just the one hour of wet snow/sleet on Saturday night.

Most of what fell melted yesterday morning and early afternoon due to a damp ground but there are traces of snow left in sheltered parts of the garden and there has been no melt whatsoever today due to the ground now being completely frozen after last nights very severe frost and low temperatures.

I would say my average per winter is 2 to 3 light snowfalls with lying snow 1 to 2 days per year. Of course once or twice per decade we do get that decent easterly and in those winters we could get as much as 10 days of lying snow or even more. 2010 and 2018 both had over 10 days of lying snow here.

As for the rest of this winter, i'm very unsure at this stage if were going to get an easterly at all, but i'm expecting another low level cold spell where we may get another dusting similar to Saturday and the snow early in January.

I hear alot of talk about this winter being a teaser winter so maybe there is a chance we may get the real deal next winter.

sryanbruen · 25-01-2021 3:38pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

It is not difficult to get 20 days of falling snow over a whole winter.

You only need to have a few cold spells from December-March.

Which is a lot easier said than done, particularly in the south and east of the country away from the likes of Sally Gap in contrast to further northwards. Only one winter has achieved 20 days of falling snow over a whole season since the turn of the century as I said at the airport.

DOCARCH · 25-01-2021 3:41pm

Gonzo wrote: »

I've seen falling snow 2 days so far this winter...

Maybe you are not looking out the window enough!

In Dublin 16 I have had 9 days so far this winter with snow falling (including sleet and graupel) but only 2 days with a dusting of snow lying at 0900.

Up same date this time last year only had 1 day with snow falling!

nacho libre · 25-01-2021 3:48pm

I think after having chased a notable cold spell all winter, it would not surprise me if we end up with one towards the very end of winter.
I'm just curious what people consider a dusting. We had 3- 4cm from the snowfall on Saturday night. To me that's a decent covering.

In total i've had 4 snowfalls this winter.

Danno · 25-01-2021 3:57pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

It is not difficult to get 20 days of falling snow over a whole winter.

You only need to have a few cold spells from December-March.

Snow showers will die out as they track inland until early to mid-March from then it's land based convection that keeps them going across the whole country.

Show showers will affect windward coasts but rarely give prolonged coverings under 200m or thereabouts, unless the precipitation comes in bands or trains.

The east coast does better because the air is less modified coming off a cold continent (usually).

Each area of the country will do better than others given a particular setup.

The midlands will get better frontal snow events because of distance from marine influence.
The west, northwest and north will do better from showers in a NW or N airflow bringing showers. Sometimes the SW will catch these too if the air is cold enough.
The east does well from a continental airflow or when a front stalls, but frontal snow can be hit and miss owing to the Irish sea air mixing in.

If it's anywhere that is the poor relation in all of this - it's along the south coast from say Sherkin Island over to around Dungarvan. The geography of this area does not lend well to snow events. These areas would rely on a low pressure running eastwards through the Celtic Sea generating an ENE. A rare thing, but can deliver whopping amounts of snow when they happen.

sryanbruen · 25-01-2021 3:59pm

Deleted User wrote: »

interesting. What about further north like Dublin, or did it not reach?

Not really, it was a southern affair though the east got affected in the 1987 beast from the east with the airport observing a depth of 19cm from lake effect streamers.

nacho libre wrote: »

I think after having chased a notable cold spell all winter, it would not surprise me if we end up with one towards the very end of winter.
I'm just curious what people consider a dusting. We had 3- 4cm from the snowfall on Saturday night. To me that's a decent covering.

In total i've had 4 snowfalls this winter.

Anything <1cm is a dusting to me, had 3 of those this winter; New Year's Eve, 7th January and Saturday night. Should be seeing at least a few of those every winter but even they have been rare to come by in some winters of the past decade here.

Tyrone212 wrote: »

In their 30 year averages from 1981-2010 it has 16.6 days with sleet/snow recorded and 3.4 days of lying snow.

The average I mention is based on 1961-2012 and encompasses the snowy 60s so 16-17 days with the above data sounds a bit more realistic. Perhaps even less for 1991-2020 like 13 days? I think lying snow is based on seeing snow at 0900 the following morning. I don't recall seeing such between 2013 and 2018 although didn't observe as closely or delegate as much time to the field as I do now. I've had only this morning since 2018 as 3 March 2019 snow had melted by the morning of the 4th and none of last year's days of snow falling had settling snow.

nacho libre · 25-01-2021 4:04pm

https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/winter-weather-forecast-early-february-united-states-europe-fa/

Nqp15hhu · 25-01-2021 4:15pm

nacho libre wrote: »

I think after having chased a notable cold spell all winter, it would not surprise me if we end up with one towards the very end of winter.
I'm just curious what people consider a dusting. We had 3- 4cm from the snowfall on Saturday night. To me that's a decent covering.

In total i've had 4 snowfalls this winter.

Anything above 2 inches is not a dusting. Decent coverage is 4-6 inches.

Donegal Storm · 25-01-2021 4:52pm

Oneiric 3 wrote: »

Snow events in the UK, outside of Scotland that is, are often overhyped in my opinion, both by the media and the UK Met Office. England and Wales are not really that snowy at all.

We complain a lot in this country about media and ME being Dublin centric but they take it to a whole different level in the UK with their South East bias. I was living in London during that particularly stormy winter around 2013 or 2014, for the most part I found it a bog standard winter when compared to what we get in Donegal but every windy day was front page news and hyped beyond belief. A major storm or snow event in Scotland on the other hand would barely get a mention in the news

25-01-2021 4:57pm

Donegal Storm wrote: »

windy day was front page news and hyped beyond belief. A major storm or snow event in Scotland on the other hand would barely get a mention in the news

Sure storms get beyond belief coverage in Ireland these days too when most of them are just another storm and no big deal.

25-01-2021 5:10pm

Donegal Storm wrote: »

We complain a lot in this country about media and ME being Dublin centric but they take it to a whole different level in the UK with their South East bias. I was living in London during that particularly stormy winter around 2013 or 2014, for the most part I found it a bog standard winter when compared to what we get in Donegal but every windy day was front page news and hyped beyond belief. A major storm or snow event in Scotland on the other hand would barely get a mention in the news

Yes, but the potential damage is greater in the south east to be fair, they have more people and more flora, trees especially.

25-01-2021 5:15pm

Clearing the snow from the yard during Emma here near Arklow, on the morning of March 2nd 2018

We had to clear it again the next day as it continued to snow,drifts 10ft high on the farm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTsv6FhrsXM

Outside Maisie Kelly's pub in Arklow on March 3rd 2018,after the cattle were fed

the following night,still snowing
(Says 11th but was the 3rd,uploaded on the 11tg I'd say)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLvbOJFDXbQ

cnocbui · 25-01-2021 5:27pm

Still some snow on my grass - and some other things.

The advantage of altitude.

Rock Lesnar · 25-01-2021 6:14pm

Class day in meath today, sunny all day, still patches of snow lying in the fields, clear sky and very cold, 0.2c, and back to the pits of wet weather tomorrow

nacho libre · 25-01-2021 7:06pm

Donegal Storm wrote: »

We complain a lot in this country about media and ME being Dublin centric but they take it to a whole different level in the UK with their South East bias. I was living in London during that particularly stormy winter around 2013 or 2014, for the most part I found it a bog standard winter when compared to what we get in Donegal but every windy day was front page news and hyped beyond belief. A major storm or snow event in Scotland on the other hand would barely get a mention in the news

It's because storms are rare in London. Also what we consider a normal winter system can be more impactful there. I remember an Irishman driving back from the airport to Watford was killed by a falling tree during one of those storms.

redsteveireland · 25-01-2021 7:21pm

Lovely this afternoon. Always look up I say.

Slight hint of Kelvin-Helmholtz in the 2nd photo.

Donegal Storm · 25-01-2021 7:46pm

I see there's a snow warning for tonight for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim. No details on the warning but I presume it's forecast to transition to rain by morning

https://www.met.ie/warnings/tomorrow

Snowbiee21 · 25-01-2021 7:57pm

Status Yellow - Snow/Ice warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Leitrim
Met Éireann Weather Warning

Falls of sleet and snow. Icy and hazardous conditions.

Valid: 00:01 Tuesday 26/01/2021 to 09:00 Tuesday 26/01/2021

Issued: 18:00 Monday 25/01/2021

appledrop · 25-01-2021 7:59pm

We still have some snow remaining here in NCD.

Surprised it lasted. It was a cold day today but plenty of sunshine so I thought it would all melt.

Donegal Ken · 25-01-2021 8:01pm

Going by the ECMWF its showing 5cm of snow in places on Tuesday morning but thawing quickly later Tuesday morning and over the afternoon. We had a similar set up like this about 4 or 5 years ago that dumped massive amounts in parts of Donegal, Tyrone and Derry in a short period of time but was all gone by sunrise nearly

bosco12345 · 25-01-2021 8:15pm

Gonzo wrote: »

interesting video. They claim most lowland and southern parts of the UK get 10 days of falling snow per year or less. Many parts of Ireland struggles to get 1 or 2 days of falling snow per year I reckon. Some parts see no flakes at all some years.

The north-west propbably see's more snow on average than any other part of Ireland (Donegal, Mayo, Sligo).

I'm fairly sure Monaghan is the snowiest county in Republic of Ireland (according to Met Eireann)

Donegal Storm · 25-01-2021 8:17pm

Donegal Ken wrote: »

Going by the ECMWF its showing 5cm of snow in places on Tuesday morning but thawing quickly later Tuesday morning and over the afternoon. We had a similar set up like this about 4 or 5 years ago that dumped massive amounts in parts of Donegal, Tyrone and Derry in a short period of time but was all gone by sunrise nearly

Had similar on 24th February last year in Letterkenny, front passed through and dumped a good 5-6cm of very wet snow in just a couple of hours

Meteorite58 · 25-01-2021 8:18pm

Snow coverage showing up fairly well on Satellite Pic today even through the high Cirrus.

Cloudy day in Kerry after a sunny start highest temp now of 4.2C, currently on the way up under the advancing cloud, light wind from the SSE .

Low -1.7C

Good coating of snow on the local mountains and on nearby hills.

NASA Sat Pic

Hail or Graupel that crystalized during the frost last night.

mBzBogk.jpg?1

Mount Vesuvius · 25-01-2021 9:01pm

Could we be seeing sheep being pulled out of the ditches again up around Cavan like what happened some years ago when the rest of us down south had rain.

Nqp15hhu · 25-01-2021 9:15pm

Mount Vesuvius wrote: »

Could we be seeing sheep being pulled out of the ditches again up around Cavan like what happened some years ago when the rest of us down south had rain.

No, the bulk of the snow will be in the sperrins.

Gaoth Laidir · 25-01-2021 9:16pm

sryanbruen wrote: »

According to Met E's Snowfall in Ireland article from 2012, Dublin Airport sees 20 days of falling snow every year which even including sleet, I find a bit hard to believe. I compiled days of snow falling for every winter (October to May) at the station since 1987 using weather bulletins which they stopped doing after 2015. 2015-16 to present day I compiled using my own observations with my relatively close locality to the airport. Open to error. Not many years here of 20 snow falling days, 2009-10 being the only one of this century so far.

This winter, I've observed 6 days of "snow falling" with 1 of them being mainly sleet (December 28th). Same as last year although the ones this year have been more significant.

Just wondering if your lower days from 2016 on are possibly due to missing some snowfalls during the night? It's hard to compete with a station manned 24/7! Most falls will occur at night so it's not inconceivable.

25-01-2021 9:21pm

sryanbruen wrote: »

No we didn't. Cork Airport had a depth of 26cm on 20 February 1978 from that blizzard - its greatest depth. Shannon Airport had a depth of 6cm - also its greatest depth. It was a great event for southern parts of the country.

EDIT: And I see you probably meant the 1987 beast from the east, not 1978.

No, it mentioned 1982, 87 and 78 in that piece I quoted.

Mount Vesuvius · 25-01-2021 9:26pm

Nqp15hhu wrote: »

No, the bulk of the snow will be in the sperrins.

Well Slieve Glah is over 300 metres so I'm sure be something up around there and could be farmland with animals about.

Gonzo · 25-01-2021 9:29pm

currently 0c and very frosty here in Meath but the hazy cloud is now here as much milder air is on it's way across the country. Already 8C in parts of the west.

Meteorite58 · 25-01-2021 9:36pm

Gonzo wrote: »

currently 0c and very frosty here in Meath but the hazy cloud is now here as much milder air is on it's way across the country. Already 8C in parts of the west.

Up to 5.7C here near Tralee

Holy Duck · 25-01-2021 9:43pm

Down the beach just before sunset, plenty of ice and frozen snow still, even where the tide would have been and gone, couldn't believe it, the sand was crunchy underfoot not unlike walking on snow, NCD

lolie · 25-01-2021 11:32pm

Comhra wrote: »

Bedroom window this morning. Haven't seen these patterns for years. It was -3.1c

A photo very similar to this one was shown on the Rte1 weather at 9.30.
Did you send it in?

carltonleon · 26-01-2021 9:11am

Not sure if this is allowed in here and if not apologies and Mods, can you move it to appropriate thread !!

RTE Report on the 1962 Blizzard

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/1212/926729-snow-covers-ireland/

bazlers · 26-01-2021 9:25am

I thought the sea would have been frozen ; )

leahyl · 26-01-2021 10:07am

http://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/0115/760459-the-big-snow/

Thought this was a pretty cool video - from 1982 snow

Those were the days eh (well, I wasn't even born :pac:), but you know, simpler times - sigh, the 80's

Oscar Bravo · 26-01-2021 10:20am

Back to the cloudy damp murky weather here in Castlebar this morning with mist/ fog down on the hills.

Tyrone212 · 26-01-2021 10:21am

Slow thaw 2c

Comhrá · 26-01-2021 10:29am

lolie wrote: »

A photo very similar to this one was shown on the Rte1 weather at 9.30.
Did you send it in?

No. I saw the one on the weather forecast but it wasn't mine.

One of these days I'll get around to sending one in. I've been meaning to do so for ages but never seem to get around to doing so.

mcburns07 · 26-01-2021 10:30am

Back to filthy mild mist in Cork. Sigh.

26-01-2021 10:42am

bazlers wrote: »

I thought the sea would have been frozen ; )

The report is from Dec 1962
The real cold spells didn't come until January and February 1963 and you can bet the sea froze then

Thelonious Monk · 26-01-2021 10:54am

About as miserable as it gets today in Dublin. Ugh.

Donegal Storm · 26-01-2021 10:55am

As with everyone else, back to miserable drizzly crap this morning after a nice bright few days. Rapid thaw since last night with only a patchy snow cover left this morning

Emme · 26-01-2021 11:12am

Yesterday was beautiful - I miss the crisp cool frost and blue sky. Gone again - it couldn't last! :mad: It feels like the sun rises just one day out of five in south Kildare. Most of the time we have wet grey muck summer and winter. It feels like living underground in a dark cave where the roof is always leaking.

26-01-2021 11:17am

mcburns07 wrote: »

Back to filthy mild mist in Cork. Sigh.

We had a good run of it, but still feels miserable when the muck comes back. Snuck out in the sun yesterday afternoon to get one last hit before it departed us.

Nqp15hhu · 26-01-2021 12:51pm

The hills here still have plenty of snow on them. I’m not sure if there was a top up overnight. It was 3c here when raining so possibly not.

Anyway, Saturday looks cold. Not sure if there’ll be snow here though.

Nqp15hhu · 26-01-2021 1:05pm

Looking at the charts, the cold air stays over Scotland throughout, with <400 metre freezing levels.

Pity it couldn’t extend west 100 miles! Irritating.

bosco12345 · 26-01-2021 1:41pm

Any of the snow forecasted for the northern half of Ireland materialise last night? None here in my corner of Cavan anyway

Nqp15hhu · 26-01-2021 1:46pm

bosco12345 wrote: »

Any of the snow forecasted for the northern half of Ireland materialise last night? None here in my corner of Cavan anyway

I was asleep. I’m sure it did snow above 200-300 metres. None of the snow looks to have melted on the hills here.

Oscar Bravo · 26-01-2021 2:58pm

Status Yellow -
Rainfall warning for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Westmeath and Meath

Heavy rain. Risk of localised flooding.

Valid: 18:00 Wednesday 27/01/2021 to 06:00 Thursday 28/1/21

Winter 20/21 - General Discussion

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