Achi news desk-
March is famous for its harsh weather. Yet in my lifetime, here in Consett, the wind is not limited to just one month of the year. On the edge of the Pennines and known as the third highest market town in England, we certainly get our fair share of wind, as it sweeps across the moors and whistles its way up Front Street, then heading down Sherburn Terrace.
I remember as a child, fighting the wind at the traffic lights on the corner of ‘The Braes’ – now the HUB – many times, navigating my way to Ysgol Sant Padrig. Yet in those days we not only had to face the intensity of the gusts, but also the small pieces of steel and gravel – processed by The Company – that lived in the air among us, enters our eyes impulsively, making them smart. and pick I’m guessing that those strong winds were also partly responsible for the cascade and red dust that fell over our washing lines on Monday; when the back streets were zigzag with bed sheets and pillowcases. It still fills me with wonder how those whites were so white with everything they had to contend with.
Yet my fading memories cannot recall it being as windy as it is now.
I, and many others have recently noticed a dislike in the weather which is proving difficult to live with.
Since the end of September last year until the end of January this year, we have come across 10 storms with names in alphabetical order from Agnes to Jocelyn.
Is it the fact that storms have only been named since 2015 that makes us so aware of their frequency, or is our climate definitely changing?
I have always been interested in the weather and as one of the leading supporters of ‘The Shipping Forecast’ talking about the weather takes up a good part of my day. In fact, as I was googling the other night I came across apps available to track the wind. I typed sailing, windsurfing and skydiving into the Windy App – not that I do any of these extreme sports, but I was interested to know what the wind speed would be, if I decide one day to take them!
From floods, to storms, to wind, we’ve experienced them all in recent months, so what do the experts say? Well it seems they agree. Senior meteorologists state the cause. World weather researcher Ben Clarke said:
“Climate change is warming our oceans and atmosphere, providing more fuel for storms to form and intensify, leading to heavier showers.”
Earlier this year, one Wednesday night, when the beams were swaying due to another storm, and the rain was pouring across and down my window panes; apart from the fence creaking, I could hear a much louder noise in front of my home. Putting on my boots and the most waterproof coat I could find, I ventured outside to explore. And there it was, my newly emptied recycling box climbing the street and smashing every fence on its way to freedom.
In hot pursuit, I chased after him, praying he wouldn’t land on the parked cars and I’d be liable for the damages.
Soaked to the skin and battered by the storm, I eventually caught up with the escapee and hastily returned him to his rightful place, tying him between the wheelie bins.
If only there had been the storm last night I thought – as I dried my clothes on the radiators – that box would have been firmly rooted in place and immovable, as it would have been weighing with glass!
Regardless, I may live in one of the windiest places I know, but I get to see the best sunrises and sunsets!
