What was the winter like in 1947?

But 1947 broke after the middle of meteorological winter, which in one way dilutes the severity of the second half of winter.” At the end of the freeze, rising temperatures brought a rapid thaw of the deep snow which led to meltwaters pouring into rivers, causing many to burst their banks.

How long did the snow last in 1963?

How long did it last? The snow blanketed the country for up to two months in some parts, thanks to the below freezing temperatures (the average was -2.1oC in January). January and February were largely sunny but February also brought more snow, including a 36-hour blizzard which caused heavy drifts.

How cold was the big freeze of 1963?

-22 degrees
What was The Big Freeze? Back in 1963 The Met Office recorded temperatures as low as -22 degrees in some parts of the UK. The winter weather was the worst that had been experienced since 1739. People had to endure snow drifts up to 20 metres high and in Kent the sea froze for a whole mile from the shore.

When was the big freeze of 1947?

On 19 January 1947, Ireland and the United Kingdom entered into an unprecedented period of cold weather which brought with it two months of difficulties. Known as ‘The Big Freeze’, it brought transport to a halt and saw the introduction of rationing, with the death rate in Dublin more than doubling in that period.

Was there heavy snow 1947?

March 1947 was also bad, with gales and heavy snow early on. 5 metre drifts where reported.

What caused the severe winter of 1963?

The winter of 1963 – the coldest for more than 200 years The weeks before had been changeable and stormy, but then on 22 December a high pressure system moved to the north-east of the British Isles, dragging bitterly cold winds across the country. This situation was to last much of the winter.

How long did the snow last in 1947?

seven weeks
The great snowfall in 1947 is historically recorded as our worst winter in the 20th century, the snow lasted seven weeks from mid-January and during that time half of all the sheep in Wales were killed by freezing temperatures and lack of food.

What caused the cold winter of 1963?

Was 1947 the worst winter of the 20th century?

So a massive thank you to Pete Scott, June Stone and Gordon Nicoll for sending in these pictures. Many people consider the winter of 1947 to be the worst of the 20th Century. Although December 1946 was colder than average it was nothing exceptional and early January brought some relatively mild weather.

Was 1963 the coldest winter in the UK?

A memorable winter. Now, the coldest winter since 1740 (mentioned above) yes, 1963. Probably the worst winter of the last 100 years. Anticyclones to the North and East of the UK, brought bitterly cold air over us. Depression tracked to the South, brining huge snowfalls to England, Wales, and Scotland.

How cold did it get in February 1947?

The mean maximum temperature for the month was 0.5 °C (6.9 °C below average) and the mean minimum was -2.7 °C (4.6 °C below average). Mean minimum temperatures were more than 4 °C below average everywhere in southern England, and almost 6 °C below average in some places. February 1947 was the coldest February on record in many places.

How bad was the winter of 1946-1947?

Thanks to the Met-Office for much needed stats, charts, and facts! The winter of 1946–1947 was a harsh European winter noted for its effects in the United Kingdom. The UK experienced several cold spells, beginning on 21 January 1947, bringing large drifts of snow to the country, which blocked roads and railways.