London Advice?

[przed]

I'm packing up for the flight to London tomorrow, and the weather is showing as snow for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

For those of you in London or area, do you have any idea if this is going to be a "light dusting, isn't it pretty" sort of snow, or a "yes, you do need boots for this" sort of snow?

I can go either way (I'm Canadian; I have several shades of serious winter boots) but if I can get away with the nice leather shoes I was originally planning on, that's more room in the suitcase for, ya know, buying stuff.

ETA: The Beeb's forecast for the weekend says, and I quote: "Sunny or clear spells but also showers of rain, sleet or snow with a risk of more general wintry precipitation for a time."

Does "more general wintry precipitation" = boots?

(I'm totally stealing that phrase. "Is there some general wintry precipitation coming?" That'll go down a treat with a snowstorm on the way.)

Comments

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Hopefully someone will respond who is currently living in London. *g*

In the meantime, it is really rare any more for it to snow in London at all -- most of it melts in the atmosphere above the city due to the sheer size and heat of it -- and even rarer for it to be anything that a Canadian would even visually register as really being snow.

They have been having really odd weather in the UK over the last few days but I think you'd be safe.

Hmmm... The BBC doesn't seem to be mentioning it (http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/8).

[przed.livejournal.com]

This is the page with the wintry precip mention: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2574?state=fo:A#fo:A

But point taken that it's probably not going to be as bad as I'm used to.

Fingers crossed.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Erm... isn't that the same page I linked to? *is confused*

The last *big* snow in London was I think this one in February 2009 (http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2009/02/02/4376990-in-london-snow-brings-chaos-and-cheer). As said, a Londoner's idea of heavy snow isn't the same thing at all... although you should be warned that it can stop the Tube and buses.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

If you click on through you'll see "the biggest snow fall in 18 years." Yep, a couple of inches.

[kortirion.livejournal.com]

Most 'proper' snow will be in the Highlands and down the East coast. London might get an inch or so of wet sleet that will turn to slush almost immediately - especially on the pavements in the centre. As long as your nice leather shoes can take 'it's extremely wet underfoot' they'll be fine. Otherwise your lightest pair of boots will be more than adequate.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Okaaay, that wasn't the same page when I copied the link. ::curses the Beeb and its crazy page linking ways::

And point taken about a Londoner's idea of heavy snow. (We should be fine even if the Tube and buses stop. Most of the theatres are walking distance from our B&B. Though getting to Wembley on Saturday would be a bit dicey.)

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm might squeeze my light boots in, but the shoes'll probably do.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Oh and I had to come back to say have a safe and fantastic trip. ♥

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Looking lovely and clear and sunny here today! We've had "proper" snow in London the last two years (for a day or two, stopping buses and closing schools) but wintry precipitations is far more likely :) I'd risk not cluttering your luggage with snowy type boots. Especially if you're staying in the centre. If we do get dumped on you can always go shopping! The Beeb has to cover all bases because we mock them unceasingly when they get it wrong.

Let me know if I can be of any help while you're here. And travel safe!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Well, the boots were squeezed in with no problem at all, so I think I'll leave 'em. That just means I really> won't need them, yeah?

I'd suggest trying to get together, but I suspect you're busy, and we've packed the trip fully (theatre, theatre, theatre, concert, home!) but if you want to try, say, lunch on Friday or Saturday, or an early brunch on Sunday, that would be awesome. (I'm blocked from LJ from this point forward--silly work--but you can always drop me a line at my regular email: przed at rogers dot com.) And if you're too busy, no worries.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Pretty much covered by the above, but yes - "heavy" for us is likely to be "very modest" by Canadian standards. At the worst, I'd go for sturdy shoes ("nice" ones might get horribly soaked in all the slush) or what I imagine you would consider to be light boots (I'll be in light boots myself, anyway).

Have a wonderful trip!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks! So far so good. Pearson airport is empty, and the wifi is free!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the confirmation! I'm looking forward to a wonderful if whirlwind time.