Spring Weather 2011

[Hoy]

So far April has been one of the warmest for 100 years here in Southern Norway. Down in the valleys the temp has reached 20C and more several days now and even here in 950m almost all the snow has gone and the temp reaches 12-16C in the daytime. Back home it is warm too and I am looking forward to see the garden after a week with this weather! No problems with drought yet but they are warning for wildfires.



This is supposed to be a snowcovered bog in 1200m above sea level!

[alpines]

Interesting weather over the past 12 hours here in Berea. Sherba and I have spent all night in the basement waiting for a tornado to hit....which fortunately it didn't...but now we are watching lakes form on what used to be the garden. Wettest April for a long, long time. Anyone suggest some nice water plants?

[Maggi Young]

Interesting weather over the past 12 hours here in Berea. Sherba and I have spent all night in the basement waiting for a tornado to hit....which fortunately it didn't...but now we are watching lakes form on what used to be the garden. Wettest April for a long, long time. Anyone suggest some nice water plants?

I believe trout farming can be profitable, Alan.......

[Lesley Cox]

So pleased you and Sherba HAVE a basement to shelter in Alan, should the need arise. We see appalling pictures on TV news of homes and whole towns demolished by tornadoes. I can't imagine living is such an area where they not only happen from time to time but seem to be expected on a regular and frequent or annual basis. Like Australian bushfires. Why do people build there?

[Maren]

We've had an early summer for the last week with temperatures of up to 26 Celsius. Most unusual in April in England. Then came a little thunderstorm, and a few drops of rain. I was working at the nursery and observed with pleasure the rain going into the butts.  I drove home down the hill to Bourne End, and there the road was flooded, with water bubbling out of the street drains. It must have rained heavily somewhere. Had a job getting home through the water which was 9 inches deep in places.

[alpines]

So pleased you and Sherba HAVE a basement to shelter in Alan, should the need arise.

Basements are almost more important than the rest of the house Lesley in many states. Why do people build there? Too many people, not enough land. And then why do people live near rivers, on mountain sides, in earthquake zones etc. I guess we think we're immune to such catastrophes till they happen to us.

[Roma]

Slight frost last night and Rhododendrons 'Princess Anne' and calostrotum 'Gigha'  which were covered in flowers are all brown.

[alpines]

We are now on our second tornado warning of the day. The first one was downgraded to severe thunderstorms...big deal....they're just as scary.
Don't anyone ever complain about rainy Manchester again.

[Maggi Young]

Hope you keep safe, Sherba and Alan. 

[alpines]

Thanks Maggi.
They have had a number of tornadoes touch down in Alabama today and the weather front is on its way up here via Tennessee. We have had around 4 inches of rain already in the last 24 hours. The cats and dogs are drowning. I don't have any facts to back it up but we've probably had more rain so far this year than the whole of last year. There are still three days to go in April and it is heading for the wettest April ever in Kentucky. Ironic that I started a xeric bed this year!!!

[ranunculus]

We are now on our second tornado warning of the day. The first one was downgraded to severe thunderstorms...big deal....they're just as scary.
Don't anyone ever complain about rainy Manchester again.

Just to comfort you slightly buddy, it hasn't rained (properly) in Manchester for WEEKS and WEEKS and WEEKS!!!   

Keep safe ... can we send you any bog plants?   

[mark smyth]

Ireland will soon have 40 shades of brown

[ashley]

Ireland will soon have 40 shades of brown

The SW is green Mark , and breathtakingly beautiful on this perfect April morning.
I've lived here most of my life, but am delighted by it each and every year.

[ranunculus]

So very sorry to hear about the terrible destruction that has been inflicted on Eastern and mid-America. We hope that all our alpine friends are safe - (Alan and Sherba would you please confirm?) - and that the dreadful weather quickly abates.

[Hoy]

Although I often complain about the weather here - with hard frost, much wind and rain, that is nothing compared to what other members of the forum experience!

Today I have nothing to lament. On the contrary - we haven't had a single night (or day) of sub zero temps in 30 days and the last 14 days we have had excellent weather. The mean temperature the last month is 2.6 degrees C above the normal ;