Temperature plummeted in the small hours of Saturday morning, hitting
zero around 8am. Rose above freezing briefly at lunchtime, then dropped
to zero again just after 3pm, when snow flurries started.

It's been snowing very wet stuff steadily now since about 9pm, though it
is having trouble settling. Not nice at all.

Current temperature = -2.5C
Current snow depth = 2cm

jim, Northampton

Not sure if you are aware but the Met Office are looking for a new site for a climatological site in Northampton.

It would need a large open space over grass, any ideas?

I gather the university are closing their site down as part of relocation plans.

Steve J

On 18/03/18 20:09, Steve Jackson wrote:
Not sure if you are aware but the Met Office are looking for a new site for a climatological site in Northampton.

It would need a large open space over grass, any ideas?

I gather the university are closing their site down as part of relocation plans.

Steve J


There's always Sixfields Stadium. The Cobblers don't seem to be making
much good use of it at the moment.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks. Web-site: http://www.scarlet-jade.com/
"There is nothing more frustrating than playing hide and seek with a
deaf wolf." [Benton Fraser]
OS: Linux [openSUSE Tumbleweed]

On 18/03/2018 20:09, Steve Jackson wrote:
Not sure if you are aware but the Met Office are looking for a new site for a climatological site in Northampton.

It would need a large open space over grass, any ideas?

I gather the university are closing their site down as part of relocation plans.

Steve J



There are already two reliable stations in Northampton.

The first is at Pitsford School, 5 miles north of the town centre. This
is used by the local newspaper for local weather warnings and reporting
any unusual events. It is run by the students.

The second is situated at Moulton Park (Industrial Estate?), 3 miles
north of the town centre. Their observations, I believe, are used for
official records. (This may well be the one you refer to as the
University site, because it butts onto the back of the industrial estate.)

Open green spaces in this town are at a premium, because most of them
are already earmarked for development in the near future. Almost all the
school playing fields are already covered by houses.

jim, Northampton

On Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 1:28:04 AM UTC, jbm wrote:
Temperature plummeted in the small hours of Saturday morning, hitting
zero around 8am. Rose above freezing briefly at lunchtime, then dropped
to zero again just after 3pm, when snow flurries started.

It's been snowing very wet stuff steadily now since about 9pm, though it
is having trouble settling. Not nice at all.

Current temperature = -2.5C
Current snow depth = 2cm

jim, Northampton

Yes Jim, it is the Moulton Park site that is being closed down, so the Met Office have a gap in their network of climate stations.

I do know Mike Lewis from Pitsford; unfortunately, their instruments are on a roof so cannot conform to MO criteria over siting of equipment.

As we were being inspected by the Met Office last week, I was asked if I knew of any one in Northampton who might want a free climate station, subject to site requirements, of course!

Cheers, Steve J

On 19/03/2018 18:23, Steve Jackson wrote:

Yes Jim, it is the Moulton Park site that is being closed down, so the Met Office have a gap in their network of climate stations.

I do know Mike Lewis from Pitsford; unfortunately, their instruments are on a roof so cannot conform to MO criteria over siting of equipment.

As we were being inspected by the Met Office last week, I was asked if I knew of any one in Northampton who might want a free climate station, subject to site requirements, of course!

Cheers, Steve J


Sorry, Steve. I can't really help you. However . . . .

Keep your ear to the ground. With the imminent changes to the make up of
the local authorities and boundaries, it is very likely that all the
current planning applications will have to be resubmitted, which may
well free up some land in Northampton itself. Other wise, for the next
few years at least, the MO will have to look outside the town boundary
for something permanent.

When I saw the map of land being considered for development in this
town, I was shocked. They are even considering small grassed areas
behind and alongside existing houses. There's a small patch outside the
back of my house and that is open to a planning application for a 6-8
house development if anyone is interested. (All the areas that have been
identified are almost certain to have planning accepted "on the nod" as
it were.) So bang goes the local play area for our street. They have to
find space for 15,000 houses in the next 12 years (Government orders!),
and that sort of land just doesn't exist within the town boundary.

jim, Northampton