The Great Blizzard of March 1891

After the severe wintry weather of December and January, February 1891 was mostly benign with high pressure dominating the weather and frequent fogs. At the end of the month it became very mild during the day with a southerly flow across the UK, Cambridge recorded a maximum of 18.9C on the 27th. It was one of the driest Februaries on record.
March started mild but on the 6th, a depression moved into Norway dragging down colder air across the UK. High pressure was intensifying in the Atlantic and the winds turned into the NE bringing even colder air. On the 9th, a depression moved into the Brest area of France and this engaged the colder air over the UK. Dry powdery snow fell across many parts of the West Country and this spread across other southern counties of England. On the 10th, the depression deepened and a severe easterly gale blew in the Channel and there was continous heavy snow and blizzards across southern counties of England. As the first Channel depression moved away, another one entered the Brest region and the snow and gales returned to the West Country again but this system moved into France rather than along the Channel and counties bordering the eastern part of the Channel missed the blizzards this time. By this stage, Cornwall and Devon were virtually cut off by enormous drifts and deep snow cover. It was estimated that Dartmoor had between 1 to 1 and a half metres of snow and snow depths of 15cm+ was reported south west of a line from Kent to Gwynedd. The Tavy Cleave on the edge of Dartmoor which is 500 feet deep was completely filled with drifted snow.
By the 14th, milder air arrived and there was a general thaw with some flooding. But winter wasn't over yet........

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