Latest news with #JudithRalston
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Climate
- Scotsman
Only style icon Judith can becalm our weather's temper tantrums
Edinburgh's Judith Ralston, the former opera singer is now a weather presenter for BBC Scotland Other nations look to cutesy cheerleader gals for their TV weather updates. We in Scotland defer to the goddess of isobars and pressure fronts, Judith Ralston, a style icon in a pair of headmistress glasses, form-fitting sweater and a tight leather skirt. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This is not an easy combo to pull off when you have to briefly bend to explain weather-related shenanigans south of Carlisle. That lady can rock that leather skirt. I am in awe. Were I to be poured into something even remotely similar, my rear end would strongly resemble the leather sofas currently on offer in the DFS Summer Sale. Judith is not a weather girl. This is a weather woman and one with a firm hand. She has the air of a strict teacher who knows what the kids at the back are up to, and can deal with it sharpish. It's fitting that she gives Scotland the latest on our swinging troughs and temperatures, since we're dealing with the sort of weather moods and swings we expect from rampaging hormone-fuelled teens. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's called Whiplash Weather. Scotland traditionally has at least four seasons in any one day, but this is fast moving. It's like the conveyor belt at the end of the Generation Game. We can see summer passing us, but it's moving pretty quick and hard to remember. Sorry about the Generation Game reference. People of a certain age now can't get the words 'cuddly toy' out of their heads. May lulled us into a false sense of security. Blue skies and beaming sun. The Shore looked like San Tropez, only smaller and with better pubs. Why, I even left the house without a jacket on. I know. Madness. Men were striding about Leith without tshirts on. I know. Horrible. And then the whiplash arrived with hurricane winds, and all bets, loose clothing and flip-flops were off. Literally. Anything not firmly strapped down was gone with the wind. I hung a washing out. If anyone in Fife has seen my double duvet cover, let me know and I'll cut across the bridge and get it back. Choosing an outfit for the day is fashion roulette. In the winter, it's easy. All the layers, and then some more. Chuck in a brolly. In the summer, slightly less layers. Chuck in a brolly. Now we have to dress for the weather we see in that actual moment, betting on the odds of freezing or roasting for the rest of the day. Forget the brolly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Yesterday I ventured out to meet friends for lunch. I had to pull out my winter rain jacket, on account of the fact that the street was being lashed by the sort of storm that drove sailing ships onto the Bell Rock. By the time I reached the bus stop the sun was out. Now, that little jacket of mine is very waterproof. It has not been designed for sitting on a Lothian bus with the heating full-on and the sun beaming in. Finland may have saunas, we have the human boil-in-the-bag travelling experience. Fortunately, I cooled off the minute I left the bus, because the rain came back. Whiplash indeed. This summer is getting downright recalcitrant. Someone needs to have a stern word and I can think of no better woman than our own Queen of the Weather, Ms Ralston.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Scotland's highest hills turn white as weather expert gives verdict on June snow
The Cairngorms National Park was dusted with snow, a spectacle more typical of winter months Scotland is well used to experiencing a mixed bag of weather regardless of the time of year. Scots are a resilient bunch - but there is no doubt that seeing snow during the summer will always feel a little odd. Meteorological summer is here but it hasn't stopped the elements from acting up. Despite no rain for the first 23 days of May, four weeks' worth of rain fell in just three days last week, pushing it into wetter-than-average territory. Snow has now entered the picture, too. The white stuff covered Scotland's highest hills and mountains on Wednesday (June 4) including Cairngorm, showing how the freezing level of polar air dropped across the country overnight. Photos showed the wintry-looking road to Cairngorm Ski Centre with fresh snow above 3,2000ft. BBC Scotland weather presenter Judith Ralston gave her verdict on the frosty sight just as British Summertime approaches and how it fares to previous years. "Snow on the hills of Scotland is not unusual in early June," the expert explained. "The colder air has come down from Iceland and, with the strength of wind, it reached Scotland before getting much time to warm up." Even so, Neil Cuthbert, Conservative councillor in Edinburgh couldn't hide his amazement, writing on X: "Pretty amazing to think it's the first month of summer and we have snow in the mountains of #Scotland." Some of Scotland's mountains, including the Cairngorms, had snowfall around this time last June. In 2010, more than 100 skiers took advantage of ski tows being open at the Cairngorm Mountain resort near Aviemore for the first time in midsummer. People were previously able to ski in the Cairngorms at this time of year but they had to trek to where the snow was. Cairngorm Mountain, along with Scotland's other mountain ski centres, had benefited from lengthy periods of freezing conditions over the winter. This most recent bout of snowfall was unexpected because it follows a period of unusually warm weather. Just a couple of weeks ago, Scotland basked in a 'mini-heatwave,' with temperatures soaring to 25C. However, a dramatic shift in weather patterns brought widespread rainfall and even snow to the Highlands. Meteorologists attribute this sudden change to a cold front moving south from the Arctic, bringing freezing temperatures to parts of Scotland. "Overnight lows dipped below freezing in exposed northern regions, and daytime temperatures remained well below seasonal averages," explained. "This sharp contrast to the preceding warmth underscores the volatile nature of Scotland's weather." But is there more snow to come in Scotland? The Met Office hints at such, but stressed that long range forecasts are not as reliable as their shorter range forecasts and due to the "the chaotic nature of the atmosphere," the weather could change on a dime. "Our forecast says a cold front is responsible for the change in the UK's weather, which is seeing a shift to wetter and windier weather on Tuesday and into Wednesday," a weather agency spokesperson revealed. "This could indeed see a mixture of snow and rain over the high ground of Scotland over the next couple of days, but this isn't the weather the vast majority of people will experience and isn't unheard of, even at this time of year." The Met Office long range forecast from June 8-17 throws weight behind this prediction of changeable weather across the UK, but more with showers or some longer spells of rain spreading in from the Atlantic. In terms of the rain, the heaviest and most prolonged bouts will probably be across parts of the north and northwest, with the southeast likely driest. Temperatures are expected to be near normal or slightly below.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
June snow dusts Scotland's highest mountain tops
Snow has dusted the tops of some of Scotland's highest hills and mountains. Meteorological summer started on Sunday, but cold air from the north has brought some chilly weather. BBC Scotland weather presenter Judith Ralston said: "Snow on the hills of Scotland is not unusual in early June. "The colder air has come down from Iceland and, with the strength of wind, it reached Scotland before getting much time to warm up." The cool conditions are expected to continue for the next few days, but the forecast is for the high winds to ease and fewer showers from Thursday. Some of Scotland's mountains, including the Cairngorms, had snowfall around this time last June. In 2010, more than 100 skiers took advantage of ski tows being open at the Cairngorm Mountain resort near Aviemore for the first time in midsummer. Previously at this time of year people were able to ski in the Cairngorms, however, they had to trek to where the snow was. Two temporary rope tows were provided over two days. Cairngorm Mountain, along with Scotland's other mountain ski centres, had benefited from lengthy periods of freezing conditions over the winter. Snow in June on Scotland's mountains as Arctic air sweeps in Reduced mountain snow patches point to climate change
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
June snow dusts Scotland's highest mountain tops
Snow has dusted the tops of some of Scotland's highest hills and mountains. Meteorological summer started on Sunday, but cold air from the north has brought some chilly weather. BBC Scotland weather presenter Judith Ralston said: "Snow on the hills of Scotland is not unusual in early June. "The colder air has come down from Iceland and, with the strength of wind, it reached Scotland before getting much time to warm up." The cool conditions are expected to continue for the next few days, but the forecast is for the high winds to ease and fewer showers from Thursday. Some of Scotland's mountains, including the Cairngorms, had snowfall around this time last June. In 2010, more than 100 skiers took advantage of ski tows being open at the Cairngorm Mountain resort near Aviemore for the first time in midsummer. Previously at this time of year people were able to ski in the Cairngorms, however, they had to trek to where the snow was. Two temporary rope tows were provided over two days. Cairngorm Mountain, along with Scotland's other mountain ski centres, had benefited from lengthy periods of freezing conditions over the winter. Snow in June on Scotland's mountains as Arctic air sweeps in Reduced mountain snow patches point to climate change
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
In pictures: June snow dusts Scotland's highest mountain tops
Snow has dusted the tops of some of Scotland's highest hills and summer started on Sunday, but cold air from the north has brought some chilly Scotland weather presenter Judith Ralston said: "Snow on the hills of Scotland is not unusual in early June."The colder air has come down from Iceland and, with the strength of wind, it reached Scotland before getting much time to warm up." The cool conditions are expected to continue for the next few days, but the forecast is for the high winds to ease and fewer showers from of Scotland's mountains, including the Cairngorms, had snowfall around this time last 2010, more than 100 skiers took advantage of ski tows being open at the Cairngorm Mountain resort near Aviemore for the first time in at this time of year people were able to ski in the Cairngorms, however, they had to trek to where the snow temporary rope tows were provided over two Mountain, along with Scotland's other mountain ski centres, had benefited from lengthy periods of freezing conditions over the winter.
