Come back, Summer… Nothing to be forgiven!

[sumi]

I was actually thinking about that this morning, @Britesea! This is a good time to make notes of things I need to make sure to have a stockpile off. So far we're doing o.k. and it's great help that the supermarket stayed open as best they could over the last 2 days. But it's best not to have to run around buying stuff when you need it and the rest of the village are having the same idea! We had a lot of "panic shopping" over the last 2-3 days.

 

[Britesea]

yep- I broke my elbow years ago, trying to go down snowy steps... right over the funny bone too; they had to give me some morphine to counter the excruciating pain and I have a pretty high pain threshold

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Yikes! Hope it's not as bad as they think it will be! How is it now?

 

[sumi]

It's cold out and windy, but not too bad. I cut and brought in as much wood as I could today and may do some more later, before it gets dark. As long as we can keep the fire going, we'll be o.k. I'm a bit nervous about this cold coming though, as they have been talking about it for more than a week now and we're getting warning after warning this weekend. I hope it's not going to be too bad… By many US states' standards it's normal winter, but it's unusual for Ireland and we're not completely prepared or sure how to handle this.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hope it doesn't get to be too much! Good on getting wood ahead of time - hope you can get a surplus inside.

 

[sumi]

I hope I have enough wood in here. Much of what we gathered after the storm turned out to be fresh and needs a few more months of seasoning before I can burn it. I did have some big pieces that I have been putting off sawing up, partly to let my arm heal first and partly because they are BIG and it's HARD wood (I use a handsaw). They burn great though, so it's worth it

 

[frustratedearthmother]

it's HARD wood (I use a handsaw). They burn great though, so it's worth it

Wow - that's some hard work especially with a wounded wing!

 

[treerooted]

That's got to be tough if you're not used to it, I hope everything turns out ok and you're able to stay warm!

 

[sumi]

Oh boy… (I'm in east Munster)

TUESDAY ... Variable cloud, windy and very cold, with outbreaks of snow (possibly sleet right along the east coast but snow more likely any distance inland), potential for 5 to 15 cms in Leinster, 3 to 10 cms in south and east Munster, traces to 3 cms further west and north. Winds northeast 40 to 70 km/hr, highs -1 to +3 C, and temperatures likely to drop during snowfall to -1 C. Snow may be accompanied by thunder especially near east coast.

WEDNESDAY ... After a very cold start (lows -11 to -5 C) becoming very windy with outbreaks of heavy snow likely, thunder possible, accumulations of 10 to 25 cms in parts of Leinster could be disruptive to travel, 5 to 15 cms in parts of Munster and east Ulster, tapering to trace amounts near west coast (but some bursts of heavier snow could reach as far west as Galway and Limerick). Highs only -4 to -1 C, feeling like -10 C in the wind which will be easterly 50 to 90 km/hr.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY ... A severe winter storm appears very likely, although those conditions may already be occurring by Wednesday in parts of Leinster. This storm is likely to spread to all parts of Ireland with strong east winds 60 to 110 km/hr (in exposed coastal east and south, more like 50 to 80 km/hr elsewhere), heavy snow, blowing snow and blizzard conditions especially over open rural and higher terrain. There is potential for 20 to 50 cms of snow during this period. Temperatures will be steady in the range of -2 to +1 C. Some guidance suggests sleet changing to rain could spread into south at least near coast, and this could eventually push further north. Other guidance still says that the cold and snow remain in place and continue with somewhat reduced severity into Saturday 3rd. ... This will obviously be very disruptive and travellers could be stranded if this comes to pass, keep in touch with the forecasts as better guidance becomes available mid-week.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Sounds like a forecast fit for here, not Ireland! Hope you escape the worst of it!