Coldest and Snowiest winter on record (2013/2014)

[Gaz1985]

Have to say that March '13 was the greatest amount of snow I've ever seen in my life; general depths of around 18" and drifts >4'...Plus the sheer longevity of it was ridiculous!

 

People say that winter 13 wasn't too impressive, and that is technically correct, but I prefer to look at the seasons in terms of weather rather than concrete deadlines - To me, such impressive snowfalls in March were part of a very good winter and will be fondly remembered by myself

 

Now though I've moved up further north to Sheffield, so it will be interesting to see if my expectations change at all.                          

 

Sheffield is rather snowy, especially the western part of the city at an elevated position. The A57 road is often blocked by snow in Winter from Sheffield all the way to Glossop.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Gaz1985

[Captain Shortwave]

Whilst March 2013 delivered very little snow here, some of the synoptics were stunning. We got uppers as low as -16C which to be honest you can't really get much colder even in the depths of winter. The example of a direct perfect hit on the UK.If it happened in January most of the country would have got battered especially the East which would have seen blizzard conditions off charts like this

 

 

Alas we got blue skies and just a couple of scattered snow showers. The gale force north easterly was insanely cold given the maximum temperatures barely got above freezing here, which again for march is stunning.

This was the cold spell which I remember where the GFS was actually the first model to pick this up. Quite a steal after all the mess ups on the dull grey easterlies of February, it got the best cold blast of the season spot on.

Edited September 28, 2013 by Captain shortwave

[syed2878]

for experience i once in my lifetime would like to c an epic winter. Like cheese i want to c cold of 62-63 and 46-47 snowfalls. Lets hope this winter is the 1. How ever i cant c it happening, we can all hope and dream though.

[osmposm]

I want to see the prolonged cold of 1962/3 combined with the massive snowfalls of 1946/47.

 

I suspect if you lived through a 62/63 (as I did) you might change your mind! Both of those winters just went on and on and on...and however enjoyable it is for a while, eventually even hardened snow fans long to see the grass again..

 

Actually, I think we usually have it ideal in this country (apart from those many mild and snowless winters in the 90s and 00s): periods of cold and snow, but usually relatively short-lived. A week or ten days of real cold is enough at a time for me...though I don't mind an action replay later on, as long as there's been something warmer in between!

[Gavin Hannah]

I've already put in planing permission to move the UK isles north a few hundred miles.  

[robb]

I want to see the prolonged cold of 1962/3 combined with the massive snowfalls of 1946/47.

I was only 13 years of age then and even I, as a snow and cold lover, got fed up with it.  No central heating, outside loo frozen numerous times, side roads like skating rinks for 3 months.  Not sure we would cope if we had another prolonged winter like that, the strain on energy supplies and the transport system would be far greater now.  Anyway back to March 2013 here is a selection of pics taken around Eryrys in North Wales on 24th March.  It's about 350m ASL.

Have included a Google Earth image of Eryrys without the snow. Enjoy  

Edited September 29, 2013 by robb

[cheese]

I was only 13 years of age then and even I, as a snow and cold lover, got fed up with it.  No central heating, outside loo frozen numerous times, side roads like skating rinks for 3 months.  Not sure we would cope if we had another prolonged winter like that, the strain on energy supplies and the transport system would be far greater now

I'm sure we'd be fine eventually. The first few days would be an ordeal, but we'd get over ourselves and get on with our lives eventually. It's only the first initial snowfall(s) that causes disruption. Life continues as normal afterwards - the country didn't stop running for the entire length of the Dec 10 cold spell!

Edited September 29, 2013 by cheese

[Relativistic]

I'm not sure how we would cope with a '63 style Winter, but surely it is inevitably going to happen at some point...?

 

Then we'll see.

[BlueSkies_do_I_see]

We are unlikely to see record the coldest winter on record as that would mean a CET winter colder than -1.2C (1683/84) which was recorded during a cold period. However as has been shown in recent years, we are capable of recording months colder than the legendary 1962/63 season, albeit at the "bookends" of the season - Dec 2010 and March 2013. So a prolonged period of cold could surpass the -0.3C that was recorded during '63 winter and I expect to see a lot more cold to come as we reduce summer sea ice to nothing in the years ahead, and especially during solar minimum.

[joggs]

I just want a winter that consists of strong ne winds blowing heavy snow showers across the country interspersed with sunny int with just below freezing temps by day and -8/9 by night.Also beautiful wintery cloudscapes when showers approach and pass!.December and jan like that n i'll be as happy as a pig in swill lol.

[BLAST FROM THE PAST]

4 weeks...we had 6 weeks here!  jan 23 to march 3rd

 

Hi Hillbilly, down in the SW we had to wait a tad longer although the signs were there for something major on 27th.

 

 

 

Massive HP to our west, and a siberian HP encroaching from the NE. Deep low pressure over Iceland to our North.  The LP to our East over Poland/Western Russia plays a pivotal part as it gets absorbed into the Iceland LP as it slides slowly south due to the block to the far NE developing and preventing any eastward movement.

 

 

Now see the battlelines are drawn, the LP has nowhere to go......South

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this led to the crucial part for many...getting the snow before the long dry cold set in.

 

 

and this leads to the Siberian HP extending WSW to link with the HP to our West and went on to move west hence it became  one of the great winter months.

 

 

 And I remember the almost 'monotonous forecasts of Michale Fish, Giles etc saying HP to the north LP to the south and bitterly cold easterlies continue. 

 

BFTP

[Boro Snow]

dec 2010 was amazing as was 2009  this pix was 2010, im looking forward to this winter 6-8 weeks in the freezer and ill be happy

 

[Steve C]

I just want a winter that consists of strong ne winds blowing heavy snow showers across the country interspersed with sunny int with just below freezing temps by day and -8/9 by night.Also beautiful wintery cloudscapes when showers approach and pass!.December and jan like that n i'll be as happy as a pig in swill lol.

 

Those conditions would blow the Winter of 1684 into the weeds!

 

To be honest, those conditions would really mess up the country (infrastructure and lots of people would die) In some ways the conditions sound nice (constant strong winds apart) but the reality would be dreadful. I'd guess that the odds on that type of winter would be something like a 1 in 100 million, given the fact we aren't in ice age conditions currently.

[BLAST FROM THE PAST]

Keep expectations down, it'll put you in a good starting place

 

BFTP

[fluid dynamic]

I've seen Exactaweather's winter forecast - no I havent paid for it - Snowmageddon of course !