Never!

And, as others have said, the late Nov - Dec 2010 event was as severe as any in my lifetime.

A month of frigid weather, with almost every part of the UK getting good snow cover at some point or other. Some (even lowland) places in the NE/E had >12" of snow that lay on the ground for several weeks.

It was the coldest December for 100 years, with more minus-double-digit minimums than I can recall in a cold spell (even at some coastal areas), and multiple ice days.

And, most importantly of all, it happened in the lead-up to - and over - Xmas.

Jan 87 was nothing great IMBY. A very cold fortnight, but no snow. I know for some areas it was Nirvana, but this wasn't anywhere near as universal as Dec 2010, nor as long-lasting.

Originally Posted by: Saint Snow 

does anyone know why we never get a truly severe cold snowy spell these days like feb 1991 or jan 1987 ?

is it global warming possibly 

are sst's warmer now 

that is 10 days of cumulative snow build up and severe cold 

not current wintery setups which are rubbish in my area - hit and miss snow and sleet showers and toppler northerlies

thanks

Originally Posted by: sriram 

Depends where you live I guess.
There is a tendency for runs of milder winters and runs of colder winters.
Apart from 2013/14 we are in a colder snowier spell now IMO
Recent winters have been much more severe than the early part of the 1970s and late90s/early2000s
late 2010 was so extreme there was little opportunity for frivolity such as taking video.

If you live in the SE England UHI then you can believe in global warming more easily I expect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z8Ejv12c2Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3P_T2Sepc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJsmVAedqiQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ffDPwOmaek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw7v6ubcoRY

Originally Posted by: four