It’s only the 2nd of January, but here is my first weather moan of 2021.
(At least I am consistent)
Low Winter Sun. What a pain that is. We have had to close the curtains this morning, due to intense low sunshine that is piercing the house like the beam of an unwanted searchlight. Brighter by far than any normal summer sunshine, it can give you a headache in five seconds flat, believe me.
And if you live in Beetley, don’t even think about driving your car. As soon as you reverse out of the driveway, you will be blinded by an intense light that sunglases cannot cope with at all. Even trying to drive to the end of the street is impossible. You literally cannot see the front of your car.
Add that light reflected off of a damp tarmac road surface, and it is like being in a science-fiction film.
I have to have a SAD lamp because it is usually so dull. But this low sun makes it almost impossible to cope until it moves around later. It is almost worse than having no sun at all.
I know. Never happy! π
The beam of an unwanted searchlight…perfect description. The low winter sun is blistering and annoying. Still, I’ll take it over gray skies and rain.
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So will I, unless I want to drive somewhere. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes!
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The sun shines into our living room and I have to move my chair. It’s low. It’s intense.
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This time of year is the only time when having no sunshine is something I actually appreciate. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love the low sun, although I guess its not quite as low as you have it. Here its just above the terrace roof and floods the house with light and heat all day long.
Look on the bright side, I here you have another beast from the East on the way next week, that should be a nice change for you π
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It is crazy to have to avoid the sun when we get so little of it. But it comes into the house at just the right angle to be completely blinding. We literally cannot see to do anything for a few hours. And driving anywhere is too dangerous until after 3 pm.
Cheers, Pete.
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Beetley: 52.7190Β° N
Las Vegas: 36.1699Β° N
The sun spends more time at our latitude.
And we get roughly 300 sunny days every year. In fact, Las Vegas is ranked #3 on the list of cities in the U.S. with the most days of sunshine.
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But is it low in the winter? π
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, but not quite as low as where you are.
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Hmmm. Not worse than no sun I’m thinking but perhaps #2 on the list?
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It is eye-wateringly bright, Susanne.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We don’t have that problem here at home as we have so many trees around. Sometimes there can be a bad glare when I’m driving but fortunately it’s always short lived. Bummer to have the sun be too bright to enjoy!
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I am unfamiliar with that phenomenon. Perhaps because of the hills and trees?
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Yes, we have no hills to speak of locally, so nothing to stop that low sun. Be grateful you don’t have it. Driving in it is so dangerous.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am very glad I dont have to deal with it.
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At least your endless rain has stopped – for now π
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We had rain yesterday, so I felt bad complaining about the sunshine today. But I really couldn’t see! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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We are socked in at the lake, the sun is completely muted, and the birds seem to be extremely happy about the lack of movement on the lake. It feel prehistoric in a way? Here’s to a few clouds to mute our days, C
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I think I would like to be feeling ‘prehistoric’ by a lake right now, Cheryl. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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At least it gave you something to write about in your blog today. I still have the rain, π Warmest regards, Theo
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I feel ungrateful, I confess. But having to abandon a shopping trip because of sunlight was something notable. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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“All sunned out today!” Warmest regards, Theo
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At least you could close the curtains. I remember once travelling back from Denver to Texas, on I-25, directly into an absolutely bright winter sun just rising above the horizon, for many miles. Not an experience I’d like to repeat.
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I would have had to pull off and wait it out, Pit, I’m sure. I cannot tolerate that sort of low sun now I am older.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Itβs a cloudy, rainy day here, so no pesky low sun today.
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It is a shame when you wait for some sunshine, and then it is too bright to bear.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We are having another foggy morning here, but I cans still see the sun through the fog. It is lower on the horizon, but perhaps our abundance of mountains and trees block it so as to prevent such an impact. I always open our curtains to let the sun pour in and warm the house so it must be totally different here.
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There are no hills or mountains in Norfolk, and no big buildings. It is impossible to concentrate on anything once the low sunlight comes through the windows.
Best wishes, Pete.
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it sounds terrible, Pete.
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Just a shame to have to close the curtains on a bright day, and to not want to drive anywhere until the sun has almost set.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think consistency is good. It reminds me how lucky I am to be in India…Close to equator, 50 degree celcius heat in summer, 1 degree in winters
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50 C would finish me off, Shaily! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have heard tales of British missionaries travelling to India (before India’s Independence in 1947) as a sacrifice. I can see the degree, literally! π
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38.7 C is the highest temperature ever recorded in England, and that was in 2019. It may be some time before we get to 50 C here, but I have a feeling it will happen eventually.
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I hope not. That kind of climate change would melt glaciers, God Forbid.
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Oh, Pete!
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I know… π
Best wishes, Pete.
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ππ
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Who’da thought you’d be the one to moan about sunshine! π€£π
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I know, it’s awful to do that. But I was going into town to buy some bits, and had to abandon the idea. I couldn’t see the road at all, and it was SO dangerous! I will have to go after Ollie’s walk now.
Best wishes, Pete.
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One of the joys of living further north…..LOL chuq
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If you have never experienced it, it’s hard to describe. Like someone shining the world’s most powerful searchlight directly into your eyes.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I know what you mean I experienced when I was in Alaska….irritating. chuq
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Sometimes it is puzzle isn ‘t, perhaps that is still the effect of climate change.
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Low winter sun has long been an issue here, Arlene. It’s a shame to complain about it, but it is actually dangerous on the roads.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We get lower winter sun, Pete, and it is a pain. It is always in your eyes on the way to and from work. That’s one thing I didn’t miss last year.
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It is so dangerous in the car, Robbie. I was going to go out for fresh bread this morning, but decided it was unsafe to do so until later this afternoon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have to agree, but I would have been grateful to see any sun yesterday & today: it poured down most of yesterday, and today it’s snowing/sleeting/raining, so it looks like I might not get a sociable walk in again [and just going out to replenish my log basket will be a soggy operation]. Grrr! Cheers, Jon.
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I do feel ungrateful to complain when I hate the rain and gloom so much. But this low sunshine is actually restricting me being able to drive to the shops. Crazy extremes!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Agree with the driving. Usually catches me on the way home heading west. Not able to see the road for the glare is most unsettling.
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One day last week, I actually stopped the car on the way to a shop and walked back home along the street. I waited almost for two hours until the sun had moved around sufficiently for me to be able to see to drive.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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It can be very dangerous. I’ve had to stop before. Luckily no one behind me. Isn’t this month one of the worst for motor accidents?
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Not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
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I’m always happy to see the Sun! If it’s low in the sky I put sunglasses on!
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They won’t work against the sun today, WN. And it would feel strange wearing them inside the house. π
Best wishes, Pete.
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LOL- well the Sun has been hiding again today.
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It never rains… I know what you mean about that sun that blinds you no matter what. Happy New Year, Pete!
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Thanks, Olga. It seems such a shame to have to close the curtains, but we really have no alternative.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Our apartment faces southeast, so mornings are spent adjusting our vertical blinds, after witnessing some amazing sunrises π
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We can’t see the sunrise unless we go outside and turn left to look east. Once the sun moves around to the front windows of the bungalow, we are rushing to close the curtains like nervous vampires! π
Best wishes, Pete.
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π§π»ββοΈπ
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