Elgin Snow watch 2011/12 (as of 04/12)

Chris Milne

Published on 05 January 2012

Last year I had the idea of creating a snowblog, the idea of which was to show my view of the UK snowfall in my local area of Elgin, Moray in Winter conditions. The idea was good last year but I didn't update it regularly enough and I don't think it had the impact it could have done so I decided to once again do a snowblog but this time keep it up to date.

Another use of the snowblog is that you can see what the conditions are like up here and compare them to the conditions in your location. Personally, I love the amazing Winter scenes that snow and the white can allow for a lot of contrast in photographs!

Bou Brig taken at night during late November 2010

Entry 1 - 03/12/11

Today marked the first major downfall of snow, the only other snowfall we have had was a week Friday ago and that was only a few Wintery snow showers in the morning which then ended up as a glorious day. Today was the opposite, this morning was glorious with some clear blue sky over Elgin in the morning which I woke up too. This area of blue sky lingered around but some cloud creeping in from the South started to cover the sun as we entered the afternoon. I was photographing Elgin City FC's home game against Stranraer FC at Borough Briggs at 3PM. I had been hoping that the weather would bring some sort of precipitation to add to the atmosphere of the photos and having read the forecasts I knew snow was definitely in the question.

So I arrived at Borough Briggs, dry conditions and the blue sky still overhead. Soon enough, however, those clouds from the south had started to take-over the sky, which I didn't really think mattered because it was pitch black and the floodlights would be the main sort of light. The second half, and game, were drawing to a close when I noticed precipitation, I'd normally use the term rain or snow but it was swirling around in the air suggesting it was snow and then landing on the ground with a splat like rain..

It became heavier and heavier and I was getting progressively confused as to whether it was rain or snow! I was soon to find out. When the game finished and I hurried off (because I was cold and in dire need of a cup of tea!) I had to walk to get home. Midway through my journey home feeling wet and thinking to myself, oh well, at least I know now it was rain (not really of any comfort) I looked down at my coat to find numerous colossal sized snowflakes attached.

I was very glad to arrive home, and be able to watch the snow from an inside perspective! As a bonus, my Mum made me a cup of hot chocolate when I got in, a lovely sympathetic gesture. The snow continued to fall and I was wondering if we were in for a white night but not soon after it stopped and a few hours later we haven't really had much more. Excitement over - for now!

The following photos aren't of any great quality, handheld nightshots taken at ISO1600!

View from my front door - 03/12/11

Entry 2 - 04/12/11

I woke up this morning to find it was snowing, there had been quite a bit fallen as everything was covered with a few centimetres of the stuff. Fortunately, this time it had not ambushed me on my walk home, I was in my rather nice and warm bed at the time! So I put on some cheesy Christmas music and enjoyed the Christmassy atmosphere!

Me and my Mum has planned to make some leek & tattie soup (the best kind of soup for a Winter day!) Watching the snow continue to fall. Then then the shower ceased within half an hour a clear blue sky took over. So having finished making the pan of soup I decided I would take a little walk to let it cook. I wrapped up warm and put on my wally hat and went out into the cold.

You could feel it as soon as you left the door! I obviously hadn't wrapped up enough. I started my walk by walking to the Bou Brig before walking up the road to a field where there were five horses, two of which greeted me and came to say hello. The placement of the sun made them hard to get a photograph of with the on their side and they kept following me so I had to move quickly to get any photos. I noticed a big grey mass of cloud drifting towards where I was so I decided to make the quick walk home to have my hot soup as I watched the snow falling - again, from the inside.

There are forecasts for more snow, not a lot, just a few brief showers. I can't see us getting much though.