What Is The Coldest It Can Get Without Snow Cover?

[trickydicky]

Good evening peoples, this is the first time I have been so brazen as to start my own topic so come on, someone has to reply or i'll be embarrassed! 

My question is this - what is the coldest it can get without snow cover? I know it can get sub -20 almost anywhere in land in the UK quite comfortably with a bit of snow. I would estimate that the limit of a non snow cover frosty night would be about -15. I grew up in Cumbria and I seem to remember -12 or so being not out of the question from time to time on occasions when there was no snow.

Any Ideas?

Much appreciated 

[trickydicky]

bump

[BARRY]

bump

don't get disheartened,it is a very good question of which i do not have a answer,i remember it got down to -13c one Feb

[woldsowl]

Can't answer you properly either, but the lowest I've recorded without snow cover was -10c in Penistone 1996 ish.

[Terminal Moraine]

It depends to a large extent on where you are. If we're talking about low, flat ground , for example somewhere like the Trent valley or the Somerset levels I would think around -12c would be possible given a lengthy cold spell, frozen ground, a clear calm night and a deep, cold air mass.

In deeply incised or upland valleys such as occur in the Peak District, the Lake District or in Wales and Scotland I'd have thought -18c would be possible under the same circumstances.

If you live somewhere like me, on an exposed windy hill top, anything below -5c without snow cover would be unusual.

I'm just theorising here and have no hard evidence to back this up, apart from at my own location.

[Nick L]

We got a -10 about 5 years ago with no snow.

[disco-barry]

-8.2 last year with no snow, i'm sure it will of been lower at some point.

[Chrissy]

We had -8 about 3 years ago with no snow cover.

[I remember Atlantic 252]

2002 was an exceptionally bitter start with no snow was down to -10oC in west midlands, frost & fog

[Nick L]

2002 was an exceptionally bitter start with no snow was down to -10oC in west midlands, frost & fog

That was the one I think. We got down to -9.9c which is practically -10c!

[Weather-history]

It got down to -12C in Manchester with no snow cover at the back end of december 1995.

[Weatherfanman]

I can remember said cold spell in December '95 clearly (twas my last winter in Scotland before moving down south), and remember freezing fog lasting all day, maxing at -9C and recording a minimum of -19C just to the west of Edinburgh, really quite exceptional, and all in the absence of any snow whatsoever.........

WFM

[osmposm]

Yes, a very interesting question, TD.

Comments and photographs in Ian Currie's excellent Frosts, Freezes & Fairs suggest that parts of Jan 1880, Jan-Feb 1895, Jan 1940 & Jan 1945 might be worth investigating - there were intense frosts but little snow in most places. However, although there will undoubtedly be temperature records available, I don't know whether the snow cover (or lack of it) would be recorded.

I'll post a couple of scans from photos in the book later if I get a moment.

Ossie

[trickydicky]

Yes, a very interesting question, TD.

Comments and photographs in Ian Currie's excellent Frosts, Freezes & Fairs suggest that parts of Jan 1880, Jan-Feb 1895, Jan 1940 & Jan 1945 might be worth investigating - there were intense frosts but little snow in most places. However, although there will undoubtedly be temperature records available, I don't know whether the snow cover (or lack of it) would be recorded.

I'll post a couple of scans from photos in the book later if I get a moment.

Ossie

Thanks very much, that would be good. I have seen a picture of school children relocated from Liverpool to the Lake District skating on Grasmere in 1940. On the picture there was snow on the tops of the fells but none at valley level. Grasmere freezes fairly easily though due to its small size.

[Summer of 95]

Early Jan 2002 there was actually a snowcover here, so that one doesn't count- however I remember the snowless winter 1991/2 having several nights around -8 to -10, not to mention plenty of ice days; if only it had even produced an inch or two a couple of times I'd probably rate it one of my most memorable winters for the right reasons! Also just after Christmas 1995 (the periods with snowcover that month were 6-8th, 19-22nd and 30-31st) -9 was reached without it.

http://www.alex114.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/severe.html

click on "Ultra Freeze"- pic of grass after -20 with no snow