The cold weather THIS WEEK. Arghh. Warning

geri1965_2

Metcheck is run by a convicted !!!!!phile, I wouldn't believe anything they say.

Lotus-eater

lostinrates wrote: »

Metacheck really is a lot more pessimistic! I was monitoring a range of weather sites over winter and metacheck was always gloomy, but bbc was a way out. Metacheck does have us dropping below. I guess I'll cover at night and hope!

TBH, more worried about fruit than anything else...not much I can do to protect that either.

I use the Metoffice website, I find it reasonably accurate, but you have to adjust it for your area.
I think the BBC use the same info, but the Metoffice website I find better.

Metcheck is pessimistic, but can often be right.

There is also netweather.tv, which has a "will it be frosty" forecast and gives minimum ground temps.

My neighbours has her French Beans out already, I think it's a bit crazy, there is at least another month where we could have a hard frost yet.

dizziblonde

I've got stuff out - I've got no option not to - no windowsill space left, no greenhouse - it's survived previous cold spells a couple of weeks ago so I'm just left taking the gamble - least the corner of the patio is fairly sheltered from the elements anyway.

If stuff dies - it dies.

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I use the Metoffice website, I find it reasonably accurate, but you have to adjust it for your area.
I think the BBC use the same info, but the Metoffice website I find better.

Metcheck is pessimistic, but can often be right.

There is also netweather.tv, which has a "will it be frosty" forecast and gives minimum ground temps.

My neighbours has her French Beans out already, I think it's a bit crazy, there is at least another month where we could have a hard frost yet.

I use met office too...but bizarrely, for rain etc, the local it is not the best...because of that big hill. After long discussions with my neighbour I accept he is right for rain forecast we're better going by the met testing spot not too near and north east of here. Frost....I dunno.

Anyway, all I can do is cover and hope for stuf in the ground and pray for the fruit.

Lotus-eater

lostinrates wrote: »

Frost....I dunno.

Get an accurate themometer and start noting (in your head is ok) the minimum night temps on the website and in your garden and when you have time, in various places in the garden, but atm just one main place will be enough.
There may be a correlation between both sets of figures, it doesn't have to be perfect, but good enough to give you an idea.

For example, I know that I am usually X degrees below the metcheck lowest figure. When it's cloudy, X = 1 or 2c, when it's completely clear X = 4 or 5c. I'm sure there are other local weather conditions that also effect it, which I either haven't worked out yet, or unconsciously take into consideration.

I also have a feeling for the local weather now and can often, though annoyingly not always! tell when we are going to have a frost, or almost frost.


I have a cheapy little oregon weather station, which I have 2 sensors linked to. It works really well, I did have a full weather station at one time, but this little one gives me a bit more flexibility and while it doesn't give me the bells and whistles of the full one, it is better for what I need.

Nikki

The bbc seem to underestimate our temps - they seem to use the costal temps which are a good 4-5 degrees lower than the inland temps and we are inland!! I am planting out as I would normally, but we don't get ground frosts after april anyway. It is going to be colder here too but not cold enough to kill anything off, no rain in sight for us 'till at least friday and we are running very low on water

mardatha

Metcheck has us down to 1C overnight and we have had a few morning with pure white cars and ice - but all seeds are fine even lettuces at 3-4" high. Out in open not greenhouse. We are always 2-4 degrees colder than the places north or south of us because we're up on moors. The local veg growers are just starting to put their onions and tatties in now, I went too early but it seems to be ok, my onions are through and doing fine.

[Deleted User]

I have discovered accuweather and it really is accurate. It just gave the temperature at 9.02 pm and it says 17 feeling like 16. My weather station is saying 16 so for me it as near enough and that is the weather site I use now

wednesday night is going to be the scariest with a low of 1 and a real feel of -3 :eek:

tomorrow will be 4 feeling like 1

I am getting all the folding tables out in the house tomorrow and tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, beans etc will come inside, in fact anything I cannot squeeze into doubly fleeced patiogros or a fleeced polycarbonate greehouse. I`ll be putting fleece over all raised beds and strawberries and even over the potato foliage. What a palaver but they are def going on tomorrow and will be removed on thursday

mardatha

My potatoes have often been out in frost over the last 3 years kittie and are always ok.

cootambear

just go outside about 8pm and feel how cold it is.