An exceptionally cold start to February.....

[Weather-history]

The start of February 1956 was truely exceptional with a remarkably cold airmass moving in on an easterly airstream over the UK.

Not a hint of a Scandinavian high at 28th January

But watch it develop

Watch how the intensely cold arimass is directed towards the UK.

The CET up to the 3rd of February 1956 was -6.2

Some of the lowest maximas for 60 years were recorded in this short period. The overall CET for Feb 1956 was -0.2

Over the coming week, Times article on this remarkable spell

From the 1st of February 1956 and the cold strikes

[johnholmes]

tks for that Kevin, and yes I remember it well as everyone now knows, see the thread about severe winter months I have experienced!

and how about the outlook for the NEXT FEW DAYS !!

pretty impressive for that far back.

and it was correct for where I lived.

Edited January 29, 2008 by johnholmes

[Snowy Yorkshire]

Thanks for that fantastic post, very good topic, it made me smile when they mensioned hull

[Weather-history]

From the 2nd of February

[Roger J Smith]

Believe it or not, I remember this spell, I think. We left England when I was seven in 1957 and I have one memory of walking to school (in my shorts) with snow coming down hard. Probably this spell because I was not in school in January 1955 (I was however making weather forecasts).

Rollo remembers this spell as well, I remember talking with him about it on my visit last summer. That visit also included a return to the hill in Northfield B'ham that I can recall walking up in the snow. It's called Hanging Lane, no doubt some sort of foreshadowing there.

[Weather-history]

From the 3rd of February

[damianslaw]

Superb reading - these times articles are a real treat. I wish we had similiar weather reports today.

That cold spell was one of the coldest spells of the last decade.

[Optimus Prime]

Looks to be on a par with 1987.

February 1956 contains 3 of only 5 days where the CET tracker was below -6.0c (helped by the fact it started exactly with the calander month)

Amazing.

[Zenarcher]

This is amazing thanks for the information