The last time it snowed in London was not during an Ice Age. It was, in fact, not all that long ago - on June 2, 1975. It was the first time in almost 100 years that snow had reached so far south at that time of year. The last recording before then was 1888.
On 2 June 1975 snow showers forced the abandonment of several cricket matches across the country. The snowiest winter of the twentieth century in the United Kingdom was 1947. Between 22 January and 17 March, snow fell every day somewhere in the country.
11-12 July 1888, snow was reported to have fallen over the Isle of Wight, Kent, East Midlands, East Yorkshire, Isle of Man, and the south Midlands. The snow may have been mistaken for soft hail in parts of southern England.
Part of hourly British Isles chart for 10am on 2 June 1975 showing plotted observations of snowfall (small stars) especially across eastern areas of England. Sleet and snow were reported in East Anglia and the Midlands and even penetrated as far south as the London area.
But if I'm honest, what I remember most about 1976 was the snow! Believe it or not, the Midlands was struck by a dramatic snowstorm on June 2 — right at the supposed start of summer. Such was its ferocity that it forced the cancellation of a cricket match in Buxton, Derbyshire.
Snow joke – the Midlands was covered with the stuff forty years ago today (June 2). The unseasonal snowfall in 1975 came as a surprise to Brummies with one eye on summer.
We last saw snow in May all the way back in… 2011, just last year, and we also saw more snow in 2010. If we look back through the records dating back to 1910, the snowiest May on record was most likely in 1979 when 342 weather observation sites reported snow on 2 May.
On the 18th of February 1978, it started snowing. heavily. The blizzard turned out to be one of the. biggest of the century and the worst for 15 years at the.
The summer and autumn of 1975 were very dry, and the winter of 1975–76 was exceptionally dry, as was the spring of 1976; indeed, some months during this period had no rain at all in some areas. The drought was at its most severe in August 1976 and in response Parliament passed the Drought Act 1976 to ration water.
LONDON, Aug. 8 -- Despite temperatures of around 70 F (21 C), the English city of Sheffield was blanketed with six inches (15 cm) of snow during a freak August storm Wednesday morning, according to Britain's popular tabloid press.
It was, in fact, not all that long ago - on June 2, 1975. It was the first time in almost 100 years that snow had reached so far south at that time of year. The last recording before then was 1888.
Serious snowfall in the winter of 1947. Thousands of people were cut off for days by snowdrifts up to seven metres deep during the winter of 1947, which saw exceptional snowfall. Supplies had to be flown in by helicopter to many villages, and the armed forces were called in to help clear roads and railways.
The weather can also catch people out in the spring months. A day that tempts people down to shorts and a tee-shirt can very easily change to blizzard conditions or be freezing cold on the tops due to strong wind. Substantial falls of snow can happen right up until May, and sometimes into June and July.
While the chance of wintry weather does tend to decrease as April goes on, there have been significant April snow events in the past. In 1981, the end of the month was blasted with 20-30 cm of snow widely across England, even as far south as Gloucestershire . The chance of some snow showers in the north to end April.
On 26 April 1981 heavy snowfall covered much of England and Wales. Okehampton, in Devon, recorded 25cm of snow, and blizzard conditions disrupted electricity supplies, roads and railways. Snow can appear later in spring and right into summer, though usually more as a short-lived curiosity than anything more serious.
One of the greatest storms of all time hit the west of England on 9th March 1891, bringing with it severe gales, heavy snow and freezing temperatures. Sheep and cattle died in the fierce chill; indeed virtually a whole generation of sheep were wiped out…
The −0.1 °C (31.8 °F) average for both January and February has not even been equaled by another two-month period since. Overall, the winter of 1979 was the twenty-eighth coldest ever, but the third coldest of the 20th century.
September saw snow in Dartmoor! A snowy period. 1920-23 were little or average. 1ft of snow fell in Plymouth and Southern England saw 6inches+ widespread.
1934 Mild and dull, but turning cold at the end of the month. Snow is rare in October, but there were snow showers in the Midlands on the 31st. 5 cms at Belvoir Castle in Leics., and a light covering in parts of the Chilterns. This is the last time there was snow lying in southern England in October.
Snowfall is not uncommon in some Southern African countries. Johannesburg, a major city in Gauteng province situated in Southeastern Africa, has experienced intermittent snowfall over the years. Meanwhile, the Drakensberg Mountain range in South Africa receives enough snow for skiing during winter.
