Monday, January 14th 2013
The temperature has fallen this weekend and there is an icy chill in the air. Snow has been forecast for some time and here and there in London the pavements bear a scattering of white granular material – anti-freeze and gravel spread by local councils expecting icy conditions.
This morning I had an errand to run but before I set out, I received a message from Tigger, accompanied by a photograph. She had gone out earlier and discovered that it had snowed overnight. Nothing daunted, I put on an extra layer (over my other extra layers) and set out bravely.
Snow-capped Boris bikes
I found that snow had indeed fallen overnight but it had been a typically half-hearted snowfall of the sort that is common in the city. The “Boris bikes” – bicycles for hire – in the local rack wore caps of snow. Obviously few people had felt like cycling this morning.
Snow-covered cars in Claremont Square
Cars parked in Claremont Square were all wearing a covering of snow, making them look like sugar-topped buns.
No snow on the roads and pavements
Yet there was not so much as a flake of snow on the roads or pavements, even here, in the backstreets where there is little traffic. Surfaces were slightly damp but no snow or ice remained.
Myddelton Square Park
There was snow on the ground in Myddelton Square Park, however, and in the front gardens of the houses. Soil and plants seemingly take longer to warm up than the asphalt and paving stones in the street.
Trees limned with snow
The winter-bare trees, skeletons waiting to be given new flesh in spring, were limned with snow.
This little park is usually alive with squirrels but I didn’t see a single one this morning. They were probably lying curled up in their dreys waiting for warmer conditions. I know exactly how they feel as I too have difficulty getting up on cold mornings.
Some birds were foraging
There were fewer birds than usual, though there were some foraging for food. The blackbird on the left didn’t seem too concerned by my presence but the bird on the right, which I take to be a rook, kept well away from me. Distance and the poor light made them difficult to photograph.
Having completed my errand, I was happy to head for home and warmth. Looking out of the window now, I see that it is raining. This will wash away the snow this time but will we have more? We can only wait and see.
Copyright © 2013 SilverTiger, http://tigergrowl.wordpress.com, All rights reserved.
Brrr. I don’t miss the snow and ice. On the other hand, thanks to the jet stream suddenly kinking and dropping south quite a bit, here in LA (actually, Glendale) we’ve had temperatures down to freezing (and even below) for the first time in decades. I’ve had to procure a woolly hat and a scarf, something I’ve not needed in 18 years here. Normally we’d be a balmy 20C/68F about now – or what used to pass for an English Summer…
I think we are going to see such unusual and extreme weather events more and more often as climate change increases. We in Britain may find ourselves experiencing tropical and arctic conditions while hitherto favoured spots on the globe will enjoy outbreaks of “British” weather.
It’s cold here too. 26F/-3C at the moment. Overcast but not snowing. Metal cools quickly and stays cold, which explains the snow on the cars but not the concrete or asphalt. When I lived in Berlin, there would be times when the air was saturated with moisture, and even though it wasn’t raining, it was cold enough that water would condense out on the cars and the sides of stone buildings — running in rivulets even — and everything would be wet without a drop of rain falling. I’m sure they’re used to it, but to me it was a very novel weather situation.
We are only too used to snow and ice in Britain but because our weather is not consistent and snow occurs sporadically, we are never ready for it and normal life is disrupted by a heavy fall. Life resumes again afterwards and we forget all about the disruption until it happens next time…
Brrrr. Love the first 2 pictures! You caught a couple of great ones there. Stay warm
Thanks – glad you liked them. Yes, keeping warm is the thing. When I go out I put on so many layers that I look like the Michelin man!