Meteorological Specials
Eclipses
The August 11th 1999 eclipse got a lot of publicity because it was total down here in Cornwall, as well as in parts of mainland Europe. It was an eerie experience despite the cloud. The light faded so rapidly in the last 10 seconds or so before totality, that darkness seemed to flow over you in progressively darker waves.
This photo, taken in Penzance through a thin layer of strato-cumulus, shows the October 1996 partial eclipse. I suspect that most people in Britain were not even aware of the event. The partial eclipse was interesting enough, but there is nothing to approach the atmosphere of totality.
The August 11th 1999 eclipse got a lot of publicity because it was total down here in Cornwall, as well as in parts of mainland Europe. It was an eerie experience despite the cloud. The light faded so rapidly in the last 10 seconds or so before totality, that darkness seemed to flow over you in progressively darker waves.
This photo, taken in Penzance through a thin layer of strato-
Wind and Storm
Wind is a dominant feature of the Cornish climate. Trees (where they can survive) and bushes all mould themselves to the shape of the cliffs.
Taking the year as a whole we get more wind, more rain, more sun, and higher temperatures than the the average for southern England.
When I spent a few years in London the weather blended into the background of life, but it’s something you really notice in Cornwall.
Wind is a dominant feature of the Cornish climate. Trees (where they can survive) and bushes all mould themselves to the shape of the cliffs.
Taking the year as a whole we get more wind, more rain, more sun, and higher temperatures than the the average for southern England.
When I spent a few years in London the weather blended into the background of life, but it’s something you really notice in Cornwall.
A convenient small cumulus shielded the camera from the sun, and allowed my to take this picture of a halo in a thin veil of cirrostratus
Mousehole 27th October 2004
Huge waves crashing towards
Sennen Cove Breakwater
Sennen Cove Breakwater
Snow
It rarely gets very cold in West Cornwall. Penzance only averages 8 or 9 air frosts a year, and in 2002 there were none. On 8th January 2003. I dashed up onto the moors a couple of miles behind Penzance to take this photo on the right. It was the first snow to settle for 6 years. Then, unusually, in 2008/09, 2009/10 & 2010/11 we had consecutive winters with significant snowfalls.
2nd/3rd February 2009. Snow showers were heavy along the northern half of the Land’s End peninsula throughout the day. More widespread spells of snow occurred during the evening. The greatest snow depths were 10-15cm near St Just.
5th/6th January 2010 snow fell overnight, around 5cm in Penzance, but over 10cm on the hills just behind, and a good 12cm near St. Buryan. This snow was unusually in the at lasted for several days. There was more heavy snow on 2nd December 2010, 15cm on the hills behind Penzance.
It rarely gets very cold in West Cornwall. Penzance only averages 8 or 9 air frosts a year, and in 2002 there were none. On 8th January 2003. I dashed up onto the moors a couple of miles behind Penzance to take this photo on the right. It was the first snow to settle for 6 years. Then, unusually, in 2008/09, 2009/10 & 2010/11 we had consecutive winters with significant snowfalls.
2nd/3rd February 2009. Snow showers were heavy along the northern half of the Land’s End peninsula throughout the day. More widespread spells of snow occurred during the evening. The greatest snow depths were 10-
5th/6th January 2010 snow fell overnight, around 5cm in Penzance, but over 10cm on the hills just behind, and a good 12cm near St. Buryan. This snow was unusually in the at lasted for several days. There was more heavy snow on 2nd December 2010, 15cm on the hills behind Penzance.
3rd February 2009
Near St. Buryan 6th January 2010
Links for more detail on the exceptional weather of 2010
The January 2010 snowfall
The exceptional cold & snow of late November & early December 2010
. . also The heavy snowfall of 28th February 2018
The January 2010 snowfall
The exceptional cold & snow of late November & early December 2010
. . also The heavy snowfall of 28th February 2018
Dust Deposit
This photo was taken on 20th June 1998, after a brief light shower
This photo was taken on 20th June 1998, after a brief light shower
Coastal Clouds