Mid March easterlies of 1996, 2001 and 2006

[damianslaw]

Remembering back to the mid March easterlies set five years apart in 1996, 2001 and 2006. All brought quite widespread snow as the atlantic came unstuck against high pressure to the NE.

March 1996 - a frontal system moved into cold surface air on the 11th, and gave widespread snow late on 11th and through the 12th especially in central areas, as the front was forced to retreat westwards thanks to building heights to the NE. Many places saw sub zero maxima on the 12th. Thereafter a cold SE flow took hold.

March 2001, after a cold potent northerly early on, once again heights built over scandi and the middle of the month brought a raw easterly and wintry showers.

March 2006 - a carbon copy of 1996 almost to the day, high pressure again built over scandi and a frontal system was squeezed into touch having advanced east it was forced west on the 12th, it gave very heavy falls of snow to western parts. The days after brought long drawn easterlies and further snow showers.

Cold easterlies returned in March 2013 and 2018 - five years apart again.. 

 

[Weather-history]

March 1996 event started off as rain but turned to snow. It wasn't a snowy month generally. I just remember a lot of cool cloudy days for that month 

 

[Weather-history]

 

[Weather-history]

March 2006

 

[damianslaw]

Gosh dont think I've ever seen a -33 on the British map forecast and towards late March as well!