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The Winter of 2010-2011
A case of early start and early finish: Winter is defined as Dec-Feb:
- Even though January temperatures were near average, and in February were above, the UK mean temperature for winter overall was still 1.3 oC below average.
- The most negative anomalies were across central Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Throughout the UK, winter 2010/11 was less cold overall than winter 2009/10 - but it was colder than winter 2008/09.
November 2010
- Mild start: very cold end.
- Winter began in earnest from the 24th November as North East winds developed across the UK.
- Heavy snow on each day from 24th-30th -mainly in the East and North East.
- Snow 30-40cm Invernesshire, Perthshire and Northumberland.
- -18 C on 28th in Wales Llysdinan (Breconshire).
- Coldest November since 1993.
December 2010
- Exceptionally cold until 9th and from 16th-27th
- Frequent and sometimes heavy snow.
- 2nd accumulated snow depth in Copley (co Durham) 40cm.
- Coldest Altnaharra Scotland -21.1C.
- Central England - coldest December since 1890.
- Temperatures over the UK were 3 to 6C below the average for December.
- Outer Hebrides least cold.
January 2011
- Less cold: unsettled for first 15 days.
- Temperatures normal or slightly below 1971-2000 average.
- Significant snow on high ground in Scotland.
February 2011
- Wet, mild and dull with infrequent frost.
- Notable absence of snow.
March 2011 (not winter meteorologically)
- Very dry - frequent warm days but cold nights.
- Nights colder than February in some parts.
Crown Copyright (2011), the Met Office. Weather facts and figures provided by and reproduced with kind permission of the Met Office.
