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Cheltenham has already started watering before the festival and is preparing to do so until jump racing's flagship meeting begins next month to counter a dry long-range forecast.
Just 3mm of rain have fallen at the course since January 15 while a series of frosts has hampered grass growth, conditions which clerk of the course Jon Pullin described as a "challenge".
https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/the-weather-is-proving-to-be-a-challenge-watering-under-way-at-cheltenham-as-dry-spell-continues-ajn2m3F8aQTI/
New clerk o't' course starts with a headache.
Just 3mm of rain have fallen at the course since January 15 while a series of frosts has hampered grass growth, conditions which clerk of the course Jon Pullin described as a "challenge".
https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/the-weather-is-proving-to-be-a-challenge-watering-under-way-at-cheltenham-as-dry-spell-continues-ajn2m3F8aQTI/
New clerk o't' course starts with a headache.
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Comforting to know - from Cheltenham - that this is not happening, then ...
The Met Office has had its say on reports that the UK will be hit by the 'worst snowfall in five years' and separate forecasts of a massive blizzard leaving up to six inches of snow.[/b#
The UK is getting ready for another wet and windy day on Monday (February 27), but new weather maps claim to show a huge snowstorm heading to Britain in just a few weeks' time. According to WXCharts, the first snow fall would arrive on March 3 and spark a 24-hour snow blitz in the North Sea.
By March 6, the forecast states that up to 5cm of snow could land each hour as it gets increasingly heavier throughout the day. Flurries of the white stuff are predicted by the agency to fall up and down England, stretching from Southampton up to Newcastle.
In response, Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern told The Mirror: "It looks as though there are some changes on the way from the middle of next week. We are seeing a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) taking place above the North Pole and what that means is that the winds in the stratosphere surrounding the North Pole are expected to reverse, instead of going from west to east they are going to go from east to west.
"That can have a drag effect on the jet stream which can slow the jet stream down which can in turn lead to higher pressure at the surface, a blocking area of high pressure, blocking wind and rain from the Atlantic and sometimes leading to colder conditions. That’s why Sudden Stratospheric Warmings increase the chance of cold weather."
Some people have pointed out that a similar SSW weather event in 2018 led to the ferocity of a Beast from the East that brought chaos to the UK. However, the Met Office has pointed out that such beastly weather didn't follow a SSW in 2019 or in January 2013.
When asked on Twitter if a report about the UK being hit by the 'worst snowfall in five years' and weeks of freezing temperatures, the Met Office simply urged people to keep an eye on its latest long-range forecasts. A similar response was given when someone raised the spectre of a Beast from the East, with the Met Office tweeting: "Though it currently looks unlikely, we cannot completely rule out the risk of a more significant spell of colder weather late in the period."
In its latest long range forecast for the UK, the Met Office said the UK can expect largely average temperatures for the time of year for the rest of February and up to Sunday, March 5. But strong winds in the east and south could make it feel colder - and it will be cold in some local places overnight.
As we enter the period from Monday, March 6 to Monday, March 20, it says high pressure is expected to dominate initially with unsettled weather to the far north. But low pressure to the south by the middle of the month could see more widespread changeable conditions.
BBC Weather says if changes linked to the sudden stratospheric warming do take place, we could see wintry showers coming from the east[b] around the middle of March, with low pressure edging up from the south.
It adds: "Southern areas of the UK could become more susceptible to increasing precipitation than the north. However, it's too early to speculate on its exact nature yet."
-------------
Reminds me of the old story from around Second World War time ...
Some dignitary - May well have been Mountbatten or similar, or Churchill even - was been shown around the Meteorological Office - he asked of the Chief Forecaster ...
"What percentage of the Weather Forecast do you usually get correct?"
The chief Forecaster replied (with gusto) - "Oh around 30 percent, I would say."
......... "So that means you get it Wrong 70 percent of the time, then " .... came the retort.
The Met Office has had its say on reports that the UK will be hit by the 'worst snowfall in five years' and separate forecasts of a massive blizzard leaving up to six inches of snow.[/b#
The UK is getting ready for another wet and windy day on Monday (February 27), but new weather maps claim to show a huge snowstorm heading to Britain in just a few weeks' time. According to WXCharts, the first snow fall would arrive on March 3 and spark a 24-hour snow blitz in the North Sea.
By March 6, the forecast states that up to 5cm of snow could land each hour as it gets increasingly heavier throughout the day. Flurries of the white stuff are predicted by the agency to fall up and down England, stretching from Southampton up to Newcastle.
In response, Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern told The Mirror: "It looks as though there are some changes on the way from the middle of next week. We are seeing a major Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) taking place above the North Pole and what that means is that the winds in the stratosphere surrounding the North Pole are expected to reverse, instead of going from west to east they are going to go from east to west.
"That can have a drag effect on the jet stream which can slow the jet stream down which can in turn lead to higher pressure at the surface, a blocking area of high pressure, blocking wind and rain from the Atlantic and sometimes leading to colder conditions. That’s why Sudden Stratospheric Warmings increase the chance of cold weather."
Some people have pointed out that a similar SSW weather event in 2018 led to the ferocity of a Beast from the East that brought chaos to the UK. However, the Met Office has pointed out that such beastly weather didn't follow a SSW in 2019 or in January 2013.
When asked on Twitter if a report about the UK being hit by the 'worst snowfall in five years' and weeks of freezing temperatures, the Met Office simply urged people to keep an eye on its latest long-range forecasts. A similar response was given when someone raised the spectre of a Beast from the East, with the Met Office tweeting: "Though it currently looks unlikely, we cannot completely rule out the risk of a more significant spell of colder weather late in the period."
In its latest long range forecast for the UK, the Met Office said the UK can expect largely average temperatures for the time of year for the rest of February and up to Sunday, March 5. But strong winds in the east and south could make it feel colder - and it will be cold in some local places overnight.
As we enter the period from Monday, March 6 to Monday, March 20, it says high pressure is expected to dominate initially with unsettled weather to the far north. But low pressure to the south by the middle of the month could see more widespread changeable conditions.
BBC Weather says if changes linked to the sudden stratospheric warming do take place, we could see wintry showers coming from the east[b] around the middle of March, with low pressure edging up from the south.
It adds: "Southern areas of the UK could become more susceptible to increasing precipitation than the north. However, it's too early to speculate on its exact nature yet."
-------------
Reminds me of the old story from around Second World War time ...
Some dignitary - May well have been Mountbatten or similar, or Churchill even - was been shown around the Meteorological Office - he asked of the Chief Forecaster ...
"What percentage of the Weather Forecast do you usually get correct?"
The chief Forecaster replied (with gusto) - "Oh around 30 percent, I would say."
......... "So that means you get it Wrong 70 percent of the time, then " .... came the retort.
they can water all they like but having seen the rtv interview with willie today and looked at the nrnb markets i suspect we are in for some pretty small fields in the non handicap races . might as well give willie the watering can !
That Met Office report seems like a load of bull to me. A little bit or rain and a little bit colder for a couple of weeks more likely. Roll on Cheltenham.
Still watering daily.
Due to begin watering the A40 soon if things don't improve
Due to begin watering the A40 soon if things don't improve
The last time the Cheltenham festival raced on Good/firm ground nine horses were fatally injured. That is why they want to start with good, good/soft ground on the first day.
Ground at the moment is good to soft, good in places.
They may be using two courses or summat or even fresh ground last two days.
Definitely a challenge for the ground staff to avoid any firming up.
They may be using two courses or summat or even fresh ground last two days.
Definitely a challenge for the ground staff to avoid any firming up.
At least some rain is forecast every day from the 9th to the 17th of March. It might only be light but 8 days with some rain could easily make it soft.
I have a series of 9 x £5 Cheltenham bets every year with a mate. One of them is that I say "no watering at Cheltenham during any raceday".
Fookin' robbed last year but confident for 2023.
Just need McManus to have zero winners and Paul Nicholls to have zero winners and I will be minted.
Sam Twiston Davies ending up on the deck would be the icing on the cake.
Fookin' robbed last year but confident for 2023.
Just need McManus to have zero winners and Paul Nicholls to have zero winners and I will be minted.
Sam Twiston Davies ending up on the deck would be the icing on the cake.
^^^ hooligan racegoers pi5hing on the course does not count
Plenty of wet stuff in the forecast (BBC) before and during the meeting.
Time to get looking for overpriced mudlarks.
Time to get looking for overpriced mudlarks.
Thursday set to put some moisture in the ground, snow first then rain, be perfect ground come first day as long as they've not over watered 
Heavy snow fall has grounded planes at Bristol airport, anybody close to Cheltenham racecourse, any snowfall there?
TIA.
TIA.
just as a Teaser
A Forecast here says - 0.8cm snow Tuesday 3:00am ... But ... 4 degrees c by Mid-day
Tue 14 Mar GMT
Hour Wind Avg. Gust Temp. Rain 3h Cloud Press.
00:00
N 13 mph to 21 mph 4 °C 0.3 mm 100 % 994 mb
03:00
N 15 mph to 25 mph 2 °C 0.8 cm snow 100 % 997 mb
06:00
N 17 mph to 31 mph -1 °C 0.2 cm
FOG
97 % 1002 mb
09:00
NNW 14 mph to 28 mph 1 °C 0 cm 28 % 1006 mb
12:00
NW 22 mph to 30 mph 4 °C 0.3 mm 31 % 1008 mb
A Forecast here says - 0.8cm snow Tuesday 3:00am ... But ... 4 degrees c by Mid-day
Tue 14 Mar GMT
Hour Wind Avg. Gust Temp. Rain 3h Cloud Press.
00:00
N 13 mph to 21 mph 4 °C 0.3 mm 100 % 994 mb
03:00
N 15 mph to 25 mph 2 °C 0.8 cm snow 100 % 997 mb
06:00
N 17 mph to 31 mph -1 °C 0.2 cm
FOG
97 % 1002 mb
09:00
NNW 14 mph to 28 mph 1 °C 0 cm 28 % 1006 mb
12:00
NW 22 mph to 30 mph 4 °C 0.3 mm 31 % 1008 mb
Cheltenham Festival 2023
Next Race Meeting 14/03/2023
Report Date 08/03/2023 11:24:00
Official Going Old: Good to Soft, Good (in places) New Good, Good to Soft (in places)
GoingStick Old: 6.3 New: 6.8 on 07-03-2023 at 15:00
Watering Watered No further watering planned unless necessary following an unsettled week.
Weather:
No snow overnight. 1mm of sleet so far today. An unsettled forecast for the week ahead with wintery showers. Spells of rain/sleet forecast until the weekend. Temperatures forecast to rise over the weekend and a drier outlook for Festival week.
Next Race Meeting 14/03/2023
Report Date 08/03/2023 11:24:00
Official Going Old: Good to Soft, Good (in places) New Good, Good to Soft (in places)
GoingStick Old: 6.3 New: 6.8 on 07-03-2023 at 15:00
Watering Watered No further watering planned unless necessary following an unsettled week.
Weather:
No snow overnight. 1mm of sleet so far today. An unsettled forecast for the week ahead with wintery showers. Spells of rain/sleet forecast until the weekend. Temperatures forecast to rise over the weekend and a drier outlook for Festival week.
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