Jump to content
Thunder?
Local
Radar
Hot?
IGNORED

The great Christmas Blizzard of 1927


Weather-history
 Share

Recommended Posts

Posted
  • Location: Irlam
  • Location: Irlam

    The Christmas Blizzard of 1927 was one of the worst blizzards of the 20th Century to hit the south.

    On Christmas Eve, there was a cold ENEly flow across the UK bringing with it, snow showers to the east coast and night frosts.

    By Christmas Day, a low pressure had moved into the English Channel and this engaged the colder air. Initially, the precipitation that fell was rain but as the low pulled down even colder air, the rain turned readily to snow and by midnight, many southern and southeastern counties had a snow cover. Conditions the next day were horrendous with heavy snowfalls and a gale force NEly wind bringing blizzard conditions and severe drifting. Villages were cut off by drifts up to 20 feet and food supplies had to be air-drop. Transport was virtually paralysed with train services seriously delayed or cancelled. Even in central London, depths of snow were approaching 10"

    By the 27th, high pressure had built across northern parts and the south became drier but with a cold easterly wind. The snow cover was to last until the New Year but then came another weather problem that was to have deadly consequences.

    Rslp19271225.gif

    The Thames Flooding of January 1928

    The Thames flooding of 7th of January 1928 caused serious flooding in London as a combination of a high tide and melt water from the rapidly melting snow caused the Thames to burst its banks.

    After the Christmas Blizzard came a thaw with southerly winds flowing across the UK at the New Year. With all the melt water, the Thames was higher than normal. On the 7th, a deep depression was to the north of the UK and there was strong NWly winds and in combination with a high tide, it caused the Thames to burst its banks. There was serious flooding in the City, Southwark, Westminster, Putney and Hammersmith. The vaults of the Palace of Westminster was flooded as was the normally dry moat of the Tower of London. The Tate Gallery was badly affected with several valuable paintings damaged.

    The human cost was worse with 14 people dying, mostly drowning in their basements and hundreds more, homeless. Following this flooding, the Thames embankment was raised a metre higher.

    Rslp19280107.gif

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 1 year later...
    • Replies 5
    • Created
    • Last Reply

    Top Posters In This Topic

    Posted
  • Location: Salisbury , Wiltshire
  • Location: Salisbury , Wiltshire

    WOW!!!

    thanks for posting this MR DATA

    i never knew it ever happened

    migthy 2 weeks of weather that may never have been topped in this country to date

    thanks again for sharing

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 11 months later...

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
     Share

    • UK Storm and Severe Convective Forecast

      UK Severe Convective & Storm Forecast - Issued 2023-10-02 07:46:04 Valid: 02/10/2023 0600 to 03/10/2023 0600 THUNDERSTORM WATCH - MON 02 OCT 2023 Click here for the full forecast

      Nick F
      Nick F
      Latest weather updates from Netweather

      Exceptional warmth for western Europe as October begins

      There'll be exceptionally warm temperatures for the time of year affecting much of western Europe during the coming days, but that warmth will only graze the UK for now. Next weekend may see a more direct hit with the potential for southerly winds to draw some of that heat north and take temperatures into the mid or high-twenties. Read the full update here

      Netweather forecasts
      Netweather forecasts
      Latest weather updates from Netweather 3

      Unusually warm September ending with some warm sunshine but also some rain

      September will end up as another unusually warm month, and there will be some further warm, sunny spells to come as it draws to a close. Another bout of rain will be moving up from the southwest on Saturday, though. Read the full update here

      Netweather forecasts
      Netweather forecasts
      Latest weather updates from Netweather
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...