Different weather conditions may affect grief, so understanding what’s happening around you can impact the way you feel.
Overcast skies, persistent rain and shorter daylight hours can affect mood and energy levels can make us feel more withdrawn and lonely.
Winter can bring a sense of isolation. Spending more time indoors, seeing fewer people and having less daylight can leave more room for memories and thoughts about the person who is no longer there.
Sunshine can sometimes make grief harder rather than easier. A beautiful day might remind you of holidays, walks, special occasions or happier times shared together. There can be an uncomfortable contrast between the beauty of the day and the sadness you feel inside.
Weather can become associated with particular memories. A certain temperature, the smell of rain, spring flowers or an autumn evening can unexpectedly transport you back to a time when you were together.
Knowing these things, can we change things and perhaps lessen the tears? Who knows? Hearing the heating stop and start certainly reminds me that’s it’s winter. 
This morning it was a cold and misty start with a temp of 5c. I have spoken to one person via Facetime and physically to the man who delivered some groceries, so I’ve been a bit lonely and also been thinking about Jackie, but then I think about her every day, as we all do about our loved ones.
Back in June 2025, just 3 months after Jackie had passed, I went to Snowdonia, for a week, on my own. I went to the top, by train I must admit as despite it being summer, my mind wasn’t on walking. As I started the final yards to the top, I imagined Jackie was looking down on me. 
Temp now is 12c and darkness is descending, so I must start preparing my tea.
