May 1894, damaging frosts

[Weather-history]

May 1894 was colder than April 1894 for the CET

 

April 1894 CET: 9.7°C

May 1894 CET: 9.2°C

 

On the night of the 21st May, there was a severe frost for the time of the year which did enormous damage to plants.

 

 

A letter by George Bentley of Slough

 

"The frost of Sunday night, May 21st did great havoc to vegetation. Potatoes were blackened, yews, laurels and holly shoots "burnt off" by it and an acacia tree was turned yellow and shed part of its foliage as in October. Two thirds of a magnificent prospect of roses were destroyed; the buds were in very forward and vigorous condition. The blossom of outdoor azaleas and rhododendrons blackened and utterly destroyed in that one very terrible frost."

 

Mean temperature at Welshpool for May 1894: 8.3°C

 

Minima at Welshpool

20th: -1.1°C

21st: -1.7°C

22nd: -1.1°C

23rd: 0°C

24th: 1.7°C

25th: -1.1°C

 

Northampton:

Last 13 days of May were 8.6°F colder than the first 12 days of April and 2.3°F lower than the whole of April.

 

Stratfield Turgiss: The severe paroxysm of cold on the 21st and 22nd was most disastrous to vegetation, cutting everything down to the ground.

Addington: Currants and gooseberries much injured.

Bury St Edmunds: Vegetation greatly damaged.

Braemar: 5 inch icicles were seen on the 22nd

Liverpool: Oldest inhabitants say they cannot remember a more destructive May frost.

 

        

 

[LetItSnow!]

Ah, the 19th century. When even some of the Mays could wallop our winters today.