Storm Herminia

One of the greast advantages of living near the east coast is that the storms have blown out by the time they reach us. There were a few strong gusts of wind with Storm Éowyn but that was it.

The interesting thing about this current series of low pressure systems or winter storms is that they are being driven by the same weather system as is bringing the winter weather to the eastern part of the United States.
It is a different outcome but the weather on the other side of the Atlantic has energised the jet stream.

As this particular storm has been named by the Spanish met service, it would be interesting to know what impacts it is having down there, where supposedly it will be more marked in intensity.

There are two more low pressure systems due to come across my part of the UK this week- both currently looking similar to Herminia, but so far not looking likely to become named storms. But they will not assist recovery from Eowyn.

It is also very, very marked to me how benign so far this winter has been in the PNW. I was (virtually) at a City Council meeting in Kittitas County earlier in the week and the councillors were only half jokingly commenting on needing to do a snow dance because there has been so little snow this winter for the second year running. Looking at the local snow plot is just painful, it is so low. At the summit of Snoqualmie Pass they are currently between 100 and 150 inches short on modern averages of the last 30 or so years. That will translate into low snow melt and then lack of water in the reservoirs and the undergrowth- so heightening fire risk among other things.
To be honest I wish I could export the rain I have due this week to the PNW, cool it down and give them snow because they need the snow far more than the Lake District needs the rain.

Let’s face reality. Mother Nature rules. Floods, snow storms, droughts, tornadoes, earhquakes, fires, et al. Challenges each and every day. Her domain, we just live here.

The storms are being caused by the intense cold over N America drifting out into the Atlantic where the air is much warmer due to the Gulf Stream/ N Atlantic Drift. This contrast generates a powerful jet stream dragging the low pressures to Europe.

Click the following link to see what is going on:>https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp?temp,45.027,-34.497,4

Satellite view of European weather (from Irish Met Office):>https://www.met.ie/latest-reports/satellites/europe-infrared-radar

It’s been really rough and wild here in Devon. It sounded like my bedroom window would break last night from the pressure of wind and hard rain (maybe hail?) Woke up at 5.30am today terrified by the noise.

I’m right on the south-west corner of the Devon coast so I think it’s hitting us quite hard.

I’ve honestly lost track of this month’s storms.

glad you still have your leccy, Golden Girl

glad you still have your leccy, Golden Girl

It was flickering like crazy yesterday and at one point it took a couple of minutes for my TV to connect with BBC iPlayer. The suffering is real.