This cold spell began with high pressure in the mid atlantic retrogressing to greenland in the last week of April. An initially weak polar trough meanwhile deepened rapidally and plunged south as high pressure repositioned itsself over southern greenland. The very active cold front crossed the UK on the 29th of April driving cold arctic air towards the UK. Parts of north west scotland saw a drop in 850hpa temps of more than 15C in the space of 24 hours. The cold front cleared quickly to the south on the 30th and snow showers fell widely over scotland, this heralded a remakrably cold start of may. 

The metoffice also reports in their 1979 report that there was snow in the UK on all of the first nine days, these were in the form of showers in a northerly airstream which got as far south as the channel islands. The snow apparantely settled to lower levels, and lasted all month on higher parts of N england and scotland. The temperatures were remarkabely cold, and the 4th of may set the record for the coldest may night in the exdalemuir observatory at -7.1C, the month as a whole came out as significantly below average despite conditions warming up later.

The 4th of May produces the most remarkable chart:

  

with the -10 850hpa isotherm reaching the coast of N scotland, and the -5 850hpa isotherm across the entire country. The longevity (10 days!) and severity of the cold spell couple to make this a truly unique event; and perhaps not a welcome one given it came of the back of an extremely cold winter in its own right.

Note that this May broke the record for lowest maximun in the UK ever recorded (1st in Knockanrock at 1.6C), 

Sources:

http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/how-often-does-it-snow-in-may/

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/l/3/May1979.pdf

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten/fsreaeur.html

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/extremes/monthly_temperature_country.html

 

I can't find much media coverage on this remarkable week though, I would appreciate it if anyone has anything. 

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How much fleece would you have needed to protect your veg??


Cheers, Kevin! Great read.

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I remember this one well, I was living in Birmingham at the time and on the evening of the 2nd heavy snow fell for 3 hours reaching a depth of 5cms which following a sharp frost completely covered the ground the following morning.

It was a real Christmas Card scene on the morning of the 3rd although the snow melted quickly in the sunshine.

A friend of mine got married in penrith on the 5th and he has told me many times how the wedding was disrupted by heavy snow in the afternoon preventing some guests reaching the church.

Media interest was low for this very unusual month, coming after such a snowy winter and a spring devoid of warmth it was just another wintry spell and don't forget the most important general election of the 20th century was held on the 6th and Maggie Thatcher swept to power, that was the overwhelming story of the day. The rest as they say is history.

Andy

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I recall snow laying in these parts in early May 1979 and that the election was held in cold showery unpleasant conditions as an ill wind blew cold and discomfort across Britain that lasted 18 years.

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These articles appeared in the Telegraph at the time. As was mentioned the weather took second place to the election of Maggie at the start of May and an end to the era of beer and sandwiches with James at No 10

I was in Sutton S London at that time and remember voting and it being cold but I don't think the snow go that far south

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In early May 79 (3rd?) woke to 3" of snow in Yeadon West Yorks! This followed a snowy winter there! snow blanketed trees in leaf!

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It had been a very long and severe winter so this was quite a blow and very difficult finding enough feed for livestock.

We managed to source some straw and that was literally all that was available as grass simply had not started to grow to any extent.
A strange effect on several days there would be heavy snow showers but between them the sun felt hot and clouds of steam would rise up from the fields.

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