Does the weather live up to its reputation?

I'm from west Texas and, so far, I am not at all bothered by the weather here. We're between London and Cambridge and this past summer was absolutely gorgeous. Now, we have honest to goodness winter weather, which is to be expected, but it's not at all unbearable. I was outside most of yesterday in the garden, removing vines off the back wall and didn't need a coat, so it's not as bad as all that, just a bit wet, but that's better than the threat of drought.

FWIW, I'll take a bit of grey and wet for a few winter months to be free of 100+ days and no rain for 3 months in the summer. If you're where you want to be with whom you want to share your life, the weather shouldn't affect your happiness. 

In England, they say, "if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes".

It is so changeable that it can be torrential rain in the morning and the afternoon will be warm, bright sunshine. Sometimes it stays grey for days at a time but really rubbish weather tends to be memorable. For example, everyone is talking about how nice this summer was compared to the last 2 summers where it rained almost constantly. It was so unusual that it is worthy of comment.

Truly, the weather is just plain unpredictable. This winter just gone, we had a once-in-every-10-years level of snow. This year we might not get any. It might rain, it might be mild. I heard someone say (radio?) that the met office are predicting a 50% chance of a mild winter.

50%.

So, there's a 50% chance of a bitter winter too, then LOL


So, in short, we do get days and days of grey skies, then again, we get days and days of lovely sunshine. For me, at least, coming from much further south, the  killer is the short days in the winter.

On 21st December (the shortest day), this year:
sunrise: 08:04
sunset: 15:53 (3:53pm)

That's just under 8 hours of sunlight. A day.

But every cloud etc, on 21st of June (the longest day):

sunrise: 04:43
sunset: 21:21 (9:21pm)

That's a whopping 16 and a half hours of sun!

For example, everyone is talking about how nice this summer was compared to the last 2 summers where it rained almost constantly. It was so unusual that it is worthy of comment.

I guess this even depends on where you are. Here people kept telling me they wished we'd had a real summer, as it was dark and rainy a lot and not a "real" summer by their standards. I was loving the low humidity and lack of 100+ temps in Virginia, so I loved it. Bring on the gray and rain. Of course, ask me that in a few months, when we can't get out to bike regularly because of the rain....

I heard someone say (radio?) that the met office are predicting a 50% chance of a mild winter.

50%.

So, there's a 50% chance of a bitter winter too, then LOL

Too funny. Not committing to anything, what's the point of even trying to "predict" weather? We use to joke back home that it must be nice to be a weatherman, as it's the only job where you can be wrong 90% of the time and not lose your job... ****no offense to any meteorologists out there (see, I know you're not *just* weathermen/women)****

it must be nice to be a weatherman, as it's the only job where you can be wrong 90% of the time and not lose your job...

*applause* I have to remember that one!

Too funny. Not committing to anything, what's the point of even trying to "predict" weather? We use to joke back home that it must be nice to be a weatherman, as it's the only job where you can be wrong 90% of the time and not lose your job... ****no offense to any meteorologists out there (see, I know you're not *just* weathermen/women)****

I guess I won't have to worry too much about keeping my new job then ... I'm actually going to be one of those Met Office weather forecasters in a few months' time (providing I actually get my job contract soon and then pass the training course)!!

American in London AND a weather forecaster. Poor sod!



(good luck on the contract!  )



Hey? Does that mean UKYers will get preferential rates on good weather? Can I book some sunshine for my birthday? 

American in London AND a weather forecaster. Poor sod!



(good luck on the contract!  )

Thanks, although I am neither American nor in London

Nevermind, you can't win em all