The February 2009 Great Britain and Ireland snowfall was a prolonged period of snowfall that began on 1 February 2009. Some areas experienced their largest snowfall levels in 18 years.
February 2009 Great Britain and Ireland snowfall.
| Satellite image of the snowfall in England and Wales (Click here for false colour image) | |
|---|---|
| Lowest pressure | 992 mbar (hPa) |
When was the heaviest snowfall in the UK?
The snowiest winter of the twentieth century in the United Kingdom was 1947. Between 22 January and 17 March, snow fell every day somewhere in the country. The most disastrous avalanche in the United Kingdom occurred in Lewes, East Sussex on 27 December 1836.
Has London ever had a blizzard?
Even in central London, there were 3 foot drifts in places. Around 100 people are believed to have died as a result of the blizzard. The storm was accompanied by extreme cold.
Blizzard of January 1881.
| Blizzard at its height on 19 January. | |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 100 (estimation) |
| Areas affected | United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Netherlands |
When was the deepest snow in the UK?
The deepest snow ever recorded in an inhabited area of the UK was near Ruthin in North Wales during the severe winter of 1946-47. A series of cold spells brought large drifts of snow across the UK, causing transport problems and fuel shortages. During March 1947 a snow depth of 1.65 metres was recorded.
What year was the worst winter in UK?
1962/1963. The winter of 1963 was the coldest for more than 200 years. In fact, the temperatures plunged so much that it’s known as the ‘Big Freeze’.
What is the snowiest city in UK?
Cairngorms
The weather station at the Cairngorm chairlift has the highest average number of days of snow falling, with snow falling on 76 days throughout the year (based on 1981-2010 averages), while the station at Aviemore records 66 days.
Why does the UK not get snow anymore?
For most of us it’s usually pretty exciting to see snow in the UK, because it doesn’t happen all that often. The reason for this is that we are surrounded by relatively warm seas, which can often keep our temperatures up.
Why is snow rare in London?
This is partly because the city generates so much heat from the buildings and cars that it rarely gets cold enough for it to snow (or at least for the snow to settle). Generally, London is several degrees warmer than the neighboring countryside beyond the city.
Is snow rare in London?
The average daily high temperature between December and February is about 48°F (9°C) and the average daily low is 41°F (5°C). Below freezing temperatures, however, are not uncommon and snow is not unheard of.
What was the coldest day in London?
1 January 1962
The highest temperature ever observed in London is 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) provisionally recorded at both Heathrow Airport and St James’s Park on 19 July 2022 and the lowest is −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) 1 January 1962.
What was the tallest snow ever?
An amazing 1,140 inches (95 feet) was recorded at Mount Baker Ski Area (4,200 feet elevation) in Washington during the July 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999, snow season.
What is the thickest snow ever?
451 inches
Sierra Nevada Snow
in the Sierra Nevada Mountains holds the United States record for greatest snow depth ever measured. A maximum snow depth of 451 inches, or 37.5 feet, was recorded on March 11, 1911.
What year was the big freeze UK?
Two cold and dry winters led to water shortages, frozen pipes and standpipes in the third driest winter since 1910.
What will winter 2022 be like?
Winter will be colder than normal, with the coldest temperatures in early December and late January to mid-February. Both precipitation and snowfall will be above normal. The snowiest periods will be in late November to early December and early to mid-January.
What’s the coldest England ever been?
In January 1982 the record minimum temperature for England, -26.1°C was recorded when skies cleared immediately following a deep powdery snowfall. Very cold continental airstreams affecting Scotland are subject to greater warming as they approach over longer stretches of sea.
What was the hottest year ever UK?
The hottest year during this period was 2014, which had an average temperature of 9.88 degrees Celsius. 2020 was the third warmest year on record, averaging 9.62 degrees Celsius.
Leading hottest years in the United Kingdom (UK) since 1884 (in Celsius)
| Characteristic | Temperature in degrees Celsius |
|---|---|
| – | – |
Which is the coldest city in UK?
With a daily minimum average temperature of -1.5°C, the coldest place in the UK based on Met Office data is the summit of Cairn Gorm mountain, in the Scottish Highlands.
Has it ever snowed Christmas UK?
Technically, 2021 was the last white Christmas in the UK with 6% of stations recording snow falling, but less than 1% of stations reported any snow lying on the ground.
What is driest place in UK?
Topping the list is the seaside town of Shoeburyness, on the Greater Thames Estuary. This town records an annual average of 527mm of rain — the lowest value amongst the Met Office’s climate stations — making it the driest place in the UK.
Is snow becoming more rare?
Nearly 80 percent of the stations across the contiguous 48 states have experienced a decrease in the proportion of precipitation falling as snow (see Figure 2).
Why UK houses are so cold?
Over a third of the homes in the UK were built before 1945 and three quarters before 1980. This puts the UK at the top the rankings for the oldest building stock in Europe. Often these older homes are single dwellings with poor insulation and heating systems that consume four times as much energy.