Home / Editor's Pick /

On this day: The Big Snow of 1982

11:33
10 January 2025

On this day
The Big Snow of 1982

Settings for external content

Privacy policy

Did you know, on January 10th 1982, temperatures across the UK and Ireland almost reached -30°C, following days on end of snow?

On this day, 43 years ago, several records were smashed out the park on one of the most severe cold spells in history.

The UK saw its all-time lowest temperature ever recorded, with -27.2°C recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. England also recorded its lowest ever temperature during the cold wave, with a staggering -26.1°C in Newport, Telford and Wrekin.

This follows the brutal December prior, where temperatures also had just fallen to -25.2°C in Shawbury, Shropshire, the lowest December temperature on record for England on December 13th 1981.

The days leading up to these utterly mind-blowing temperatures saw chaotic snow fall across many parts of the UK and Ireland.

On the 8th and 9th of January, the east coast of Ireland recorded snow depths of up to 25 cm, alongside drifts over two metres after one of the strongest blizzards of the century, while Wales saw up to 60 cm and drifts up to six metres.

Conditions were reported to be most severe in Dublin, with Phoenix Park having mean temperatures sub-zero for eight days straight.

Meanwhile, in Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, there was over 60 cm of snow, with drifts up to six metres high.

Snowfall across some areas started on the 7th and lasted for 36 hours straight, with large swathes of the British Isles coming to a total standstill for days on end.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Monday 30 June 2025

Noctilucent cloud season

Shimmering clouds over UK and Ireland
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Not just the UK

Heatwave grips continental Europe
Saturday 28 June 2025

Grab the sun cream

High UV levels to end the week
All weather news
This might also interest you
Thursday 3 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Pleasant for some, unsettled for others
Monday 30 June 2025

Take precautions

Heatwave takes grip once again
Thursday 3 July 2025

Gusty too

Rainfall passes through the north
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement