To think that winter is OVER

[LaurieFairyCake]

At least in London. Next two week forecast is high of 13/14 every day.

We've had about 2 weeks overall of 'chilly' weather - last year was much colder. Didn't really warm up before the last 'beast from the east'.

I'd be really surprised if it got cold again. I'm thinking about planting stuff outside now. I actually planted salad leaves 3 weeks ago, they've all sprouted outside.

Ha-ha-ha. Winter's over, yeah right. You wish!

I arrived in Scotland from SE Asia this time last year and was looking forward to seeing the daffs peeping through (I love daffodils) and unfortunately The Beast from the East put paid to that! I was reasonably warm for about 3 weeks then froze for another 3

I realise North East Scotland is quite different weather wise from London so I say happy Springtime to you OP PS I'm back in SE Asia for now sweating it out.

Yes, I've declared winter over. Even if it snows next week we've still got longer lighter days.

Oh please, another wonderful summer like last year. I hardly dare hope.

Just hope it doesn't mean a crap summer.

I was brought up in rural Wales and still remember the time our village was cut off for 5 days by snow in APRIL! So too soon to be saying winter's over methinks....

I doubt it. I have known snow in April.

Weather here (south east) often lulls us into a false sense of security at this time of year. Flowers and trees start to sprout and bud only to be killed off by a cold March. Let’s hope this year is the exception.

It has felt like a very short winter though. I’m really hoping this doesn’t mean we’ll have Fiery Hot Summer Returns come May.

Me too. The heat made me ill last summer - I'm dreading it being that hot again.

In the next two weeks, sunset gets half an hour later. That makes a massive difference to me and means I get to leave home and get back in daylight (just about). It honestly feels like a weight being lifted from my shoulders!

I couldn't agree more. In fact, once 21st December (shortest day) is over, even though it takes weeks to see the extra daylight - and it keeps getting darker in the mornings for a bit - I just feel more positive somehow.

Last years snow was March, then we had torrential rain in April that went on and on. Easter was a washout

My hen has started laying this week.

I am not convinced that winter is over. Last year, in March our village in the north was cut off for three days with snow. A lovely comardadrie as we trudge around making sure people were alright.

I hope so but last year my daughter was born mid March and we were snowed in.

Was ok here this time last year and then at the end of February it snowed. As we moved to a house with coal fired central heating. It was not warm

Although it's still pretty chilly in the North East it certainly feels spring like. I say that as a horse owner who's horse had a spring in all 4 feet the past few days (horses get a bit excitable in the first throes of spring) and he's losing his winter coat. We're still up to our eyeballs in mud though 🙄
Reminds me of a saying in the horse world -
"How do horse owners know it's spring? They're covered in mud from the waist down and hair from the waist up!"
😃

Oh no! You’ve said it now?!

I am rather sad about it, being a lover of cold and snow.

@Lifecraft - Winter ends on 19 March this year. That fact, which is decided by the rotation of our planet around its nearest star, has nothing to do with what coat you are wearing or the appearance of a few daffodils.

That's not actually the case. If you are defining Spring astrologically (i.e. rotation around the sun), then spring starts in early february. If you are defining it meteorologically (i.e. based on temperature), then spring starts in march.

Mid-summer and mid-winter are 21st june and 21st december respectively. There is a delay of about 6 weeks before the temperature change kicks in so the 3 warmest months are not the three brightest months, hence the difference in definition of seasons.

As far as I'm concerned, spring starts early february. In Ireland, the Celtic calendar defines spring as starting in early february and autumn as starting in early august. Even the names of the months in Irish reflect this. September is translated as Mid-autumn and october as end-autumn.

I really hope we don't get a severe cold snap in March/April like last year. It was mild in February and all the hedgehogs came out of hibernation with disastrous results.
I haven't seen any yet and I'm crossing my fingers that they don't appear for a while.

The summer was wonderful last year. If we have to trade a March of snow to get that again, I'm in

Looool this is what's affectionately known as Fake Spring. It's a bitch ;)

I won't see grass again until probably May :( :( :(

I have photos from January last year where we were out on a walk - the sun was shining and we had taken our coats off. Then what happened, a few weeks later?

Today I have mowed my lawn as there won't be a frost for a while, so it won't get frost damage. It's nice and balmy with that southerly wind we're experiencing. Don't put seedlings outside, only weed seedlings can cope with frost.

And, I saw daffodils actually flowering this year while ds was still on the Christmas break - so the first week in January! I haven't seen them out as early as that before.

But it can still turn on a sixpence though, the British weather. You know that... don't be putting your big coat away yet.

People always get shocked when it snows in May. I was born in May during a snowstorm. It’s happened a few times and there are always people saying ‘snow? It’s May?’ Yes it’s also bloody Scotland and we can have 4 seasons in one day. We got some of the good weather but not as much as the south.

In 1976 it snowed in June. Not for long and it didn't settle but snow nonetheless. Who gives a fuck anyway, it feels like spring again today. Carpe diem.

silkpyjamas did you miss the early morning temperatures of -1°? I'm in London too.