Dec 09 had snow on the ground from a lot of showers that started the weekend before and continued through the week, snow-on-snow! Was about 10cm by Xmas Day and I think we got a few flurries on the day itself.

 

I rate December 2009 as the best recent white Xmas in these parts.  Born in 84 I had only seen the odd shower or dusting until then.  Snow on snow like you say, with deep fall on Xmas eve morning which as I recall was a bit unexpected or the amount certainly was.  Xmas 2010, we only had a thin covering of 2-3cm, nothing like you guys in the NW, but I was relieved, had I been a few miles east there would have been nothing. 

Looking back now, 2008-2013 was really the daddy of winter periods in my lifetime.

Christmas morning 2010, five miles south of Taunton, where I was living at the time.

I'm prepared to admit it might not have been a real white Christmas, in the sense it didn't snow. But quite frankly, who was counting by that stage?

Also, Gooner makes a very good point. When we get this sort of thing again, don't waste it. A major reason for people's frustration with British winters seems to result from them staying indoors, glued to their screens and looking for the breakdown whenever we do get periods of snow and ice.

I spent that Christmas afternoon sledging with the dog until the magical afternoon dissolved into that weird blue Arctic twilight unique to December 2010, with the snowy landscapes occurring around the shortest day.

Who cares if it wasn't actually snowing!

Christmas morning 2010, five miles south of Taunton, where I was living at the time.

I spent that Christmas afternoon sledging with the dog until the magical afternoon dissolved into that weird blue Arctic twilight unique to December 2010, with the snowy landscapes occurring around the shortest day.

Who cares if it wasn't actually snowing!

Great picture - that’s my kind of weather.

I agree, winter landscapes in December have a certain kind of magic with the weak sun and early sunsets. Snow in late Feb hasn’t quite got the same ‘allure’ to me.

Anticyclonic November forecast today by the CFS monthly - could be very cold and frosty! Been a while since we have seen a cold and frosty November: However uppers are not impressive.

Could be a snow event for Xmas day - again all JFF:

But interesting run: 

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=1974&mode=0&carte=0&run=3

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=2154&mode=0&carte=0&run=3

JFF of course

You'd take that 

JFF of course

 

 

You'd take that 

Send the link to this?

please?

Above average temps in Greenland & Svalbard!? = recipe for northern blocking!?

Very early day's but we are in tomorrow!

Nice end to the year

JFF 

Anticyclonic November forecast today by the CFS monthly - could be very cold and frosty! Been a while since we have seen a cold and frosty November: However uppers are not impressive.

 

Blocked November with the CFS today!^

 

Blocked November with the CFS today!^

Potential there for Late Autumn /early winter cold spells i think.

Inclusive of S**W.....

 

 

Potential there for Late Autumn /early winter cold spells i think.

 

 

Looking at End of November CFS run JFF:

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=1254&mode=0&carte=0&run=1

 

Blocked November with the CFS today!^

Looking at today's CFS monthly seasonal - Today, it appears November and December could be both a very blocked dry and cold month. Uppers are high but on the surface temps would be cold so I would anticipate lot's of fog and frost with these sort of charts:

December starts chilly JFF 

December starts chilly JFF 

Quite - todays 18z CFS run goes for a cold wintry start for the first two weeks of December:

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=1434&mode=0&carte=0&run=4

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=1614&mode=0&carte=0&run=4

Suddenly!? A large part (perhaps the equivalent to the size of Europe) of central and northern Siberia get's covered in snow:

Looking at strength of zonal winds at 10hpa for the next two months Oct-Nov they all appear to show a weakened zonal flow right into December:

JFF Into Xmas week

Doesn't last very long though

JFF From CFSv2 18z from last night brings us a Xmas treat

I am noticing trends that the CFS long range model runs are generally showing consistent trends for a cold northly plunge end of November into first week of December with HP out to our NW and low pressure systems diving southwards dragging down northerly winds: - Of course too early to take it literally but one to watch!?

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=1074&mode=0&carte=0&run=3

https://www.meteociel.fr/modeles/cfse_cartes.php?ech=1254&mode=0&carte=0&run=3

Ties in well with the CFS for November: