Weather winter 2011-12

[David Nicholson]

Only two non-rain days in December here. Maureen's non-scientific weather record shows 2011 to be the wettest year since 2004 when her records began.

[Darren]

Only two non-rain days in December here. Maureen's non-scientific weather record shows 2011 to be the wettest year since 2004 when her records began.

I was just saying to Susan - two days until I get back to work and I've not seen the sun for the whole of the holiday. It was the same last year except 20 degrees colder! Just a bit of sun for a day to raise the temps under glass enough to make it comfortable to work in the greenhouse is all I ask!

I suppose there is an upside - I've not switched on the greenhouse heater at all so far this winter so it's going to be cheaper if nothing else.

[Anthony Darby]

My wife's cousin has suggested we go back to Scotland as, since we arrived, Auckland has had the coldest winter for 70 years and the wettest Christmas he can remember, and he's been here 30 years!

[Hoy]

We had the coldest winter for about 100 years last winter (2010-2011) but 2011 as a whole is one of the warmest and wettest ever! The winter is so far one of the milder too.

[jandals]

We will happily take all your rain Anthony . Currently testing the drought resistance of Meconopsis as it costs me now to water them ( about $400 a go) . The only good thing for them is we haven't had any high temperatures

[mark smyth]

Very sunny and warm here today

[mark smyth]

What I really like about the new year is we gain about 10 minutes a week in day length

[cohan]

We started the new year with a chilly day- somewhere well below -20C overnight (wont see the figure until it's 'yesterday min(imum) and a high around -13.. still nothing extreme for this time of year, where we could have occasional daytime temps below -30 (normals are -7days/-19nights) and in fact its only one chilly day, then back above freezing for most of the week- +7 tomorrow, +9 wed! So far continuing December's trend which was mostly above normal.... still lots of snow on the ground, however..
This shot from today's (jan 01) walk in the bush on the farm... in open/low areas like this slough, snow can be just below the knees; in the forest beyond, snow would vary from a foot to only a few inches deep, with bare areas around spruce trees, and larger bare areas where the ground under those spruce gets sun....

[Anthony Darby]

Start the year with a song about the weather:

[TC]

Here we go again !!  The most recent storm arrived about 3am, accompanied by rain and hail.  Maybe it' s an age thing, but I just went back to sleep.  At 8am the wind was still howling.
Listening to the local news we have had wind speeds of 90mph with even stronger gusts in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The radio channels went down suddenly so there must be some damage to the transmitter aerials.    Now at 1130 it has moderated to a force 8 gale. Luckily I dug up my Asiatic primulas before they were shredded and then put them in the greenhouse - they had started to flower already.  The next job is to put the bird feeders back onto their positions.  I have had a selection of birds hanging round looking at me reproachfully as they wait for their peanuts.
To our friends in the N.E., get out your snow shovels as high winds and blizzards are coming your way.

[Maggi Young]

Gales and rain hit here about half an hour or so ago. Wondering if the glasshouses will stand it?

Hope Angela and Derek decided against setting off  today to drive down to the Eden Project .....

[Hoy]

Well, this storm, christened Emil, seems to hit a little south of us! The last big one (Dagmar) hit a little north of us with wind speed 35-45m/s.
We have strong SE wind at the fjord at the moment but the house are in lee of a hill so it is not much wind here but rain of course.

[Michael J Campbell]

Surprisingly I still have two greenhouses intact after last night, was afraid to look out this morning. One of the most vicious storms we have had in a along time,lots of traffic and train disruption with roads and rail lines blocked. It is calm now and the sun is shining, but bitterly cold.

[Tony Willis]

Just had to go out and re-glaze part of one of the greenhouses,a lump of cement has come of the roof and gone through it. The wind is so bad it is difficult to stand up in it.

Quite exciting stood on top of the stepladders with a sheet of glass in one hand acting like a sail trying to get it in position as you try and stop being blown of by holding the roof with the other.At least the lashing rain helped them slide into position.

A bit irritating really as the greenhouses and frames are tied down and I had not anticipated flying rocks.

I am not going onto the roof yet to see what is happening up there,it is a question of priorities.

[Lina Hesseling]

Stormy weather here too. Lots of rain. A friend of mine has a big problem in her garden. Her snowdrops need swimminglessons now.