The white stuff in Dorset (From Dorset Echo)
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The white stuff in Dorset
10:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By Catherine Bolado
PARTS of Dorset awoke to a dusting of snow as temperatures plummeted.
Dorchester and the surrounding villages had a sprinkling of the white stuff yesterday morning which quickly melted away as temperatures rose and brought with it drizzle and rain.
Dorchester weatherman John Oliver warned that although the snow was gone there could be frost and ice in the mornings over the next few days.
He said: “It looks like that was the last of the snow. The temperature on Thursday night stayed just above freezing – that’s why it melted away and there was a bit of rain as well.
“Now it will gradually warm up over the next couple of days.”
Mr Oliver added that normally the temperature for this time of year was about seven degrees but that it had been much colder recently.
He said that in the coming days the temperature would rise but warned that there could be frost at night and possibly ice if the rain froze.
He said: “People should take care on the roads.”
On the Dorset Echo’s twitter page readers reported snow melting fast in Maiden Newton, while in Bridport the weather was wet and cold.
North of Dorchester much of the snow disappeared with the wet start to the day.
Piddletrenthide resident Janet Keen said: “It wasn’t a great deal but we have had snow.
“I went out at about midnight to take the dogs out and it was just starting to settle.
“Then I must have looked out at about 3.30am or 4am and it was all white.”
Rod Lamont, who runs the Saxon Arms in Stratton with his wife Janette, said he woke up to find the village blanketed in snow but the wet weather soon saw much of it disappear.
He said: “We woke up this morning to a surprise, there was quite a bit around but nothing too major when you think about what it was like last year.
“There’s still a bit on the grass on the green but it’s more wet now.”
Gritters went out across the county yesterday afternoon and were awaiting a forecast before committing to going out in the early hours of this morning.
Temperatures were expected to reach as low as minus three.
