Morning:
9°c
Arctic blast brings London earliest snow for 70 years
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent29.10.08
IT is a sight not seen in the capital since 1934.
Londoners today woke up to the earliest snow cover for more than 70 years as a freezing blast of wind from the Arctic hit the capital.
Some areas of north London saw two inches of snow fall in two hours when temperatures hit zero.
Snow fell across much of the city from around 10pm, despite Met Office predictions that the city would escape the wintry showers that have swept across the north of England and Scotland leaving a thick covering.
In Brent, a heavy snow flurry caught residents by surprise as streets and cars were quickly covered in a white blanket. Graduate Charlotte Hussey, 21, said: "I was really excited and surprised, it was like Christmas had come early. I am going to go to the park today to build a snowman and go sledging."
Amid the snowfall, a man was taken to hospital after his car skidded off the M25 near Enfield. The Renault rolled over before landing in a ditch.
The cold snap with its widespread frost and crisp air is being caused by air from the Arctic replacing the normal south-westerly Atlantic breezes. "What we saw was the back edge of a weather system being blown down from the Arctic catching London," said Byron Chalcraft, a Met Office forecaster.
"The Arctic has been experiencing very cold temperatures this year, so it was an unusually cold front. Some unusual wind patterns meant it was blown over Britain very quickly, meaning the temperatures stayed very low. It is certainly very, very unusual to see snow in London this early," said Mr Chalcraft. "The last time there was October snow [in the South-East] was in 1974, but the last time we actually had snow cover in October [in London], which we did late last night, was in 1934."
Forecasters had earlier said there was a chance that London could see "a couple of flakes" but some areas saw a couple of inches fall in two hours.
They said the worst had passed but warned temperatures are set to stay low for the week. Much of snow had melted by this morning, giving way to a bright, cold day with plenty of sunshine.
Reader views (31)
I must apologize for our former Vice President Al Gore and his non-stop rhetoric about global warming, it appears that he makes a good living traveling about the world (in his private jet) scaring people. The politics of fear is a terrible thing. I am afraid much time and money has been squandered fretting about global warming when the same resources would have been better spent coping with the ever changing climate of the world due to sunspots and other natural issues..... Again my apologies.
- Roy Ruffino, LACEY, WASHINGTON USA
Where were the snowplows? That is the only question I have! We were stuck on the A1, trying to get home after the Superbowl Bash in London & there were NO plows. Why? I really would like to know how it would hurt the average taxpayer by investing in a couple of snowplows, just in case?
- Courtney R., Chorley, UK
One wonders why all the experts on Climate Change are Lawyers and Economists. They claim that the Science is fixed. Global warming is caused by Man. Yet these people know nothing about Science or Mathematics. In fact most would not be admitted to a Science Course for lack of qualifications!
The proposals for Carbon Trading will have horrendous consequences for Industry
Australia produces 1.4% of the world CO2. Shutting Australia down altogether would have no effect on world temperatures. Yet Politicians are forging ahead.
Are they stupid or spooked by the fanatics? One cannot find out because they do not answer questions. Do they have the same mindset as terrorists who believe God is on their side so they will triumph over all opposition.
There is no doubt that most of the nonsense survives because of the lack of Scientific Education in the community
- Joe Deviana, Redland Bay Queenslan Australia
I totally agree with the comments made by both Mr Cochrane and Mr Walsh. For years the general public has been duped, through the blind and highly one-sided rhetoric of both the IPCC and politicians, into believing that any global warming experienced since about 1850 is essentially the fault of man. I hope this recent rare snow event in London may at last wake people up to the fact that there are much stronger and wider natural forces at play, totally beyond man's control, that cause climate variability and that it is indeed highly likely that in the years to come the UK and other countries are more likely to be the victims of snow and ice rather than higher temperatures, increased rainfall and flooding. Many congratulations are also in order for your paper having printed the snow event story at a time when things like this are simply not meant to happen and when other papers were less willing to report the story.
- Tom Hendry, Salonika, Greece
The line taken by western politicians over so called 'anthopological climate change' has little to do with stupidity (although they do rely on the stupidity of the electorate). Politicians are falling over each other to show they are more caring and concerned about our precious environment than the next man, and the issue has snowballed.
This movement is rooted in corrupt UN officials and leftist zealots, who have a desire to rid the world of capitalism and to redistribute world poverty more equally. To this end was the IPCC created, and is considered to be the supreme authority on climate change. Anyone who dares to question its assertions, or requests more solid proof or observational evidence, is labeled a 'climate change denier'. Thus the debate is closed down.
And we accept all this without question. WE are the stupid ones.
- Harold Cochrane, Sheffield, UK
add to end of below....
Some scientists are predicting that...
this cooling will be severe, and is a greater threat to humanity than global warming ever was. Meanwhile, politicians are still obsessing about global warming.
IF the Sun is indeed to the main factor in Global warming (and cooling)...and IF we were heading for another cold period then removing Co2 from the atmosphere (at great cost) could therefore make things worse. We can live with warm. ...but millions may suffer and die if we get years/decades of extended cold...all forms of transport snowed to a halt, power/gas outages, crop failures, food/water shortages, disease, and maybe war ...not good!! ....
William Herschel (astronomer) In 1801 noted that when there are few spots on the sun the price of wheat goes up....
Well the price of wheat has gone up..and so has the price of lots of other foods, and there have been food riots in some 25 countries recently. Millions of tons of food have been destroyed by cold/frost... perhaps we are "all Doomed" after all...not by climate, but by the Politicos and the self interest of some climate scientists who will both greatly regret their actions in years to come. Because we needed POWER STATIONS to keep warm and they denied them to us by prattling on about Global warming when all along, what we had was CLIMATE CHANGE !!!!!!!!!!
- Ian Walsh, Devon England
The sun has gone very 'quiet' (As NASA has now said) and quite a few solar astronomers are concerned that the sun may be entering a new 'low' period of activity (grand minimum) which may last a long time.
The sun went quiet during the 'maunder' solar minimum. This was during a period known as the little Ice age (LIA) starting some 400 years ago tail ending about 1850. (1850 is the year AGW'ers start their warming graphs from) Over the past 10000 years (since the last Ice age proper), there have been many times when the temperature was lower than now and times when it was at least as high if not higher. This was obviously not caused by Co2( no cars back then).
So whatever mechanism caused these climate changes is 'natural ' and so is still there, 'lurking' in the background. If this does happen ( and some think it has already started ) It will be a disaster far greater than the worst warming predictions.
Global warming and cooling have closely followed the phases of the PDO. The most significant pattern of PDO behaviour is a shift between “warm” and “cool” phases that last 20 to 30 years. In 1905, the PDO shifted to its “warm” phase. In 1946, the PDO changed to its “cool” phase. In 1977, the PDO returned to its “warm” phase and produced the current warming. In 2007-8, the PDO turned cold again, so we can expect several decades of naturally-caused global cooling.
Some scientists are predicting that
- Ian Walsh, Devon England
As a retired physicist and an AWG sceptic I despair of our government and its official opposition passing this dangerous piece of legislation, What really surprises me is that our political leaders are so incredibly stupid not to, at least, leave themselves room for manoeuvre. Surely they know that mean global temperatures are stable now or even falling. Surely they have been advised of the serious scientific work that has produced clear evidence of solar and oceanic effects on climate. I cannot be the only one who has taken the trouble to write to his MP and the Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband on the subject. I cannot believe that at least one scientific adviser has not drawn at least one senior politician's attention to the possibility that the earth is entering a decadal period of cooling. And that they might just possibly be faced with a serious energy crisis, not in 40 or 50 years but in 2 or 3, and they could face the wrath of the population as they see aged relatives dying of hypothermia.
Just how can an entire assembly of over 600 politicians, barring 3 or 4, be so stupid as to believe without question the ravings of a crooked ex US vice president and the politically driven UN IPCC and not, at least, provide for a fall back position? Forget the science, this is just plain stupid bad politics.
- Peter Stroud, Hook, England
UK Climate Bill: 80% Commitment, Zero Effect on Climate
28th October 2008 will go down in history as ‘carbon fools day,’ a sad day for democracy and science, a day when opposition parties failed to challenge a dangerously unsound policy, devoid of any real scientific basis, without any hope of influencing climate change. Ironically, it was also a day when London saw the earliest October snow for 70 years.
These ‘carbon fools,’ who are allowing the unjustified demonization of CO2 to be used as a weapon against prosperity, energy security and mobility, have committed the UK to an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, without any mapped out strategy of how it will be achieved. Advice on that task falls to yet another expensive QUANGO, loaded with ‘Green Alliance’ members, namely the ‘Committee on Climate Change.’
- Paul, Devon
I realize weather is not climate; however, over time weather becomes climate. With no global warming since 1998 and decreasing temperatures since 2001 including the significant drop in 2007, how do the AGW alarmists explain their hypothesis with CO2 increasing? Let's see in 1895 it was global freezing, in the 1930's it was boiling, in the 1970's it was a new ice age and in 1988 it was back to global warming. How long before the media will be telling us we are entering anothe mini-ice age? If there isn't a global crisis, the environmentalists will find one. Of course, the taxpayers will be footing the bill. What the U.S. needs is cap and trade system just like the EU has. Additional taxes are great incentives to stimulate the economy. Yea, right!
- Retired U.S. Navy Fighterpilot, Vancouver, Washington, USA
i hope this snow will teach a lesson to the climate change brigade (tony blair included) By the way, we haven't had a proper summer this year or even the last year , have we?
- John Span, london
I agree that this is a perfect example of global warming. If it gets hot it is global warming. If it gets cold it is global warming. Also don't forget the whole thing is George Bush's fault and Saint Barack will singlehandedly change the weather.
- Ray, gurnee, USA
Scientists say this will be a colder than normal winter due to the decrease in sunspot activity recently
- Burt Neblo, United States
Hello Mr. Josh from London! I am sick with the fact that you are saying that we should be finding ways out to "survive the ice-age"!!! Instead of getting ready for it coming, how about actually "PREVENTING IT"!!!
You are the kind of people that creates the pollution in this world.
- Maria, ???
"Pure rubbish as we can all see from the last two summers and winters."
I see the uneducated who still don't know the difference between weather and climate are in full voice.
- Josh L, London
where are all the global warming clowns thinking of ways to survive the ice age
- Billy Scrivens, cardiff wales
I apologize for the uninformed comment from the expat in Toronto. In the rest of Canada, we refer to Toronto as the centre of the Universe, because that's how the Toronto residents think of their city. Here in wee Ottawa, it has also snowed last night with the first snowstorm of the season leaving us with 15 centimetres of the dreaded four letter word, about a month earlier than expected. So much for global warming.
- Frozen Swivel Servant, Ottawa, Canada
I moved from England to Canada to experience more "real" winters, but it seems you've had more snow than us so far in London. Oh well.
- Alex Woodrow, Toronto, Canada
In North Carolina, USA, we are experiencing the earliest freeze in history.. According to your article,"...the Artic has been experiencing very cold temperatures this year...." and London receives snow on October 29th.. Whow, maybe those who insist that global warming is just a cycle that the planet is going through.....again...maybe a bit more credible than given credit!!
- Michael Murphy, Stanley, NC USA
No no guys, global warming is on holiday you see. It's just letting the far bigger natural factors take over for a bit, but it will be back soon to increase taxation and government power. Don't you worry.
- Edward, London
Global warming has absolutely nothing to do with one day's or one week's unusual weather. It has to do with *climate*, which is something that you can't measure over less than a decade, and a century or so is needed for accurately determining the trend.
In the UK we *do* have good records going back a few centuries, and it *is* getting warmer.
- Nigel, London
Please use the correct term which is Climate Change not Global Warming. It puts a completely different perspective on the matter.
- Mikki, Hackney, London
Was it all those 4x4s and planes in in 1934 that caused it then?
- Chris Hope, Lynton UK
Before everyone starts freaking out about 'global warming' this and 'climate change' that.
I can inform you that this weird and freaky phenomena causing snow in October is called 'Winter' it happens every year and has done since before records began.
For those of you who are new to this country the weather goes a bit like this.
Spring - raining and cool.
Summer - raining / warm and humid.
Autumn - raining.
Winter - raining and cold / occasional snow.
There, now you are all totally prepared for it.
- Jimbob, Kensington
If Global Warming really kicks in and the Gulf Stream is lost (due to melting ice caps)then this is nothing. Carry on believing there is no such thing as global warming and your kids will really appreciate your foresight.
- Phil, Cheshire, UK
and what price the weather people ? surely it can't be beyond their ken to be able to predict three inches of prolonged heavy snow in the capital in October ? They know the conditions necessary and they know the winds, and barometric pressures and stuff ? An old lady with a pine cone could provide a more accurate forecast.
- Squiz, Islington
Don't you mean ArCtic?
- Claire, London, UK
Just waiting for the Global warming freaks to add pages and pages of texts to align this phenomena with their bunkum about CO2 and man made destruction of the world. It was only a couple of years ago that those same people were adamant that UK summers were going to get intolerably hot and dry, whilst winters very going to be wet and mild. Pure rubbish as we can all see from the last two summers and winters.
- Pete, Croydon Uk
Nice and cool, I wish I was there, but with the new immigrations laws it won’t be soon until I see London again. Shame!
- Antonio, BH,brasil
So much for global warming then?
- Terence Harrington, Canterbury, England
Look !
Don't think you can stop worring about Global Warming, all this snow must be due to some terrible environmental crime we have committed, we are not sure what it is but you will be told after an expensive in-depth investigation involving many Quango experts and various government departments have reported back.
- Dave Morris, Sunderland
