Huge Atlantic storms

We got off lightly. Two panes blown out of the greenhouse, electricity went off around midnight and came back on about 20 minutes ago. Wind speed peaked at around 60 miles per hour, according to my neighbour's anemometer.

Local news here in the south is full of travel misery, especially for anyone trying to get to France, the Channel Islands or Spain by ferry. I watched the Queen Elizabeth leave Southampton last night on the ship radar, which can't have been a lot of fun even on a ship of that size, because there were 30 foot waves just south of the Isle of Wight. There's lots of flooding again, for the second time in a few months, but we are 180 feet above sea level here so that's one thing we don't have to worry about.

That's awful! I hope everyone is safe and that power and transportation resumes quickly. That goes for people here in the U.S. too. I know there is severe weather in many areas here. It makes me feel a little guilty that we will be sunny and in the mid-60's today. My French son (former exchange student) is on his way here right now. At least I hope he is. I'd better check to see if his flight left.

Very sorry to hear about the destruction of your greenhouse, Nigel. You all have really been through it with storms the past few years, it seems (from an outsider's perspective).

Here in Paris, we had at least three weeks of glorious winter weather -- clear, sunny, and somewhat cold -- and now we are feeling the effects of the storm with extremely high winds and gray skies. Things are of course much worse on the Atlantic coast. Le Figaro is reporting some 145,000 households without power as of 17h this evening, mostly on the west coast, and several Breton towns have asked for declarations of emergency. Not a nice Christmas Eve for many!!

I heard from my niece yesterday who lives 10 miles SW of Heathrow. They were staying home for the holidays.

We took a cruise to Mexico recently, and got stuck in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico in 65 mph tropical storm winds. They just shut engines off and let the ship float for 2 days. We ended up with a 7 day cruise for the price of 5 days.

Sorry to hear about your bad weather and your green house. Here's hoping you have better weather today and tomorrow so you can enjoy your Christmas.

Nigel,

It's good to hear that you're safe and sound despite the storms, and hopefully your greenhouse will be easy to repair. I've seen news coverage in the last few days about conditions in the U.K., Scotland and Ireland, and I understand there have been a few fatalities. I figured there would be numerous power outages and rail disruptions along with that.

The weather here in B.C. is pretty much "normal" winter weather, and today was sunny and warm with temperatures at about +2C and -5C at night. Of course the temp's are much colder in northern B.C. However, not everyone is so fortunate. The Toronto area especially is suffering through severe ice storms at the moment with 100,000 or more without power. Normal service won't be restored until after Christmas or Boxing Day for some. The Maritimes and some parts of the U.S. are apparently also getting some severe winter weather.

Hopefully the inclement weather won't last long.

Thanks to all... looks like most helpliners are fine, ... or they have no power to say otherwise. I hope Maggie is OK, I understand that there is now fairly widespread flooding on the south coast. All that water that came down has to go somewhere.

As for me, the greenhouse can be repaired, and will be, it is only a possession.

I'm sorry for the Toronto folk. First an imaginative mayor and now an ice storm. TO normally has better weather than that. I wonder what it is like in lake effect country across the border in upstate NY.

Well, we must remember as we tuck into our Christmas goose, turkey, or vegetarian bean roast those less fortunate than ourselves.

Thanks Nigel, I'm fine. But my ceiling sprung (sprang?) a leak that yielded a gallon of water collected in various buckets and pans, and now has an ominous bow shape- I just hope it survives the next storm on Friday.

Some poor folk a mile or so from me, place called Tuckton, are completely flooded out of their homes.

And I wouldn't want to be a Gatwick!

I was following your storms and thinking about you all and hoping that things wouldn't be too bad. We had snow and cold in Illinois outside Chicago. Back in NYC it's supposed to get close to 50 Fahrenheit tomorrow! Living in Manhattan is like living in a bubble. It's a weather bubble, a political bubble, and a cost of living bubble! Every now and then I break out. At least I know that I live in a bubble. I'm sure that there are may New Yorkers who don't. :)

I hope you survived the latest wind gusts. I read Scotland was expecting more storms today, Friday.

Pam