Winter 1989-90 - The back to front version of 1974-75

[North-Easterly Blast]

Kevin, you have written 74-75 but not these two consecutive mild disasters. The main featutre of 1974-75 was that it had two mild stinkers in December and January, but then February was only a little above average. What about 1989-90 as one to write about on winters to forget. This one was a disaster to rival 1974-75 although it rivalled it back to front with December 1989 being only average to just above, and January and February 1990 being the warmest such pairing in the CET series, and Bartlett dominated throughout.

The key feature of the winters to forget in 1974-75 and 1989-90 was that they had one so-so month and two mild stinkers. Whereas another big winter to forget is 1988-89 - this one had three mild stinkers. Dec, Jan and Feb were all disasters.

[Nick F]

1989-90 was a winter to forget for cold and snow opportunities, but the Burns' Day storm in January 1990 will certainly stick in my mind for that period for a long time!

[Thundery wintry showers]

Here's the limit of my knowledge on 1988/89 and 1989/90:

1988/89:

Got off to a false start, with a widespread snowfall around 20 November, sticking around for four days in many places.

December 1988 began with a very short transitional easterly, but it didn't deliver any of the white stuff. The rest of the month was dominated mostly by high pressure, though frequent south-westerly winds and anticyclonic westerlies brought heavy prolonged rain to the north-west. Sunshine was generally below average, apart from some eastern areas, and it was exceptionally mild- the mildest on record in parts of the northeast, though 1934 and 1974 had significantly higher CETs.

January 1989 was dominated by high pressure and south-westerly winds. Warm sectors were frequently evident across the country with mild dry weather in the SE and rain in the NW, with brief bursts of returning mP air bringing near-average temperatures and sunny spells. It was particularly mild in the north, it was wet in the NW but very dry elsewhere, and sunshine was near or slightly below average in the NW, but above average in most other regions.

February 1989 continued the January pattern during the first half, with some exceptional temperatures at times. The second half contained the winter quarter's only wintry weather, with a very unsettled showery theme, frequent W and NW winds, and some marginal snow events in places, accumulations mostly over high ground. Temperatures during the second half were near-normal, so the month as a whole was still very mild. Rainfall was near or above normal, and sunshine was above normal almost nationwide, with large excesses in the east.

Spring 1989 was more varied though; March was generally mild but with a couple of wintry NW'ly bursts in the north, then April had an "easterly" snow event early in the month, and a potent northerly near the end.

1989/90:

It's debatable as to whether this or 1988/89 was more of a disaster; there was slightly more snow during the winter quarter, but less of it during the outer months.

Snow was largely absent during November and early December 1989. Dec '89 was a mostly anticyclonic month with fairly cold south-easterly winds and a general lack of sunshine, but low pressure was dominant from midmonth through to Christmas Day, giving much heavy rain in the south. Some wintry weather probably occurred around midmonth in Scotland with north and east winds blowing (though I haven't seen any mention of it anywhere).

January 1990 was mostly mild and changeable with south-westerly winds, but eastern areas were quite sunny. It became rather boisterous during the final third. A returning NW'ly brought snowfalls to parts of northern and western Britain on the 24th, then the "Burns Day Storm" hit most areas on the 25th with severe damage due to high winds. The 26th/27th featured a marginal snow event in the north and west as moderately cold Arctic air hit a frontal system, with the Welsh mountains especially affected.

February 1990 was generally very mild, wet and windy; dull in the west but sunny in the east. High winds continued to cause damage, though not on the scale of 25 January 1990. Wintry weather was in short supply but there were snow events; Kevin mentioned a frontal snow event around the 3rd (I think) as a front moved up against fairly cold air, it was wintry in the north around midmonth, and there was a wintry spell commencing on the 27th and lasting through to 2 March.

Spring 1990 was then notably mild and sunny for most, though there were a couple of wintry spells during April 1990.