The winter of 2009–10 in the United Kingdom (also called The Big Freeze of 2010 by British media) was a meteorological event that started on 16 December 2009, as part of the severe winter weather in Europe. January 2010 was provisionally the coldest January since 1987 in the UK.

Was there a cold winter in 2010?

This made December 2010 the coldest in 100 years, as far back as nationwide Met Office records go and the coldest of any winter month since February 1986.

What caused the big freeze 2010?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.

Where did the big freeze 2010 happen?

More than a decade on, we take a trip down memory lane to when a big freeze gripped the whole country back in 2010. Ireland is no stranger to Baltic conditions in the winter months and we have seen plenty of snowfall down through the years.

When was the beast from the East 2010?

November 2010 began exceptionally mild but towards the end of the month bitterly cold air blew in on easterly and northeasterly winds from the north of Europe and Siberia — the infamous “Beast from the East”.

When was the big freeze in UK?

The winter of 1962–1963, known as the Big Freeze of 1963, was one of the coldest winters (defined as the months of December, January and February) on record in the United Kingdom. Temperatures plummeted and lakes and rivers began to freeze over.

Has it ever snowed in October in the UK?

For parts of south-eastern England it was the first October snowfall for decades, with London having last experienced such early snow in 1934. There was more snow on the 29th. The conditions marked the first time since 1887 that snow had settled on the ground prior to November in Surrey.

What was the worst winter in Ireland?

The Big Snow of 1947 – Ireland's Own. 1947 was the year of the Big Snow, the coldest and harshest winter in living memory when hundreds of Irish lives were lost. Turtle Bunbury recalls how the country was pounded by the most powerful blizzard of the 20th century.

What was the coldest temperature ever recorded in Ireland?

The coldest areas are found inland. Mullingar has the lowest average temperature, at 9.3 °C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C at Kilkenny Castle, on 26 June 1887. The lowest temperature was -19.1 °C at Markree Castle on 16 January 1881.

When was England's wettest winter in 250 years?

The Met Office had already confirmed the wettest winter in modern records, that go back to 1910, but the amount of heavy rain has now broken the 250-year old England and Wales precipitation records with 435mm of rain falling, more than the previous record of 432mm in 1915.

What was the winter of 1963 like?

The winter of 1963 - the coldest for more than 200 years

With temperatures so cold the sea froze in places, 1963 is one of the coldest winters on record. Bringing blizzards, snow drifts, blocks of ice, and temperatures lower than -20 °C, it was colder than the winter of 1947, and the coldest since 1740.

What caused the big freeze 1963?

Why did the Big Freeze happen? An anticyclone from Scandinavia brought in cold continental air from Russia to the UK. It replaced a mild stream that usually came from the Atlantic. Unfortunately for the population of the UK in 1963 that wind was blocked by an area of high pressure near Iceland.

Has it ever snowed in April in Ireland?

April Snowfalls Not Unusual 1994

Few places in the north of Ireland escape showers of snow sleet and hail. Overnight showers of snow, hail or sleet affected most parts of the north of Ireland and the bad weather continued with visibility poor at times.

Did it ever snow in May in Ireland?

Snow has been reported in May and September. On some of these occasions the falls have been considerable but the snow melted quickly. Generally snowfall in Ireland lasts on the ground for only a day or two.

When was big snow in Ireland?

As reported in The Irish Times on January 9th 1982: “Normal life throughout much of the country was brought to a complete standstill last night as a result of the worst winter snowstorm for many years”. Transport suffered greatly, as some motorists were forced to abandon their cars and walk due to the snowy conditions.

Does it snow in Africa?

Snow is an almost annual occurrence on some of the mountains of South Africa, including those of the Cedarberg and around Ceres in the South-Western Cape, and on the Drakensberg in Natal and Lesotho.

What is the deepest snow ever recorded in 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?

1982/1983. A record-breaking winter took place in 1982, with an average temperature of 0.3C plaguing Britain. The freezing winter also saw the coldest registered temperature in UK modern history recorded in Braemar, Scotland, when -27.2C was recorded.

When did the big snow start in 1947?

But in the early part of March 1947, people's minds weren't on spring. Gales and heavy snowstorms brought blizzard conditions especially on March 4 and 5 when heavy snow fell over most of England and Wales.

When was the Big snow Ireland 1982?

On January 8, 1982, a historic snowstorm gripped the country leaving massive food and fuel shortages while also closing schools and offices across Ireland. The snow was so disruptive that hundreds of people had to spend the night trapped in Heuston Station as a result of the frozen railway points.

Did Ireland have a big freeze in 1963?

The winter of 1962/1963 was the coldest since 1740. January 1963 was the coldest ever recorded in Ireland and the Shannon froze over at Limerick for the first time in living memory. The freeze set in over Christmas and 45cm of snow fell on New Year's Eve 1962.