Late January-early February 1954 freeze

[Weather-history]

An interesting winter 1953-54, December 1953 was very mild and virtually frost free. January 1954 started with a short wintry spell but it became unsettled with gales mid month and very mild, Kew Observatory recorded a maximum of 14.2C

Then a change took place with high pressure developing in the Iceland region and intensifying as it move toward Scandinavia.

A trough approaching from the west gave rain at first then increasing snow in the west as colder air was pulled in from the continent. The last week of January and first week of February was bitterly cold with severe frosts.

Some minima

Thetford: -13.9C on the 1st

Welshpool: -20C on the 2nd

Hawarden: -17.7C on the 2nd

Ice covered or partially rivers, canals, lakes and ponds.

26th January-7th February 1954 CET: -2.5C

After the 7th, the cold relaxed as low pressure pushed down from the north, ending the cold block.

[March Blizzard]

Was this the first of a run of cold winters, WH? My Dad was born in Jan 1955 in apparently severe conditions.

[Weather-history]

Was this the first of a run of cold winters, WH? My Dad was born in Jan 1955 in apparently severe conditions.

The three previous winters to this had their wintry moments but it was the first real potent cold spell since 1947

[R.P. McMurphy]

What was the coldest temperate ever recorded in England?

[Weather-history]

What was the coldest temperate ever recorded in England?

-26.1C at Newport, Shropshire in 10th January 1982

[R.P. McMurphy]

-26.1C at Newport, Shropshire in 10th January 1982

 

Blimey, that is cold...

 

Sorry, little off topic from your original post...What is the coldest for Irlam and also the hottest? And maybe most snowiest?

[Weather-history]

Blimey, that is cold... Sorry, little off topic from your original post...What is the coldest for Irlam and also the hottest? And maybe most snowiest?

LolI know it got down to -16.5C on my thermometer on the 8th January 2010 but there are no official records for Irlam.

[R.P. McMurphy]

LolI know it got down to -16.5C on my thermometer on the 8th January 2010 but there are no official records for Irlam.

 

Yep, I remember that one alright, pretty darn cold... Not to mention the snow... Best year I can remember that.

 

I'm just trying to see various setups needed for snow in this area of the UK... You know how low we are and that never helps !

[johnholmes]

An interesting winter 1953-54, December 1953 was very mild and virtually frost free. January 1954 started with a short wintry spell but it became unsettled with gales mid month and very mild, Kew Observatory recorded a maximum of 14.2C

Then a change took place with high pressure developing in the Iceland region and intensifying as it move toward Scandinavia.

A trough approaching from the west gave rain at first then increasing snow in the west as colder air was pulled in from the continent. The last week of January and first week of February was bitterly cold with severe frosts.

Some minima

Thetford: -13.9C on the 1st

Welshpool: -20C on the 2nd

Hawarden: -17.7C on the 2nd

Ice covered or partially rivers, canals, lakes and ponds.

26th January-7th February 1954 CET: -2.5C

After the 7th, the cold relaxed as low pressure pushed down from the north, ending the cold block.

 

 

remember that winter well, several days the 5 mile walk to school required although they usually had dug out the bus garage by the time we were going home thank goodness. Quite fun to school missing assembly and part of the first lesson but sod missing playtime at home!

[AderynCoch]

This was a historic cold spell for southern Iberia, bringing snow to places which hardly ever see it. Lisbon, Malaga and Seville all saw lying snow on 2nd February. I think this was the only occasion this has happened since 1900, though Lisbon had falling snow in January 2006 and Seville reportedly did in January 2010 (it may only have been sleet).

 

[Weather-history]

 

[Weather-history]

Shocking stat that could be seen in the video was that 22 dead falling through ice on ponds etc in Lancashire alone.

It was so bad that the police started patrolled such areas to prevent further deaths