Your Memories Of November/december 2010

[A Winter's Tale]

It seems quite a long time ago but what a memorable cold spell(s) this was. In terms of cold and snow it defeated the cold spells of 2009/2010 and 2008/2009 but didn't quite last as long as the the Cold Spell of December 2009-January 2010.

Across the different parts of the country, the intensity, effects and length of the cold spell would vary and it would be interesting to hear your memories of the cold spell such as your favourite moments, a particular event, whether icicles were present, how cold it was, the effect on the local area and general experience of the period.

I'm going to do it day by day starting with:

NOVEMBER 24TH 2010

This was the day the cold spell arrived and I can remember walking about in sunny but crisp, cold conditions. The News had started to gain attention about the cold spell as the first snowfalls arrived.

Above is the synoptic situation of November 24th. Cold with NEly winds bringing some snow showers.

Here are some BBC News Stories from November 24th:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11835728

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11827592

Loch Glascarnoch 0.5C maximum, Benson -5.5C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

NOVEMBER 25TH

This was another cold sunny day here in Glasgow but elsehwere the snow really did get going, particulary in the NE. The news coverage really did start going here and never really stopped until the New Year.

A BBC Weather Forecast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRz-ad8T7OY

Some BBC NEWS Articles:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11836547

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11836918

Carterhouse -1.0C maximum, Woodford -7.0C minimum

Here is the synoptic situation:

[A Winter's Tale]

NOVEMBER 26TH 2010

The day started off similar to the 25th however, the end of the day was fantastic as an area of snow from the east crossed over much of Scotland and dumped an inch of snow within 30 mins including Thundersnow aswell. That was the start of the Radar and Lamp-post watching of the cold spell.

Some BBC News Stories:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11843895

A BBC Weather Forecast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTaD6fccm7Q

Carterhouse -0.6C maximum, Redesdale Camp -9.1C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

NOVEMBER 27TH

This was a lovely day. The early hours were snowy but the day was fantastic with very cold, crisp sunny conditions with snow on the ground. I went down to Lochgoilhead for the day. Also, later that night saw the famous Forth-Clyde Streamer of Late November/Early December 2010 get underway.

BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11852488

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6IpnqEAfno

Carterhouse -2.4C maximum, Trawacoed -10.2C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

NOVEMBER 28TH

A very snowy day with a major snow event across Eastern and Central Scotland. This made the snow depth up to 10-15cm here. It snowed for hours and hours and driving conditions were awful. A nice starry sky for the evening before the snow came back for a brief visit.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11857820

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCPmpomoLHM

Sennybridge -4.5C maximum, Llysdinam -18.0C minimum

Edited March 4, 2012 by A Scottish Winter's Tale

[A Winter's Tale]

NOVEMBER 29TH

This was a very cold day and sunny morning. Travel conditions were bad and they got even worse when the Forth-Clyde Streamer got going again with quite a snowy night.

BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11859868

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQnZB_MF5AM

Aviemore -3.9C maximum, Altnaharra -16.1C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

NOVEMBER 30TH

The very cold conditions continued, generally sunny with some snow showers - heaviest in east. The conditions were really having an effect on life in the area.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11871708

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO2WGkSJGt0

Altnaharra -6.7C maximum, Kinloss -13.1C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 1ST

I think either on the 1st or 2nd there was snizzle. Also quite sunny still with snow showers from the east. However it got really cold with temperatures dropping below -10C at night. The trees beginning to look fantastic in hard frosts - everything was great from the deep snow on the grass to icicles to snow covered roads and cars.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11887715

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGhuEU0cPyg

Altnaharra -11.5C maximum, Altnaharra -21.1C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 2ND

This I believe was either a foggy day with some snizzle or very sunny. Certainly, it was a very cold night with temps down below -10C, 15cm of snow on the ground and everything a winter wonderland. The buzz that these sort of cold spells bring to community life is great.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11894853

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlSnvAdv_zg

Altnaharra -14.0C maximum, Altnaharra -20.9C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 3RD

The day started off very cold with sub -10C temps and a very hard frost. However there was snow as a system arrived from the west. This managed to raise the temperatures. However, this caused the school to evacuate and which was strange as the precipitation was more like sleet/rain. This lead to brief thaw that made the snow depth a little smaller.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11908188

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssksoCtJpQs

Fyvie Castle -6.5C maximum, Braemar -20.4C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 4TH

Still a cold day, but not bitterly cold with maximum temperatures at a balmy 3C. Generally very sunny, halfed to 10cm.

Castlederg -0.6C maximum, Fyvie Castle -10.8C minimum

DECEMBER 5TH

A colder day and sunny with 10cm of snow on the ground. This was before the infamous December 6th snowfall.

A BBC Weather Forecast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoM-pY4kjJ8

Carlisle -0.3C maximum, Topcliffe -12.6C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 6TH

An incredible day. A front moved south and stalled over Scotland dumping another 10cm with the total at 20cm. This caused havoc like I've never seen it. Looking out the window and seeing car after car sliding and being abondened and close calls to severe crashes. The noise of police sirens ringing across from the city as the snow continued to fall down. Travelling back was amazing as if a bomb had hit - a war zone with some many aboneded vehichles. The temperature dropped below -10C that night. The Scottish Transport minister resigned.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11924616

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgLvNTXsaPY

Dishforth -7.5C maximum, Topcliffe -18.0C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 7TH

An amazing day aswell. No snowfall, but lots of it on the ground and cars still stranded. My first snow day and the temperature that day never got above -12C and I remember walking about in -15C temperatures in the deep snow, talking to neighbours and enjoying the fantastic sights.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11933672

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NnfisaDjyU

Tyndrum -8.9C maximum, Strathallan -17.8C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 8TH

The last day of the first Cold Spell really. Another crazily cold day but fantastic and another snow day.

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u962IRASsZg

Carlisle -7.9C maximum, Tyndrum -18.3C minimum

DECEMBER 9TH

Thaw underway, snow melts.

Lerwick 1.6C maximum, Topcliffe -13.8C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 16TH

A band moved south over the UK and some snow fell and left icy patches. A very cold night followed with starry skies.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12006670

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDeFN7tnqfU

Lerwick -2.3C maximum, Lerwick -4.4C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 17TH

A cold and very sunny day but with no snowfall with some snow patches on the ground from earlier falls.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12015145

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8N5jRArUo

Spadeadam -4.9C maximum, Spadeadam 9.4C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 18TH

Some very light snow fell which gave a dusting. A cloudy and cold day here.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12025538

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOf0LgQzvs4

Castlederg -11.0C maximum, loch Glascarnich -17.2C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 19TH

A snowy day as the easterly returned and added an extra cm or two to the snow cover. Quite cloudy at times aswell.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12030233

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkXBwTPZZTI

Pershore -8.2C maximum, Shawbury -19.6C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 20TH

The start of quiter period but incredibly cold one with temperatures about to plummit.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12044181

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCJwOJxfG18

Capel Curig -8.6C maximum, Pershore -18.7C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 21ST

The very cold and settled theme continued.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12047038

Altnaharra -13.8C maximum, Katesbridge -17.8C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 22ND

Temperatures at night drop below -10C thanks to settled conditions.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12052824

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y4zfkCfixU

Altnaharra -15.8C maximum, Altnaharra -20.2C minimum

DECEMBER 23RD

This was a cloudy but amazingly cold day.

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp4mP2mZ0H8

Cluanie Inn -8.8C maximum, Castlederg -18.7C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 24TH

This was a nice, cold, settled day. Snow on the ground, went to see family in amazing cold temperatures in minus double digits.

BBC NEWS:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-12074094

BBC WEATHER:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tN60kZjGmg

Cstlederg -8.4C maximum, Castlederg -17.4C minimum

[A Winter's Tale]

DECEMBER 25TH

A second consecutive white christmas. Woke-up to see the largest snowfall of the December 16th-26th cold spell that dumped another 2-3cm. However, at temperatures of -5C (a ten degree rise), freezing rain arrived. Went down to Loch Fyne to stay with family as the snow melted.

Castlederg -9.9C maximum, Altnaharra -18.2C minimum

DECEMBER 26TH

The last day of the cold spell, a storm at Loch Fyne with a classic stormy sea, dark skies in the fantastic wilderness. Snow had disapeared here although when I arrived back in Glasgow some of it was still there.

Topcliffe -2.3C maximum, Katesbridge -16.9C minimum

[benb]

Hey Clyde- what a great read- thanks!

Brings back loads of memories- Llandrindod Wells, mid-afternoon, -9c and the place buried under snow and looking like a ski-resort.

Brynamman/Glanaman under well over a level foot of snow.

[Alex95]

November:

24th - heavy snow showers, sleety at times, but they began to accumulate in the evening.

25th - heavy snow showers gradually easing, about 10cm lying.

26th - dry and sunny, but another 10cm fell in the 90 minutes just before midnight bringing the total to 20cm.

27th - heavy snow showers from late morning onwards, 23cm by the evening.

28th - mostly dry with a cloudy afternoon, but thundersnow arrived by late evening.

29th - much more marginal, but there was a lot of wet snow, and a few thunderstorms too. 40cm by late afternoon!

30th - 32cm after an overnight thaw.

December:

1st - Heavy snow in the middle of the day bringing the depth back up to 37cm.

2nd onwards: although it was sunny the snow barely melted for quite a while. I can't remember exactly when the thaw arrived.

16th: Rain to snow event left a light dusting of snow.

18th - 22nd: Very cold with an inch of snow in Cumbria. The temperature regularly fell below -15C.

23rd: heavy snow showers blew in from the North Sea, bringing the depth to 9cm after an inch had already fell in the days before.

Christmas remained cold and the snow lay thickly until about the 27th.