December 1950 was the coldest December since 1890 with a CET of 1.2 but it seems to be largely forgotten these days.

During the month, there were a number of snowfalls and here's a few articles from the Times for that month.
5th of December




It was a pretty snowy month for Manchester, 15cm of snow fell on the 4th December, another 18cm on the 14th and a further 15cm on the 30th.
Manchester
Mean Max: 3.2
Mean Min: -2.6

London Heathrow
Mean Max: 3.7
Mean Min: -0.6
Air frosts: 17
Days with falling sleet/snow: 13

Snow depths for 4th December
Dalwhinnie: 50cm
Houghall: 25cm
Shawbury: 15cm
On the 14th,15th and 16th snow depths include
Shanklin: 37cm
Weymouth 30cm
Ventnor: 28cm
Scarborough: 38cm
Minima for that period 13th-15th December.
Dalwhinnie: -18.3C
Glenlivet: -15C
Manchester: -13C

Snow depths for the 30th
Southport: 23cm
Liverpool: 15cm


From the 15th of December edition and a possible polar low




From the 30th December edition

---

Thanks Kevin.

1950 was the analogue I used in 2010 to forecast a cold December - Of course I didnt get the extremity of the cold right (nobody did) but it always looked a close match to 1950 and I certainly wasn't surprised that we had a cold month.

---

Sounds like a great winter month - and the snow looks to have been shared around the country, rather than concentrated in one area

---

Sounds like a great winter month - and the snow looks to have been shared around the country, rather than concentrated in one area

Ah yes, in the pre-Thatcher era, when even the weather was egalitarian

I love these historical snapshots

---

Good stuff Kev

---

The snow in Manchester & Southport would have been impressive here, never mind in those lowland/coastal locations. The rest of the winter seems to have been pretty average though for temperature, by the standards of the day at least. Perhaps that is why Dec 1950 appears to have been forgotten, a 'rouge' month in an otherwise unremarkable winter.

I can imagine there were fears of another 1947 though.....

---

Thanks kev. Your post's always make a good read.

Thanks kevin.

I'm one for believing in coincidences and flukes in the weather...it's as accurate as any scientific forecast for the UK

Dec 1890... VV severe. + 60 years...1950 severe...+31 yrs 1981 V severe....+29 yrs 2010 VV Severe...

30 year trend for a mega December. What was Dec 1920 like?

Roll on Dec 2040

 

 

Thanks kevin.

I'm one for believing in coincidences and flukes in the weather...it's as accurate as any scientific forecast for the UK

Dec 1890... VV severe. + 60 years...1950 severe...+31 yrs 1981 V severe....+29 yrs 2010 VV Severe...

30 year trend for a mega December. What was Dec 1920 like?

Roll on Dec 2040

 

 

Try a 16 year cycle....... give or take a year either way

1947, 1963, 1979, 1995, 2010......2026/27...

just a thought of course...🙄

---

The snow in Manchester & Southport would have been impressive here, never mind in those lowland/coastal locations. The rest of the winter seems to have been pretty average though for temperature, by the standards of the day at least. Perhaps that is why Dec 1950 appears to have been forgotten, a 'rouge' month in an otherwise unremarkable winter.

I can imagine there were fears of another 1947 though.....

It wasn't an unremarkable winter for high ground. A lot of polar maritime air meant frequent snow for them, it was a cold spring as well. December 1950 to May 1951 was cold. I imagine some places such as Buxton having long periods of lying snow.

---