Is the UK weather really that bad

[Dansi]

I used to spend my 6 week school summer holiday sat on the beach fishing, and it was sunny nearly everyday, now during June - September we're lucky to get 3 weeks solid sun....... that to me is change

[Ken]

From reading some posts on here from certain members, it seems that the UK winters are like Artic winters, with snow and having to scrap ice from your windshield for 6 months of the year. The summers are described as cold and no guarantee of nice weather.

Is this really the case or is it just some form of exaggeration? It has been 31 years since I lived in the UK, but my memory of the UK isn't like that. I remember lots of green xmas's, yeah I remember it being cold sometimes in the summer, but the UK is not known for blazing hot summers.

I live in Canada and even our winters aren't 6 months long!!! I remember being very cold in Perth, even though the temp didn't get nearly as cold as Canada. I would sit indoors at night and my nose would be frozen.

So really what is the truth has the UK become the new great white north, or is it the still the same UK I lived in.

Thoughts anyone????

Cheers

Karen

The thing about english winters is that there is a six month period in which you might get wintry weather (Snow, frozen windscreens etc;). You don't get it every day nor even every month - in fact it's impossible to predict more than a few days ahead when and if you will get it or how many times it will return during the winter. Some winters I can remember in Essex we went right through most of the winter without seeing any snow - and then snowed in mid-April. Other years it's snowed as early as November.

The thing about english summer is that there is a six month period in which you might get summery weather (blue skies, temperatures above 20 degrees, not raining). You don't get it every day nor even every month - in fact it's impossible to predict more than a few days ahead when and if you will get it or how many times it will return during the summer. Typically there will be a period of a few warm days in May (as there is now) but when the weather turns again eveyone will wonder is that the only summer we'll get? Not until October will hope fade that we'll get another warm spell.

[pandv_2000]

Just wondering if we thought the summers were better when we were kids, Staceys only young and a few years ago, she would have been a wee nipper and my memories of nice summers go back to the 1960s when i was a kid .... Anyone else think this might be the case cos we were always out playing, come rain or shine ?

Hoff, I think it's more that when we were kids we were out playing all day all summer long, whereas as adults we tend to notice if it's fine all week then crap every weekend. As kids everything blurred into one and it appeared as though it was warm all summer. Although we always used to holiday in the UK and the weather was great and there is no way I'd plan a holiday in the UK now so I probably just contradicted myself....

[S92LAME]

Scotland is another continent compared to the south of England , every time a weather map comes on the tv you can gaurentee when the rest of the uk is bathed in sun Scotland is cloudy, is that why a lot of scots hate us lol.

Theres no point hating you lot, not unless its one of you that has the weather remote control and has a piece of tape sticking down the Rain button for us!!

Theres just no more depressing a feeling than looking out of your living room window at a grey sky and thrashing it down with rain for the n'th month on the trot!! Getting snowed in for work is ok, and i do like the snow and winter holidays etc, but it doesnt half make life a struggle just to get around when, even though it happens nearly every year, this country is just not geared up for a bad snowfall. noone in norway panics when it snows. they dont even deploy the gritter/ploughs till theres 3 or more inches of it.

[S92LAME]

one thing that is an inescapable fact, is that northern uk is slap bang under the area where the warm air currents from the south meet the Arctic cold air coming down from the north, hence we get cloud and rain! its just a matter of which wind is stronger that day!!

untill i went to the middle east to vist my dad when he lived there, i didnt realise that the wind didnt blow constantly everywhere. windy conditions happen virtually every day where im from, and its still alien to me today to be out and about and for the air to be still.

[jamjar]

UPDATE

We have a 4 day bank holiday weekend with Jubillee celebrations coming up and true to Great British form, the weather is pants. It's currently grey and raining here in London (which is South for those who keep going on about the great weather in the South) and the same is forecast for the next 5 days. Enjoy everyone, dont forget you sun screen , oops sorry meant your rain coats.

[The Ropey HOFF]

BAGHH HUMBUG.

Central heating back on.

[Perthbum]

BAGHH HUMBUG.

Central heating back on.

You are kidding me, I have honestly got the fan on as it is so muggy in Stratford.

[mwgster]

I am with the Hoff on this one.
The UK weather pattern has definately changed in the last 30 years. When I was a kid (living on a remote farm), I used to walk over a mile just to get the bus. Back then, Dec/Jan/Feb was cold, with some snow on the mountains. Oct to Dec and Feb to April was a bit of a mixed bag.. Rain/Sleet/Showers/Cold/Warm... But the main thing I remember is that we had definate seasons and a good summer.. You know, 4 or 5 months of warm weather with a guarantee of at least 5 days out of 7 being sunny.. Back then, we would bale hay.. This requires 3/4 days of sunny weather for the grass to turn.. It has been nigh on impossible to do this for the last 15 years.. The weather is all over the place.. I woldn't say it is any colder or warmer it is just that most days are grey/miserable. I notice it more now as I have 2 young kids... Planning for outdoor activities is a nightmare.. Getting wet/cold is ok now and again but wears a bit thin after a while.. especially when it is 'summer' time.. Go where the sun is... it has a massive positive impact on your life.

[The Ropey HOFF]

Going golfing again today with my lad, i was there yesterday as well, at least it isn't raining, cloudy and cool. Forecast not good for the next few days .... just as normal, the great British, none summer, lol.