British Weather

Posted by Caroline on May 31, 1998 at 15:21:08:

In response to Question while you're all on the subject of British weather, written by Carolyn B on May 31, 1998 at 13:14:41

I'm going to answer this subjectively ( you don't really want a long spiel about climate classifications, isopleths, storm tracks and frontal depressions like I dish out to the Graded 12's do you?)

Britain has a climate that is described as "equable", that is, compared to other parts of the world the temparature differences between summer and winter are relatively small,it never gets really, really cold or hot,rain comes at all times, and "weather" is a short-term thing.If you ever did world climate patterns at school, you'll have learnt that the climate of Britain is very similar to that of British Columbia, Tasmania, Southern Chile, and South Island, New Zealand.

I knew all this when I moved to Continental North America. Nevertheless, like Mrs.Trollope, I was rather taken aback by the violence of the summsr storms, the size and velocity of the rain drops, the heat and humidity of Central Canada and , of course, the quantities of snow in the winter. In Comparison to Southern Ontario (which, climatically, isn't that far from the Ohio Valley) English rain is softer, goes on longer, winds are slower to build up (though they can be just as violent and last a lot longer),Summer heatwaves are shorter and less humid (and cooler- in the 70's), snow is a much rarer and gentler thing, blizzards are almost non-existent except on high ground.

Hope that helps you understand Mrs. T!(or should I be a lady and give her her real name? ) ;-)

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REPLIES:

• I do! I do! gkb 16:59:01 6/02/98 (2)
  • Readable books Caroline 19:53:40 6/02/98 (1)
    • Me too! and thanks, Caroline Carolyn B 20:54:18 6/02/98 (0)
• "Oh, to be in England..." Erin L 12:55:57 6/01/98 (0)

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