Originally Posted by chris955

In the last few years we have come to realise that in the grand scheme of things the weather really is pretty unimportant. We have spent the last 10 years in Queensland so we are used to 'good' weather, having said that our kids often dont play outside because it's too hot or humid or wet.
The bad part of winter doesn't really last that long and the arrival of spring makes it worthwhile. It really depends on the type of person you are, if beaches and lying around in the sun are the things that do it for you then you might suffer more but for us those things are largely irrelevant and want a more cerebral life.

Originally Posted by Lothianlad

Christmas Day 25 December 2010 Edinburgh, Scotland

After four weeks of continuous cold to very cold weather with some really severe frosts at night and occasionally throughout the day over thick snow and dangerous icy conditions, Christmas Day dawned clear but very cold indeed. Although the daylight lasted only 7 hours 10 minutes the sun shone for much of the day and it made the frost on the snow sparkle like millions of jewels. The sky was a very pale frosy blue and although the temperature did not rise above -5.7C before plummetting down again as it began to get dark at around 15:45 hours.

Technically it was not in fact a White Christmas as no snow actually fell on the day, in accordance with the Meteorological Office definition, but apart from that it was a true White Christmas in every sense of the words....quite magical in fact......Christmas Day 2010.

A recent report issued by scientists predict a sharp drop in winter temperatures in Western Europe, including the UK, over the next 30 years - with a fall of up to 3C in average winter temperatures in spite of "global warming". It sounds bizarre but apparently it's all due to a fairly rapid deline in the effects of the Gulf Stream.

The last two winters 2009/10 and 2010/11 saw lengthy periods of severe cold and heavy snowfalls in most of the UK.

Originally Posted by ANGIE1956

I have heard that the weather as changed somewhat in the UK over the last few years, cloder winters and warmer summers, is that correct?

Originally Posted by ANGIE1956

Beaches and lying around in the sun were my thing but not anymore. I admit the English January/February weather scares me. I am thinking of not moving back until march now. That may be better for me.

Originally Posted by aries

The weather in England is also of concern to me especially if I arrive there in autumn. After most of the past 51 years in Australia, it could be a shock to my system. Nevertheless, Adelaide was only 11.4º C to-day, the lowest for three years, but I didn't feel cold gathering things outside for a skip.

I suppose I must learn to dress accordingly.

Originally Posted by chris955

My Dad always used to say you can easily make yourself warmer but it's hard to make yourself cooler. It will be hard for awhile but from experience it doesn't take long to adjust.

Originally Posted by chris955

OMG, 3 degrees, where did you live in the UK ? Average winter temps are just under 7 degrees which means it often gets warmer than that and of course colder but to say it doesn't often get above 3 is not really accurate. Also remember that everyone handles cold (and heat) differently. I function perfectly normally in the cold so doing stuff outside isn't an issue but it is in the heat.

Originally Posted by Alfresco

I lived in Surrey.

The average temp in the UK in Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) since 1971 - 2000 (30 years) is 3.7 degrees Celcius. Over the last four winters it has been exactly 3 degrees on average.

Here are the links:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2008/winter.html

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2009/winter.html

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2010/winter.html

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2011/winter.html

The daily mean temp graphs don't show it getting much higher than 7 degrees max either. I'm not sure where you got 7 degrees from (and "often warmer than that"). It could be the average max temps though, which only last a few hours at most.

And yes, people do handle heat and cold differently, but for someone who has lived in Florida for 10 years, it will be an adjustment.

For someone who has lived in South Australia it could be manageable.

As I have said before, wrap up warm.

Originally Posted by ANGIE1956

Well i for one think the December weather will be hard on me after spending the last 23 years in Florida. And i am moving towards waiting till march to move back Its been a long time so surely i can hang in here for a couple more months.

Originally Posted by nwtrucker

Last winter was the coldest on record in the UK. I'm a night driver and experienced -17 one night. Believe it or not I didn't think it was that bad with the appropriate clothing on. Warmer summers?.......erm, it's been mild so far, low 20's mainly with a couple of days in the high 20's. So, colder winters yes, warmer summers....the jury is out!

Originally Posted by Bluegrass Lass

I've always said something similar, albeit a bit more crudely: you can always put more clothes on if you're cold, but once you're naked, there isn't much more you can do to cool off!

I'm a native of Kentucky here in the US. We get all the extremes of weather, really cold winters and really hot summers (in the middle of the heatwave right now). I'm moving to Glasgow in about 7 weeks. I lived in Glasgow for about 6mo, over the fall and winter a few years back, and I didn't think it was anywhere near as cold as what I'm used to here. And I can't stand the heat/humidity so I'll be glad to go somewhere that only gets about 90F a few times a year (if that).

Originally Posted by ANGIE1956

Well i for one think the December weather will be hard on me after spending the last 23 years in Florida. And i am moving towards waiting till march to move back Its been a long time so surely i can hang in here for a couple more months.