The British Weather Is So Changeable It Has Become A National Obsession

The funny thing about Britain is that we don't really have a climate? We have weather! It is our national pastime and obsession to talk about it incessantly.

'What's the weather looking like for tomorrow'? is a common question and so difficult to answer because it is so changeable.

As one BBC weather forecaster (Michael Fish) found to his horror one day in 1987. More about that later.

You could say we are a nation obsessed with the weather. In fact it is the topic of a least 3 conversations daily.

The BBC radio weather forecast for shipping is always a hoot. When you are a landlubber. Dogger Bank Gale force 5 rising to 7 German Bite Squalls leading to howling winds!.

Where are these places and who cares? Well the fishermen in the North Sea for sure care and they may just get a chance to run for a safe harbour if they get the warnings in time.

The British Isles

Britain is one island in a group of 6000 islands, in an archipelago in north-western Europe. The biggest islands are mainland Britain and Ireland. With the outer Hebrides to the north of Scotland to the Channel Islands* in the South, off the coast of France. (*although geographically not part of the archipelago, it is definitely British)

Some of these islands are little more than the stubby peaks of undersea mountains and are just a few yards across, whilst others like the Isle of Man are big enough to support their own populations and even governments.

Collectively this archipelago is the British Isles. As islanders we have lived off and from the sea for 1000' of years. This may explain why we are so obsessed with the weather. If you are making your living on such a changeable elemental force as the sea, you are going to be interested in the weather.

Whilst it is true that most of us no longer make our living from the sea. The obsession persists and we still have to make a living. We need to get around and when the weather stops us doing that we get very irritated.

In The Country That Invented Railways

We have a railway system that is second to none (mostly) in the world and yet every year with clockwork precision a leaf will fall onto the railway line and the whole system comes to a dead halt.

The British then go into their annual mantra 'what is the matter with this country, why can't we sort these things out once and for all. We are sick of hearing that the wrong kind of snow has fallen and that the roads are impassable'

And two days later when it has all thawed and the leaves have been swept away we all go back to our normal routines and forget about the whole thing until next year. When it all starts again.

Now I can see the sense of not spending huge amounts of money on snow clearing equipment that is going to be used at best, for just a couple of days in the year.

Financially and from a business perspective this is a very wasteful use of resources? So we don't and every year we have the same results. Chaos!

When someone somewhere finally sits down and adds up how much money has been lost due to people not being able to get to work, or the number of flights cancelled daily.

Not to mention the loss of life and the cost to insurers (and us) for smashed up vehicles.

Maybe things will change? I doubt it though. It is such a great conversation starter.

There is a saying here. 'If you don't like the weather, stick around'!

Our location on the planet, means that we are in a quite unique position to get our weather from several different directions all at once. It leads to some peculiar weather events.

We get the biting Northern Siberian Wind from the Arctic Circle that flies across the flat fenland of East Anglia and freezes everything in it's path.

The warm sea and air from the equator is delivered to our shores courtesy of the North Atlantic Drift conveyor current. This raises the temperature to around 11 °C (20 °F)*

We have palm trees growing in Cornwall (think Fawlty Towers) Torquay, is the British equivalent to the French Riviera. Serious!

These two main air currents. Cold air from the North and warm air from the equator hit landfall just where the British Isles are located.

Add to this mix the 450 km per hour jet stream that also crosses Britain and you have all the makings of a first rate weather cocktail.

Hurricanes are very common in Britain but most people do not notice as they rarely make landfall. But when they do, they make a real mess.

Check out the video below. We have even had snow in London on a summers day.

It seems every year that we get caught out with the snow. Why is that?

Considering that we live in more or less the same region as Norway and Sweden and that they have huge snowfalls every year.

We seem to get off fairly lightly and consequently we do not invest in the right equipment to deal with heavy snow when it does come.

When the snow falls the airports close, trains grind to a halt and the roads become a skating rink.

The great thing about the British driver is that they believe, that as long as they are tucked up nicely in their warm cars and trucks, that everything is fine.

They still barrel along the roads as if there is no danger.

When they crash as they often do, they look bemused into the cameras of the news crews that have been sitting waiting to catch the idiots on film, for our entertainment.

A policeman will give the annual warning. 'If your car journey is not essential then please stay off the roads!'

While In the background of the camera shot, people are picking up there kids from school in huge off road vehicles? Statistically and as a matter of government policy, British children live or are supposed to live within a 5 -10 minute walk from their school? Do they really need to be picked up by car?

Climate Change seems to be on everyone's mind. In Britain it is quite a hot topic as it appears that if global warming continues. Britain will have warmer weather!?

The consensus it seems, is that climate change can't come quick enough. A little short sighted maybe but that it seems, is the general public's attitude.

Climate is the average weather that has happened over the last 30 year period. In reality Britain's 'climate' is moderate. Good for growing crops and livestock. The extremes are so rare that when we do have extreme heat or cold we cannot cope with it.

When the sun comes out everyone strips off and immediately get sun burnt. They walk around looking like burns victims. Which is in fact what they are!

'There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing'. Billi Connolly.

Scandal Of The Energy Companies

The energy companies relying on the general ignorance of the general public, exploit these extreme weather events and make huge profits in the process.

The energy companies in Britain, have the most complicated way of calculating fuel bills. Even a rocket scientist appeared on TV to say, that he could not make any sense of their billing system.

Fuel bills have shot through the roof in recent years. The energy companies are making fortunes while some people cannot afford to heat their homes?

Just another thing to moan about and blame on the weather. When really the solutions are all around us.

The technology exists to insulate our homes. Double and even triple glazing is relatively cheap to install.

Even the cheapest, draft proofing, rubberized strips, can cut down heat-loss from drafty windows and doors.

Quick and easy to fit, it can save money and make your home more comfortable.

We do have OFFWATT or whatever they are called, supposedly regulating these energy companies.

In a few years time they will no doubt dish out huge fines to these companies and the government will get a big fat cheque, again at our expense.

So what is the best thing to do if you get caught in unpredictable weather. Your survival skills are obvious.

If It's cold and wet wrap up warm and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay Indoors and put on extra layers of clothing rather than cranking up the heating.

Make sure you have plenty of non perishable foodstuff. Canned goods, rice, pasta etc. Long life milk.

These cold snaps do not last for long in the UK. Sometimes however they can last for a few weeks. Be prepared and stock up on things that you may need. Get some candles in case of power failures.

Alternatively in strong sunshine wear sunscreen factor 50 at least. Wear a hat and avoid going out in direct sunlight during 11a.m. to 3 p.m.while the sun is at it's zenith.

I know this advice will probably fall on deaf eyes, especially in Britain because as mentioned earlier, as soon as the sun comes out, many people are desperate to get a tan?

We have a word here.Tanorexic. It describes some people that just want to look orange all year, either chemically or via the sun.

They just don't want to be untanned, even if it means skin cancer. The origins of their tanning mania, the healthy glow advocated by Coco Chanel back in the 1930's is usually unknown to them.

The changeable British weather does affect our moods and behaviors. It may have had an affect on these orange people too. Maybe they think that they are living in Hollyweird?

'Looks like rain' said Pooh! 'Don't worry about me' said Eeyore!