Beast From The East ... Again?

mikeecho · 11-02-2025 04:58PM #1

Every year since 2018, the media runs headlines with the likes of Beast from The East part deux etc

And in the past week or so, they've been at it again.

Normally when I see such a headline, I check here to see what the real story is.

So... Is there anything coming our way in the short term ?

(I'm not well versed in reading charts or understanding a lot of the technical terminology re: meteorology)

Gonzo · 11-02-2025 05:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058395805/beast-from-the-east-again

The thrash rag media like Galway Beo, DublinLive, Mirror, Sun etc run these stories on an almost daily basis throughout every winter and point the finger at Met Eireann while cherry picking the single brutal cold outlier every time that has 0% of verifying. No beast from the east any time soon looking at the models. The only time you can rely upon a Beast from the east happening is when both the Met Office and Met Eireann mention it 72 hours or less before arrival.

mikeecho · 11-02-2025 05:29PM

Cheers.

Back in 2018, I think you guys here gave more than 72hrs notice.

I remember going to Argos in a T-shirt buying a snow shovel.. getting strange looks., and the Mrs thinking I was mad to be filling up on oil, and bringing in coal & timber, and making sure we had a little bit of extra food. (And wine)

Gonzo · 11-02-2025 05:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123159809#Comment_123159809

Yeah we tend to get a bit excited here on the rare occasion that we eventually get cross model agreement of a BFTE or something similar so maybe up to 5 or 6 days beforehand if the modeling is looking very reliable. Beyond the 120+ hour time frame is Fantasy island and that's when we show the odd juicy chart but everything in Fantasy Island is generally unreliable and most of the time the charts we show there rarely verify.

Calibos · 11-02-2025 07:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123159809#Comment_123159809

Same. I'm here long enough to know most of the regular posters usernames. I don't look for cross model agreement. I look for Cross Boards Weather forum regular poster agreement. LOL. When certain posters start talking about snow chances my ears prick up, when other certain level headed posters start agreeing with them and getting excited too, thats when I start to get excited and thinking about starting some snow prep.

In 2018 a went to the coal merchant to pick up a few sacks of smokeless coal, logs and briquettes and he scoffed when I suggested he order more stock in in advance of the coming snow. Ordered some Snow Socks for the delivery van and my private car, de-icer, window scraper and YakTrax boot crampons. Did a big grocery shop and bought 10 days worth of food. Not because I didn't think I could make it to the shops that are only 5 minutes walk away anyway but to get ahead of any panic buying and empty shelves.

Boy was I a smug fecker when the BFTE 2018 hit especially the great Bread and Milk shortage and looting LOL

Didn't all go according to plan though. My brother borrowed my car to pick up his partner from work in Jonnie Foxes and I warned him to take off the snow socks when he got back on tarmac but he forgot and they were shredded after only one use by the time he got home. Wouldn't have even needed those snow socks if I had followed my gut and bought the Michelin Cross Climate All Weather tyres in late 2017. Instead I procrastinated and ended up just buying another set of Summer Pirelli's because sure what were the odds we'd have another 2010 level snow event any time soon. Only 3 months later as it turned out! LOL. Never really got to put the Yak trax boot crampons through their paces on packed snow or ice because down here on the seafront, Storm Emma and all that salty sea spray antifreeze actually melted the 5cm of snow we had and turned it to messy slush, while a couple of hundred meters deeper into town and 50m higher up people had 5ft snow drifts in their back gardens thanks to Emma. Fell on my arse enough times in 2010 to learn my lesson that in the event of major snow and ice I wanted decent crampons to feel confident walking the dogs or down sloped driveways on deliveries. Nearly crippled myself in 2010 falling like yer man in that famous video except I had a large pair of binoculars in their bag hanging on a strap behind my back and nearly lacerated my kidneys landing on my back on them. OUCH!!! The snow socks on the delivery van proved their worth too

Finally bought a set of Michelin Cross Climate 2 tyres a few weeks ago and got them fitted to the car today. So I am afraid that rules out any chances of snow till these tyres age out in the early 2030's. Sorry!!