All this snow will have to melt
All this snow will have to melt
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Discussion

Puggit

Original Poster:

49,820 posts

278 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
Surprised I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere in the news.

If we get a sudden thaw, and with our changeable weather that's likely, then a lot of snow could melt quickly - and with disasterous consequences eek

Liszt

4,337 posts

300 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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And were does the salt go?

Northern Munkee

5,354 posts

230 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
Now it occurred to me yesterday if all this water will replenish reservoirs and aquifers, or will still have hose pipe bans next summer, as it's somehow the "wrong sort of snow"?

BlueProp

4,552 posts

198 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
I think the ball park figure is 8" of snow = 1" of rain.

Disclaimer - Obviously depends on how thick the snow is.

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

256 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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A certain amount of snow won't melt, it'll sublime instead.

john_p

7,073 posts

280 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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CommanderJameson said:
A certain amount of snow won't melt, it'll sublime instead.
Surely it would get ridiculous quite quickly?

evenflow

8,883 posts

312 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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Puggit said:
If we get a sudden thaw, and with our changeable weather that's likely, then a lot of snow could melt quickly - and with disasterous consequences eek
Puggit, Daily Mail Chief Correspondent

Puggit

Original Poster:

49,820 posts

278 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
I think it's the Express that panics about weather more smile

KrazyIvan

4,341 posts

205 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
evenflow said:
Puggit said:
If we get a sudden thaw, and with our changeable weather that's likely, then a lot of snow could melt quickly - and with disasterous consequences eek
Puggit, Daily Mail Chief Correspondent
Dear God will somebody not think of the squirels.

It will melt and run away just like the rain, I doubt it will cause all that much of a problem, afterall it hasn't the last 2 winters.

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

239 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
KrazyIvan said:
evenflow said:
Puggit said:
If we get a sudden thaw, and with our changeable weather that's likely, then a lot of snow could melt quickly - and with disasterous consequences eek
Puggit, Daily Mail Chief Correspondent
Dear God will somebody not think of the squirels.

It will melt and run away just like the rain, I doubt it will cause all that much of a problem, afterall it hasn't the last 2 winters.
I think you are overlooking the fact that this year is the Wettest/coldest/Hottest/Driest/Snowyist since the time before and will probably be worst than previously thought.

We're all doomed, I tell ya!!



Edited by odyssey2200 on Thursday 2nd December 12:49

ninja-lewis

5,453 posts

220 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
Northern Munkee said:
Now it occurred to me yesterday if all this water will replenish reservoirs and aquifers, or will still have hose pipe bans next summer, as it's somehow the "wrong sort of snow"?
Not if it's a sudden thaw. The ground can only carry so much water before it becomes saturated and the water just runs off the hill. That's if the ground isn't frozen, forcing the water to run off on the surface anyway. Meanwhile a heck of a lot of the snow will be below the water storage system (i.e. not on the hills). In urban areas where large parts of the land have concreted over the melt water will be forced to run off on the surface and overwhelm the drain system. A gradual thaw that releases meltwater over the coming months would go further in filling the water storage system.

On the plus side several inches of snow is only equal to an inch of rain so it hasn't been particularly wet in many areas.

MorrisCRX

638 posts

223 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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BlueProp said:
I think the ball park figure is 8" of snow = 1" of rain.

Disclaimer - Obviously depends on how thick the snow is.
How dense the snow is dear.

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

278 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
MorrisCRX said:
BlueProp said:
I think the ball park figure is 8" of snow = 1" of rain.

Disclaimer - Obviously depends on how thick the snow is.
How dense the snow is dear.
No, how thick it is. 8 inches of snow contains more water than 2 inches. Unless it's compacted, then it becomes ice.

MorrisCRX

638 posts

223 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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Final answer mr Morris?

Yes... final answer, density.

scenario8

7,974 posts

209 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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What an odd thread.

We'll be ok. Buy a kayak if you're worried. Don't wrap it - I'll paddle it home!

Morningside

24,147 posts

259 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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Hosepipe ban?

F i F

48,871 posts

281 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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BlueProp said:
Disclaimer - Obviously depends on how thick the snow is.
Disclaimer:- Probably not too thick to get a student loan and spend three years studying knitting and Lady Gaga, joint honours, at University of Nether Wallop.

zollburgers

1,285 posts

213 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
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Puggit said:
Surprised I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere in the news.

If we get a sudden thaw, and with our changeable weather that's likely, then a lot of snow could melt quickly - and with disasterous consequences eek
If I saw a newspaper with the headline "If we get a sudden thaw, then a lot of snow could melt" then I would assume it's a slow news day and not bother buying it.

tubbystu

3,846 posts

290 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
Given that the forecast for Saturday for the South East & London is currently 5 degrees (almost tropical by recent temps hehe )and wet the snow will go pretty quickly. Mind you it is due to be bitterly cold tomorrow.

A wet thaw (ie rain driven) can only be more likely to cause localised flooding than a dry thaw (ie temp driven only) scratchchin

dxg

10,783 posts

290 months

Thursday 2nd December 2010
quotequote all
john_p said:
CommanderJameson said:
A certain amount of snow won't melt, it'll sublime instead.
Surely it would get ridiculous quite quickly?
As your comment seems to have gone over most people's heads, you can have a rofl from me.