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The Big Snow: Winter of December 1981

10:00
12 December 2024

The Big Snow
Winter of December 1981

Steve JacksonShot from the past, in 1981. - © Steve Jackson

Over 40 years ago, Britain experienced one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record, termed 'The Big Snow'.

The winter of 1981-82 saw one of the coldest Decembers ever recorded. The 12th-13th in particular saw temperatures widely plunge below -18C, with much of the country then snowbound for nearly one month.

With the cold snap taking grip on this day 42 years ago, Shawbury, Shropshire saw temperatures fall to -25.2C on 13 December, the coldest December temperature on record for England.

Wales also recorded their lowest ever temperature for the month on December 13, with -22.7C at Corwen, Denbighshire.

The lowest UK-wide record was felt in Scotland, with -27.2C at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, though this was not until January 10th, 1982. On that same day, Newport then recorded -26.1C, the all-time minimum temperature for England.

Historic storms

The storm of 13 December 1981 was noted as one of the worst blizzards for SW England and Wales in the last 50 years, along with the blizzards of 8/9 January 1982 and 18 February 1978.

At the same time, a storm surge affected the Bristol Channel as the gale-force winds swung to the west, overtopping sea defences in Somerset and causing quite extensive flooding.

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Ryan Hathaway
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