Weather-history

Radar hints of a squall line like structure moving through Lancashire at the moment.

I remember this Friday evening of the 24th February 1989 very well. December and January had been virtually devoid of anything wintry but February did have the odd wintry episode, I recall soft hail showers during half term on one day. Friday, 24th February 1989 was a cold wet day here but during the late afternoon, I notice the rain looked a bit sleety and up to 5pm, you could see it getting sleetier and sleetier with odd wet flakes of snow mixed in. After 5pm, it had turned increasingly to snow and as it started getting, it was snowing. What surprised me was how quickly it started to stick, you could see the lawn and soil going whiter and whiter. By 8pm the snow had started but we had a covering on all surfaces, snow showers continued for the rest of the night into the morning part of the next day. The sun came out late morning and the snow thawed away that afternoon. What was surprising is that higher suburbs to the east of me only a couple of miles away got nothing but sleet, showing how marginalised and dependent on intensity of precipitation it was.

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 428.8 2013-14 up to 21st February 423.0 1914-15 Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 W 428.8 2013-14 Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 111. 2014 up to 22nd February

I think what has compounded this winter's lack of wintriness is that the previous autumn wasn't exactly particularly wintry. October was very mild but November did have a few frosts. That was it, though. With 1988-89, the November of that year did see frosts and snow here So if you include the autumn as well it really has been lacking. If the spring lacks any frosts and snow.....

This winter has been virtually devoid of anything wintry, 3 air frosts since 1st December is incredible. I remember 1988-89 but even that had more air frosts and even a day with lying snow, 1989-90 had more wintry episodes. No wonder the index is just 7, I have never known such a remarkably "winter less" winter as this one and I reckon there hasn't been a winter like this around here for decades.

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 427.8 2013-14 up to 21st February 423.0 1914-15 Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 W 427.8 2013-14 Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 110. 2014 up to 21st February

Sums up this winter's cold/snow/high pressure hunt

Forecasts from that month http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWbt7RniF2aqrTFCJEhqRV0LULSnTzsSh

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 426.8 2013-14 up to 20th February 423.0 1914-15 Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 W 426.8 2013-14 Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 109.1 1881 109. 2014 up to 20th February

Yes pretty academic to be honest. Even 1962-63 on the index is 501 here.I have been asked the point before and my answer is that a -ve index is more severe than a +ve one. The higher the +ve, the more severe it is, the smaller the -ve, the more severe it is still.But we are never going to see a -ve maximum mean in this country for a period of 92 days.

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 424.8 2013-14 up to 19th February 423.0 1914-15 Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 W 424.8 2013-14 Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 109.1 1881 107.7 1883 107.4 1866 107. 2014 up to 19th February

4 years ago

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 423.0 1914-15 421.8 2013-14 Up to 18th February Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 A 424.1 1935 W 423.0 1914-15 W 421.8 2013-14 up to 18th February Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 109.1 1881 107.7 1883 107.4 1866 105.8 1974 105.4 1879 105.3 2001 104.9 1826 104. 2014 up to 18th February

I posted a thread on this some time ago. The winter of 1936-37 was largely mild and very wet. December 1936: 5.3 January 1937: 5.2 February 1937: 5.6 The January and February of 1937 were exceptionally wet for the UK. At the back end of February 1937, there was a change in the pressure patterns with extensive northerly blocking and this heralded a cold and wintry March with frequent snowfalls especially in the north but also times in the south. The CET for this March was 3.6 and it was the coldest March since 1917, equalled with 1919. For Scotland, it was 1.1 For Northern Ireland, it was 2.8 Here's the 1st March edition of the Times and the start of the cold March Some photos and the chart The synoptic chart for the snowstorm of late Feb-early March 1937 The snowstorm began in Scotland on the 27th of February and drifts rapidly developed and the snowfalls spread into northern England and north Wales on the 28th February. 2ft of snow and 13ft drifts were reported. 107mph gust was recorded at Holyhead as a severe gale developed in the Irish Sea. Further south, drifts were not as bad being as much as 4ft. From the 8th of March 1937 edition of the Times Some photos On the 11th to the 13th, Ulster was hit by a major snowstorm. At Garvagh, Londonderry, the snow began at 3.30pm on the 11th and lasted to about 12.30pm on the 13th. About 10 inches of snow fell. 12ft drifts were reported in places. The main road from Kilrea to Belfast was completely closed for 3 days. 10ft drifts were reported near Aldegrove.

Looking at the figures, it looks as though low lying northern England at least has had a very poor winter, frost and snow wise. Not sure how other regions have done, Tipperary according to Born..... has had a poor winter but not exceptionally bad. It has been a very frustrating winter if you love snow, it feels as though everything has been there or thereabouts but just on the wrong side of marginal on most occasions. Also any cold spells have been reduced to almost nothing. The early December northerly, the "easterly" at the end of January. Around Christmas was very close but not quite there. I'm surprised that very short coldish spell week last Tuesday (11th Feb) managed to hold on, the way this winter turned out. I wrote this winter off at the end of January because of the above, it felt as though the dice were loaded against, the cards were stacked against at least in this neck of the woods. We were constantly been dealt with a 7 high card hand in a game of poker.

I don't want to nitpick but some of your facts are not quite right.Winter 2009-10 was not a dry winter for England and Wales, as I said before the two coldest CET winters since 1962-63 were on the "wet side" an indication of southerly tracking low and northerly blocking. The first half of 2001 was on the wet side until end of April. February, March and April all recorded at least 100mm. The pattern was finally broken in May.2004-05 was not a wet winter for England and Wales infact it was a dry winter. January 2014 recorded more rain than winter 2004-05 for England and Wales.

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 423.0 1914-15 420.9 1989-90 419.8 2013-14 Up to 17th February Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 A 424.1 1935 W 423.0 1914-15 W 420.9 1989-90 W 419.8 2013-14 up to 17th February Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 109.1 1881 107.7 1883 107.4 1866 105.8 1974 105.4 1879 105.3 2001 104.9 1826 103.7 1813 103.5 1893 103.4 1910 102.6 1774 102.5 1935 102. 2014 up to 17th

This is the equation I devised to measure the "wintriness" of a winter. 10 x [(the number of days with lying snow)+(number of days with falling sleet/snow)+(number of days where the temperature has been at below 0C)] divided by the mean maximum temperature. At the moment it is just 7. I have only recorded 3 air frosts since the 1st December. I saw falling snow for the first time last Tuesday (11th February) This winter has been an absolute shocker for wintriness. Even 1988-89, I saw lying snow at the back end of February, I saw lying snow during 1989-90. In 1997-98, I saw lying snow at the start of December. This winter, nothing except slight patchiness from Tuesday's brief fall. Looking at the charts, snow and frost prospects look extremely limited at best. Least wintriest winters of recent times 2013-14: 7 up to 17th February 1988-89: 20 2006-07: 21 1997-98: 25 1974-75: 26 1989-90: 26 1973-74: 30 1987-88: 37 2007-08: 37 1991-92: 40 1975-76: 41 1999-00: 42 1992-93: 43 2002-03: 44 1994-95: 45 1998-99: 47 2004-05: 47 2011-12: 47 2001-02: 50 2003-04: 50

Our Northern Irish, Welsh and SW members will remember this well as it gave some heavy snowfalls on this northerly flow Did see some snow from this.

What happened there?

Manchester Winter Index is heading for its lowest ever value. I have lived through some winters devoid of much wintriness but never too this level. What has compounded it was the lack of wintriness during the autumn. There were a few frosts in November but that was it. About 11 frosts since the start of November is really low.

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 423.0 1914-15 420.9 1989-90 418.3 1876-77 415.8 2013-14 Up to 15th February Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 A 424.1 1935 W 423.0 1914-15 W 420.9 1989-90 W 418.3 1876-77 W 415.8 2013-14 up to 15th February Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 109.1 1881 107.7 1883 107.4 1866 105.8 1974 105.4 1879 105.3 2001 104.9 1826 103.7 1813 103.5 1893 103.4 1910 102.6 1774 102.5 1935 101.6 1997 100.9 1941 100.7 1957 99.2 1775 98. 2014 up to 15th February

Some of the damage caused by Wednesday's gale The Chat Moss monster.

Wettest winters on record for England and Wales 423.0 1914-15 420.9 1989-90 418.3 1876-77 415.6 1994-95 412.8 2013-14 Up to 14th February Wettest seasons on record for England and Wales: W for winter, S for summer, A for autumn A 502.7 2000 A 455.8 1852 A 438.6 1960 A 424.1 1935 W 423.0 1914-15 W 420.9 1989-90 W 418.3 1876-77 W 415.6 1994-95 W 412.8 2013-14 up to 14th February Wettest February on record for England and Wales (mm) 158.6 1833 152.7 1923 143.6 1950 143.2 1990 143.2 1977 142.1 1937 132.0 1916 131.7 1900 130.0 1848 129.6 1966 129.1 1768 124.2 1925 123.5 1915 116.0 1918 115.3 1812 115.1 2002 114.9 1995 114.1 1851 114.0 1823 113.5 1776 112.1 1904 111.6 2007 109.1 1881 107.7 1883 107.4 1866 105.8 1974 105.4 1879 105.3 2001 104.9 1826 103.7 1813 103.5 1893 103.4 1910 102.6 1774 102.5 1935 101.6 1997 100.9 1941 100.7 1957 99.2 1775 97.7 1876 97.0 1783 95.8 1833 95.2 1772 95.1 2000 95.1 1819 95. 2014 up to 14th February