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Saint Snow
20 December 2023 22:25:54

Facts and figures for Christmas weather

When was the deepest snow on Christmas day?
The deepest lying snow on Christmas day was recorded back in 1981 when Kindrogan, Perthshire recorded 47 cm.
Snow depth (cm)CountryDeepest snow on Christmas Day England 43cm at Buxton, Derbyshire and Malham Tarn, N. Yorkshire in 1981 and 2009
 Northern Ireland 17cm at Hillsborough, Down in 2010
 Scotland 47cm at Kindrogan, Perthshire in 1981
 Wales 45cm at Cae Poeth, Gwynedd in 2010

When was the warmest Christmas day?
The warmest temperature recorded on Christmas day in the UK is 15.6 °C recorded in Killerton, Devon in 1920.
Max temperature (°C)CountryWarmest Christmas Day England 15.6 °C at Killerton, Devon in 1920
 Northern Ireland 14.8 °C at Belfast Newforge in 2016
 Scotland 15.1 °C at Dyce, Aberdeenshire in 2011 and 2016 and Urquhart, Ross & Cromarty in 2016
 Wales 15.2 °C at Hawarden, Clywd in 2015

When was the wettest Christmas Day?
The wettest Christmas day in the UK was in 2015 when 165.4 mm of rain fell in Capel Curig ,Gwynedd.
Rainfall (mm)CountryWettest Christmas Day England 103mm at Ennerdale, Cumbria in 2003
 Northern Ireland 82.5mm at Trassey, Down in 2021
 Scotland 70.5mm at Achnagart, Ross & Cromarty in 2011
 Wales 165.4mm at Capel Curig, Gwynedd in 2015

When was the windiest Christmas day?
The windiest Christmas day recorded was at Sella Ness in Shetland in 2011 when gusts up to 101 mph were recorded.
Max wind gust (mph)CountryWindiest Christmas Day England 93mph at the Needles, Isle of Wight in 1997
 Northern Ireland 81mph at Killough, Down in 1990
 Scotland 101mph at Sella Ness in Shetland in 2011
 Wales 78mph at Aberporth, Dyfed in 1990

When was the coldest Christmas day?
Gainford in Durham holds the record for the coldest Christmas day recording -18.3 °C in 1878.
Minimum temperature (°C)CountryColdest Christmas Day England -18.3°C at Gainford, Durham in 1878
 Northern Ireland -17.5°C at Katesbridge, Down in 2010
 Scotland -18.2°C at Altnaharra, Sutherland in 2010
 Wales -16.5°C at Llysdinum, Powys in 2010
When was the sunniest Christmas day?

The most amount of sunshine recorded on Christmas day is 7.5 hours, recorded in Penzance, Cornwall and Aberporth, Dyfed in 1944, Faversham, Kent in 1979 and Camborne, Cornwall in 2010.
Sunshine hoursCountrySunniest Christmas Day England 7.5hrs at Penzance, Cornwall in 1944 and Faversham, Kent in 1979 and Camborne, Cornwall in 2010
 Northern Ireland 6.7hrs at Aldergrove, Antrim in 2000 and Ballywatticock, Down in 2010
 Scotland 6.9hrs at West Freugh, Wigtownshire in 1961
 Wales 7.5hrs at Aberporth, Dyfed in 1944
Source . Met Office.

Originally Posted by: bledur 




👍

Excellent stats, there, Bledur!

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
Bolty
22 December 2023 05:16:52
It looks increasingly like this Christmas will join the stormy category. Notable years with these include 1997 (the famous Christmas Eve storm), 1998 (the Boxing Day storm), 2013 (the deep near-record low early Christmas Eve, then another storm on Boxing Day) and 2015 (Storm Eva early Christmas Eve and then the total washout on Boxing Day).
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
+1
doctormog
23 December 2023 16:59:45
Looking at the 12z output so far I wouldn’t entirely rule out a White Christmas in a few places. The GFS 12z GFS op comes agonisingly close here: 

UserPostedImage

I have intentionally posted this in here so as not to detract from the overall model output discussion.

Today has been a good deal colder here than I was expecting, although it is continuing to warm up. Currently it is 4.5°C with a covering of snow.
Aberdeen
Current conditions (personal WS) 
+1
Roger Parsons
23 December 2023 17:32:03
I sometimes struggle with the American sense of humour, but am in their debt for two major contributions to Christmas culture:
1.  I'm Dreaming of a Wide Isthmus.
and
2. God rest ye, Gerry Mendelbaum.
😁
Any other offerings?
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Retron
23 December 2023 18:01:10

Looking at the 12z output so far I wouldn’t entirely rule out a White Christmas in a few places. The GFS 12z GFS op comes agonisingly close here:

Originally Posted by: doctormog 


If it's winter you're after, it's up there in NE Scotland! An amazing "real time" temperature chart from xcweather an hour ago, with all of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and a good chunk of Scotland all in the 9-12C shading...

https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/sat.jpg 
UserPostedImage
Leysdown, north Kent
+1
doctormog
23 December 2023 18:23:38

If it's winter you're after, it's up there in NE Scotland! An amazing "real time" temperature chart from xcweather an hour ago, with all of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and a good chunk of Scotland all in the 9-12C shading...

https://ukwct.org.uk/weather/sat.jpg 
UserPostedImage

Originally Posted by: Retron 



Yes, it’s 3.4°C here currently after an earlier “high” of 4.5°C. I would expect it to warm up soon but we have a covering of snow just now.
Aberdeen
Current conditions (personal WS) 
bledur
23 December 2023 19:22:49
UserPostedImageA 9 near Golspie Sutherland earlier today
roadrunnerajn
23 December 2023 19:27:20
Remember Christmas 1981… I asked for a new sledge for Christmas and actually got to use it. I lived at the time 10 miles down the road from Buxton.
Germoe, part of the breakaway Celtic Republic.
Saint Snow
24 December 2023 15:53:03


2. God rest ye, Gerry Mendelbaum.

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 




I remember a WW2-themed joke with the punchline "God Rest Ye Gerry Mentlemen" but have no idea of the joke that preceded it 😣

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
Roger Parsons
24 December 2023 16:05:42

I remember a WW2-themed joke with the punchline "God Rest Ye Gerry Mentlemen" but have no idea of the joke that preceded it 😣

Originally Posted by: Saint Snow 

I think it was a throwaway line from Bob Newhart... or possibly Alan Sherman... Ah - try this... Sherman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrTFVRm10dk 

 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Steve
24 December 2023 17:23:25
Why are the media banging on about the hottest ever Christmas ? 

https://news.sky.com/story/warmest-christmas-eve-since-1997-as-christmas-day-set-to-be-hottest-in-years-says-met-office-13037413 

Yes, very mild, but I wouldn’t describe it as hot !

😫
doctormog
24 December 2023 17:31:44
And it looks like being a white one in some parts of Scotland.
Aberdeen
Current conditions (personal WS) 
howham
  • howham
  • Advanced Member Topic Starter
24 December 2023 17:35:10

And it looks like being a white one in some parts of Scotland.

Originally Posted by: doctormog 



Michael, enough about Cairngorm already!  😉
+4
doctormog
24 December 2023 17:45:41

Michael, enough about Cairngorm already!  😉

Originally Posted by: howham 



🤣
Aberdeen
Current conditions (personal WS) 
+1
Saint Snow
24 December 2023 19:30:52

Michael, enough about Cairngorm already!  😉

Originally Posted by: howham 



😂

FWIW, it's snowing halfway up Ben Nevis 

https://www.nevisrange.co.uk/webcams/ 

 

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
Tim A
25 December 2023 09:57:34
Merry Christmas all.

Would be great to be staying somewhere in the Cairngorms for Christmas, e.g a cottage in Aviemore, Braemar or Tomintoul.  Looks like a decent snow event this afternoon and evening, which would be magical. 
Tim
NW Leeds
187m asl

 My PWS 
Gavin D
25 December 2023 12:12:41
The UK has provisionally recorded the highest daily minimum temperature on record for Christmas Day, with Exeter Airport and East Malling not falling below 12.4c
+1
Saint Snow
31 December 2023 12:00:57
Google Photos just popped up a memory for me from this day 2020. There was about 2cm of snow on the ground.

😥

A snowy pic & vid from the 28th, too. And a few pics from the 2nd Jan 21 of us out walking in the snow nearby.

 

Martin
Home: St Helens (26m asl) Work: Manchester (75m asl)
A TWO addict since 14/12/01
"How can wealth persuade poverty to use its political freedom to keep wealth in power? Here lies the whole art of Conservative politics."
Aneurin Bevan
The Dub Version
08 January 2024 08:53:23

That was a bake down here as I've frequently noted. The flip side of the coin is that January 2013 (I think), which is rarely mentioned, brought an excellent snow event in these parts. 

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 



A bake?

Several inches of snow in thames valley!

 
Berkshire
Gandalf The White
08 January 2024 08:54:06

That was a bake down here as I've frequently noted. The flip side of the coin is that January 2013 (I think), which is rarely mentioned, brought an excellent snow event in these parts. 

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 



December 2010 saw Heathrow shut due to heavy snow about a week before Xmas, which affected quite a large area - certainly up to Hertfordshire.
Location: South Cambridgeshire
130 metres ASL
52.0N 0.1E


Brian Gaze
08 January 2024 08:56:38

A bake?

Several inches of snow in thames valley!

 

Originally Posted by: The Dub Version 



There was one significant snow event ~20/12. In comparison, Dec 2009 - Jan 2010 brought three heavy falls to this area. December 2010 looks good on paper because it was a sub zero CET, but in the south (I know it was very different in the north) it was mostly a case of sitting and twiddling thumbs waiting for something of note to happen.
Brian Gaze
Berkhamsted
TWO Buzz - get the latest news and views 
"I'm not socialist, I know that. I don't believe in sharing my money." - Gary Numan
+2
Ally Pally Snowman
08 January 2024 09:06:09

There was one significant snow event ~20/12. In comparison, Dec 2009 - Jan 2010 brought three heavy falls to this area. December 2010 looks good on paper because it was a sub zero CET, but in the south (I know it was very different in the north) it was mostly a case of sitting and twiddling thumbs waiting for something of note to happen.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 



Remember the second December 2010 cold spell very well. In North London at the time. 16th light snow shower left a covering.  17th heavy snow shower about 3cm in a hour. And 18th heavy snow during the day 12cm ish which didn't melt until 28th ish. I'd take that again any day. The first cold spell which was about 30th Nov to 4th December was a disappointment.  But we still got 2 or 3cm on the ground for a few days. 
 
Bishop's Stortford 85m ASL.
Rob K
08 January 2024 09:14:08

There was one significant snow event ~20/12. In comparison, Dec 2009 - Jan 2010 brought three heavy falls to this area. December 2010 looks good on paper because it was a sub zero CET, but in the south (I know it was very different in the north) it was mostly a case of sitting and twiddling thumbs waiting for something of note to happen.

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 


Yes agreed. Dec 2010 was cold and dry for the most part. I remember the canal being frozen thick enough to walk on but as I recall we didn’t even have one decent snowfall here. Certainly nothing I deemed worthy of photographing anyway and I usually record any snow event pretty thoroughly. The only pics I have with snow on the ground are from the Winchester Christmas market with a slight dusting on the 19th and then some from the higher bits of Exmoor I drove past on Christmas Day. 

Then a Boxing Day walk in the Test Valley which still had a dusting of snow in the shady spots. 

Dec 2010 was cold but snowy it certainly wasn’t in the south. 
Yateley, NE Hampshire, 73m asl
"But who wants to be foretold the weather? It is bad enough when it comes, without our having the misery of knowing about it beforehand." — Jerome K. Jerome
Hippydave
08 January 2024 09:39:42
O/T but I must be an exception for snow in Dec 2010, we did really well from it. Seem to remember some heavy convective falls where streamers set up over my area plus some frontal snow as LPs rolled across the channel. I know that brought some rain on the coast and sleet inland but I had just enough height that it was mostly snow for me.  There was some thawing in the LPs moving through phase but overall it was a great spell here, just missing the exceptional low temps that further North had due to the injection of milder air. 

 
Home: Tunbridge Wells
Work: Tonbridge
Russwirral
08 January 2024 10:10:01

That was a bake down here as I've frequently noted. The flip side of the coin is that January 2013 (I think), which is rarely mentioned, brought an excellent snow event in these parts. 

Originally Posted by: Brian Gaze 



Purely on a Snow front, 2013 was more exceptional than any of the 2009/2010 events (of which we were locally impacted but only for a few days mostly).  I used to work in London Mon-Thur and WFH in Wirral on a Friday.  Starting in early Jan with Snow we went every Friday with snowfall of some kind for about 6 or 7 weeks.  Most were dustings some put down say an inch.  But the longevity and inevitable return to snow follwing a thaw you could set your clock by.

I cant remember a more consistent cold weather pattern in all my years.  It was SSW related (infact I think that was the year it caught media attention)

The whole SSW came to a head with a massive fall of snow in North west wales around 22nd March of about 70cm which lay on the ground well int late April.  They were finding sheep trapped in snow drifts for weeks.  I remember seeing drifts well over 20ft in height in April, 3 or 4 weeks after the snowfall.

All in all you could say this event lasted January - April, albeit with transient relief periods of complete thaw.

Weather station:
https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=IWIRRAL24#history 

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