March Blizzard

Anyone know what the biggest diurnal range was in late March last year? I reckon somewhere like Aboyne can't have been far off 25C.

The temperature disparity across the country was also huge at times, I think on the 15th the max here was about 3-4C in fog yet in Kent I think it was pushing 20C in unbroken sunshine. Sunshine seems to have a massive impact on temperatures during March, places that don't have it stay cool/cold and when the sun sets temperatures plunge if clear.

Biblical snow in Wigan yet rain here in Stockport!

Fair enough, January 2010 (or Dec09/Jan10) was pretty much the best i can hope for my area so anything else and it just feels like chasing the dragon, so to speak. Nov/Dec 2010 was probably consistently colder here than Dec09/Jan10 but both extreme minima and maxima didn't get as low and snow depths were also lower. My main memory of Jan 2010 was wading through deep snow, my main memory of Dec 2010 was slipping on ice. Regardless both periods were far better than this cold spell in my neck of the woods. Feb 2012 was pretty much a non event here. I've no doubt that this spell has been great for a lot of people, but not here. I saw the snow on BBC news in the North East and i was amazed, some parts have really taken a pasting. Like you say, it depends where you live.

I like that aspect of it, it also goes for temperature rises. If I remember right the temperature rose by 9C in one hour in late march last year, Aberdeenshire I think. It's one of the charms of March in particular, the "continental" feel of warm days and cold nights.

Snow white, January 2010 was far snowier, or rather had much higher lying depths, was far sunnier and temperatures were far lower. It was the best winter weather in a long time here in Stockport and nothing since has beat it, and that includes Dec 2010. I work outside, 3 years ago I was pushing through a foot of snow in midday temperatures of about -14C whereas 3 days ago I was struggling to stay upright on a cm of slushy snow and ice in temperatures of about 2C. No comparison.

It's not been particularly noteworthy here, maximum snow depth of only about 2 inches (if that) and temperatures nothing to shout about. The odd light snow flurry now and then throughout the last week or so. I see the amount of snow a lot of other places have got during this spell but there was nothing like that here, might as well be a different country. Just seems like the type of cold spell you get in any typical winter to me, only longer lasting. 3/10, can't hold a candle to Jan 2010.

So much for low minima, temperatures way off what was predicted a few days ago. Despite the prolonged duration of this cold spell and the amount of snow minima have been disappointing. There's been no real widespread hard frost which seems very unusual.

It was nice for its uniqueness (for this country). It had a distinctively continental feel to it, cool and frosty by night and very warm by day, with a welcome lack of cloud, wind and rain. This year I would like March to be cold/cool with a bit of snow, April to be a spring mixed bag and May comfortably warm and dry.

Feb 1st 6pm

Some talk of very low minima towards the end of the working week, how low are we talking?

I've also noticed that they tend to forecast temperatures too high, especially minima. They also can be guilty of forecasting too low in places that are typically colder. For example, Last night they showed lows of about -4C in east Anglia when you had widespread temperatures well below that, yet they showed lows of I think -9C for SW Scotland when in fact it was much milder than that there.

Aboyne at -10C at 9 o'clock, -7C at Scampton at the same time. Eastern Scotland and England look the best bet tonight far low minima. Makes sense as there is lying snow there.

Not surprised to hear that the biggest chunk of the coldest 30 day period of the year falls in February, despite the supposedly "strong" sun at that time of year!

It's remarkable to think that sea ice regularly reaches James Bay in Canada roughly on the same lattitude as most of England and even the north coast of Hokkaido in Japan at a lattitude almost as far south as the north coast of Spain, yet it comes nowhere near us. We are both blessed and cursed, depending on who you ask.

4C please

Brilliant find, Aaron! Only looked at 6-7 stations so far and surprised to see December frequently with the lowest minima and days of air frost.

A shame, Ladbrookes could make a killing off the DE...

I reckon we could get down to about -13/-14C in one of the usual Scottish sites, Tulloch Bridge looks to have a slight head start going into tonight. The short days at this time of year give low temperatures every chance but as has already been mentioned a lack of snow cover is a killer.

Looks like there's been big gains in sea ice in Hudson bay over the last week or so.

Quite a turn around when you consider how rare below average months seemed to be just 5+ years ago. In 2010 we had 8 below average months and 2012 looks set to match it. Regardless if December 2012 comes in below, which is looking extremely likely, 2010 and 2012 alone have more below average months than 2002 thru 2007. How long would this have to continue before this "blip" becomes "trend"? Or is it already just that?

Is he the one who slightly exaggerates the word "Scotland"? Ie "Heavy rain edging its way into western Ssscchhotland"

I don't really blame the wardens themselves, rather their management. It's very easy to be dismissed these days when you don't do your job to the book, especially when employers are looking to tighten the budget. It's just another case of frontline staff taking all the flack for poor management.

April and November minima are surprisingly similar on average.

I'll go for 3.4C, please.