Snow in Plymouth

Situated as it is in the southwest corner of the UK, in the path of relatively warm ocean currents (Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift), Plymouth experiences a generally mild and wet climate. We do get freezing conditions at times but you can probably count the number of days of heavy frost, icy pavements etc. each year on the fingers of one hand. This means that when it snows in Plymouth it is an occasion of great excitement. In fact, the local newspaper website goes apoplectic at the prospect of a few flakes of the white stuff as if this will be the start of a ‘The Day After Tomorrow’-like big freeze bringing everything to a halt and catastrophe at every turn. But the fact of the matter is that it simply doesn’t snow in Plymouth, ever, at least not such that you would ever notice…

…so imagine my surprise when I woke up late this morning (my cold has really taken hold now and I am off work) and looked out of the window to see the ground covered in the white stuff. Actually, ‘surprise’ isn’t quite the right word (neither is ‘covered’ now I come to re-read that last phrase) – ‘amusement’ would be a better one, because the local paper had finally got its wish and it HAD finally snowed in Plymouth. Look, here’s the (albeit slightly melted) proof: