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A Winter's Tale

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  1. With the meteorological winter coming to end I’ve been thinking about my favourite and least favourite winters of the first quarter of the 21st Century. My memory of winner weather goes back to 1999/00 though it’s fairly patchy up to 2004/05. When it comes to ranking winters I consider the quality of highlights (largest snowfall, lowest temperatures, longest duration of low temperatures and snow cover, coldest month), the winter as a whole (total number and distribution of days with falling/lying snow, low temperatures and the overall mean temperature) and in the absence of seasonal winter weather I also consider sunshine, variety, interesting weather events such as storms and very mild temperatures. I’ve included cold and snowy weather outside the meteorological winter. Starting in November 2010 I’ve been keeping records of snowfalls and depths. Snow depth data for nearby stations has been helpful for winters before 2010/11 - especially the early 00s. 2009/10 - The coldest winter I’ve experienced with cold weather throughout and lasting into Spring. The cold spell of mid Dec-mid Han was very notable and snow lay on the ground for more than 20 days (the longest duration I’ve experienced) after a decent fall on 20 Dec. There was a white (and sunny) Christmas and some very low temperatures at times. The second half of winter wasn’t as eventful but remained cold with some snow (which settled at times). Snow patches lasted on Campsie Fells until early May (thanks to snow in late Mar) and the final snowfall on May 10th (latest date I’ve seen snow) ended a remarkable season. 2010/2011 - Very cold and snowy thanks to the historic period of winter weather of late November and December 2010. This rank a the most exceptional period of weather I’ve experienced (26 Nov-8 Dec probably my favourite spell of weather). There were a couple of significant snowfalls (28 Nov and 6 Dec) with accumulations up to 25cm. Early December saw the lowest temperatures I’ve experienced while late December saw a remarkable spell of very low temperatures. There was a white Christmas before the cold conditions ended. The rest of the winter was more ordinary but there were some further snowfalls which settled and January was a seasonal month. 2018/19 - Cold and snowy with episodes of cold and wintry weather from late November to early April. I recorded six 2 inch + snowfalls (occurring in Dec, Jan x2, Feb, Mar) which is the highest I’ve recorded for a winter. There was a surprise last minute white Christmas and a decent snowy period after mid Jan. The highlight was the Beast from the East 28 Feb/1 Mar with the highest snow depth I’ve recorded (26cm). Combined with low temperatures, wind chill and drifting this ranks as one of the most exceptional weather events I’ve experienced. There was another snowy easterly later in March. 2000/01 - Cold with generally cold conditions from late December into March. Notable cold spell late December with White Christmas, significant snowfall on 27th (around 25cm) and some very low temperatures. Some snow and low temperatures late Feb/early Mar. 2020/21 - Cold with generally cold conditions late December to mid February. Memorable cold spell early February with decent snowfall and some low temperatures (accompanied with sunshine). 2014/15 - Average temperatures, the highlight was mid Jan-early Feb with up to 20 days of lying snow as a result of two decent snowfalls. 2012/13 - Cold with episodes of cold weather throughout from late October lasting well into Spring. Early snow on October 26 (earliest I’ve recorded) , cold late Nov-early Dec, prolonged cold spell in January with not a lot of accumulating snow, some decent falls early Feb, fine settled conditions late Feb. Notable prolonged cold March 2013 with snow falling in many days and the latest dates I’ve recorded lying snow (28 Mar). 2008/09 - Quite cold with on and off periods of cold weather from late October. Some cold late Nov/early Dec, settled cold conditions late Dec/early Jan. The highlight was the noteworthy cold spell in early February which produced a couple of decent snowfalls. 2005/06 - Average winter with not a lot of snow. Snow late November, cold Christmas and early March with the highlight of season being the significant snowfall on March 12th (around 20cm). 2001/02 - Average, quite cold December, rest of the winter was milder with some days with settling snow. 2004/05 - Mild though there was a White Christmas, decent snowfall on Jan and some settling snow in late Feb/early March. 1999/00 - Quite cold and snowy December, the rest of the winter was mild with not much snow. 2022/23 - Average despite some notable cold weather in December. Little snow other than a decent fall in December. Snow less second half of winter, some snow in March. 2011/12 - Milder than average, unsettled with a couple of notable storms. Couple of decent falls in December. 2002/03 - Average with some snow in early Feb. 2023/2024 - Mild, unsettled and stormy at times. Very little snow despite two decent falls in December. 2021/22 - Mild, quiet December and January and very little snow other than a couple of a decent falls. 2015/16 - Mild and very wet with little snow. A decent fall of snow in mid January and some wintry weather in April. 2018/19 - Mild and quiet with little snow. Some notable mild weather in February. 2019/20 - Mild with little snow, very wet - especially February. Snow on May 10th joint latest I’ve experienced. 2003/04 - I can’t remember much about this winter - it appears there wasn’t much worth remembering in terms of snow. 2007/08 - Mild with little snow. Some mild sunshine in February, cold conditions in Spring at times. 2006/07 - Very Mild with some stormy conditions and not much snow. 2016/17 - Very Mild and uneventful with little snow. November was cold and a snowfall on the 8th saw the earliest snow cover I’ve recorded. 2013/14 - Mild and very wet and stormy. Not a lot of snow and very little in the way of snow cover other than a couple of brief dustings.
  2. The readings for December 2022 but I’m suspicious of that particular station due to readings from May and October earlier that year. There are some other readings I obtained from Starlings Roost Weather which may not be 100% accurate but I’ve included as date records. One example is the maximum of -0.5C at Braemar on October 31st. According to the Met office the official lowest October daily maximum is 0.4C at Glenmore Lodge on the 17th October 1973. There are some other remarkable temperatures which appear to be valid. A maximum of -11.1C on the 14th November 1919 at Braemar is quite extraordinary. -13.9C on Christmas Eve 1860 at Glasgow is another.
  3. For January 2024 it appears some weather stations set new records for low temperatures aswell as record highs. Record low maximum: Baltasound 0.1C 16th Jan Islay 1.8C 17th Jan Record low minimum: South Uist -5.0C 18th Jan Harris -5.2C 17th Jan Cairnwell -10.0C 17th Jan Baltasound -10.4C 20th Jan Achnagart -10.9C 18th Jan Record high maximum: Achfary 19.9C 28th Jan Kinlochewe 19.6C 28th Jan Achnagart 17.5C 28th Jan Cassley 17.5C 28th Jan Loch Glascarnoch 17.4C 28th Jan Altnaharra 16.9C 28th Jan Aultbea 16.5C 28th Jan Prestwick, Gannet 14.1C 23rd Jan Threave 12.6C 23rd Jan
  4. Scotland low daily maximum extremes: 1 Jan -6.1 Braemar 1928 2 Jan -6.1 Braemar 1861 3 Jan -6.1 Braemar 1941 4 Jan -10.8 Braemar 1861 5 Jan -10.0 Edinburgh Royal Botanic 1941 6 Jan -10.0 Dall Rannoch School 1982 7 Jan -11.0 Dall Rannoch School 1982 8 Jan -10.0 Lagganila 1982 9 Jan -11.5 Grantown-on-Spey 1982 10 Jan -13.0 West Linton 1982 11 Jan -9.6 Bowhill 1982 12 Jan -11.7 Braemar 1963 13 Jan -8.9 Grantown-on-Spey 1979 14 Jan -6.1 Balmoral 1918, 1955, Kinlochewe 1955 15 Jan -6.6 Braemar 1955 16 Jan -5.0 Balmoral 1940 17 Jan -10.6 Braemar 1963 18 Jan -4.1 Braemar 1881 19 Jan -4.7 Braemar 2015 20 Jan -9.5 Perth Aerodrome 1984 21 Jan -6.1 Achnashellach 1940 22 Jan -6.1 Paisley 1940 23 Jan -6.7 Dumfries 1958 24 Jan -6.6 Braemar 1958, Keith 1984 25 Jan -8.9 Keith 1984 26 Jan -8.8 Braemar 1945 27 Jan -4.0 Dalwhinnie 1979 28 Jan -3.9 Braemar 1895 29 Jan -4.4 Stanhope Farm 1965 30 Jan -3.6 Braemar, Galashiels 1972 31 Jan -5.5 Dalwhinnie 2006 1 Feb -5.6 Balmoral 1956 2 Feb -5.5 Fettercairn 1956 3 Feb -4.6 Lairg 1980 4 Feb -6.1 Braemar 1912 5 Feb -4.5 Cassley 1979 6 Feb -3.3 Achany 1979 7 Feb -6.7 Braemar 1895 8 Feb -9.6 Braemar 1895 9 Feb -10.0 Braemar 1895 10 Feb -8.3 Braemar 1895 11 Feb -4.4 Achentoul 1970 12 Feb -5.7 Braemar 1895 13 Feb -7.1 Braemar 1860 14 Feb -5.9 Clashnoir 1979 15 Feb -9.0 Braemar 1978 16 Feb -6.7 Achentoul 1969 17 Feb -7.8 Inverurie 1969 18 Feb -6.7 Cannich 1960 19 Feb -4.5 Fyvie Castle 1978 20 Feb -3.3 Balmoral 1955, Braemar 1892, 1955 21 Feb -2.8 Fort Augustus 1955 22 Feb -6.1 Braemar 1955 23 Feb -7.7 Braemar 1955 24 Feb -3.3 Pitlochry 1963 25 Feb -2.8 Balmoral 1929 26 Feb -4.8 Keith 1986 27 Feb -4.3 Braemar 1986 28 Feb -4.9 Braemar 2018 29 Feb -0.6 Balmoral 1924 1 Mar -3.9 Corgarff Castle 2001 2 Mar -4.6 Cassley 2001 3 Mar -2.4 Glenmore Lodge 1962 4 Mar -1.7 Braemar 1862 5 Mar -1.6 Braemar, North Berwick 1942 6 Mar -3.3 Balmoral 1942 7 Mar -3.6 Braemar 1858 8 Mar -3.8 Braemar 1917 9 Mar -3.3 Braemar 1958 10 Mar -1.7 Stornoway 1874 11 Mar -2.2 Braemar 1958 12 Mar -2.2 Braemar 1937 13 Mar -1.7 Corgarff Castle, Dalwhinnie 1996, Fealar Lodge 1988 14 Mar -1.6 Braemar 1958 15 Mar -2.5 Braemar 1888 16 Mar -1.9 Braemar 1888 17 Mar -1.2 Braemar 1979, Kindrogan 2018 18 Mar -2.5 Clashnoir 1979 19 Mar -0.6 Balmoral 1930, Braemar 1867, 2013, Blythe, Camps Reservoir 1980 20 Mar -1.6 Glenmore Lodge 1980 21 Mar -2.4 Leadhills 1980 22 Mar -2.7 Braemar 1899 23 Mar -1.6 Braemar 2013 24 Mar -1.0 Leadhills 2013 25 Mar -0.8 Leadhills 2013 26 Mar -1.0 Braemar 1868, 1901 27 Mar -1.9 Braemar 1901 28 Mar -2.2 Braemar 1919 29 Mar -0.5 Knockanrock 1985 30 Mar -0.2 Braemar 1859 31 Mar -0.7 Glenmore Lodge 1970 1 Apr -1.1 Braemar 1917 2 Apr -0.5 Corgarff Castle 2000 3 Apr -0.6 Fealar Lodge 1990 4 Apr 0.5 Braemar 1958 5 Apr 1.0 Loch Glascarnoch 2021 6 Apr 0.0 Knockanrock 1968 7 Apr 0.8 Clashnoir 1977 8 Apr -1.0 Dalwhinnie 1975 9 Apr 0.1 Knockanrock 1975 10 Apr -0.5 Clashnoir, Dalwhinnie 1978 11 Apr 1.1 Braemar 1966 12 Apr 1.0 Dalwhinnie 1996 13 Apr 0.6 Corgarff Castle 1998 14 Apr 1.0 Corgarff Castle 1998 15 Apr 1.1 Balmoral, Gleneagles, Fettercairn, Cambs Reservoir 1966 16 Apr 0.2 Leadhills 1986 17 Apr 1.7 Balmoral 1928 18 Apr 0.8 Braemar 1859 19 Apr 0.9 Fealar Lodge 1991 20 Apr 1.7 Lerwick 1951 21 Apr 3.2 Braemar 1905 22 Apr 1.9 Baltasound 1981 23 Apr 1.1 Stornoway 1908 24 Apr 0.0 Edinburgh Blackford Hill 1908, Leadhills 1981 25 Apr 2.2 Baltasound 1985 26 Apr 1.6 Knockanrock 1989 27 Apr 0.0 Braemar 1919 28 Apr 1.1 Braemar, Balmoral 1929, Baltasound 1927 29 Apr 0.0 Balmoral 1945 30 Apr 1.5 Grantown-on-Spey 1973 1 May 1.6 Knockanrock 1979 2 May 2.0 Dalwhinnie 1982 3 May 2.4 Knockanrock 1979 4 May 2.2 Braemar 1947 5 May 3.5 Tomatin 1982 6 May 3.1 Cambs Reservoir 1982 7 May 2.7 Braemar 1924 8 May 1.6 Braemar 1917 9 May 2.2 Braemar 1917 10 May 3.3 Braemar 1917 11 May 2.7 Braemar 1923 12 May 3.9 Balmoral 1923 13 May 3.5 Whitehillocks 1993 14 May 2.6 Eskdalemuir 1993 15 May 3.3 Balmoral, Braemar 1923 16 May 2.2 Craibstone 1935 17 May 3.9 Balmoral 1935 18 May 5.0 Corgarff Castle, Boultenstone 1996 19 May 4.3 Braemar 1894 20 May 5.4 Braemar 1894 21 May 6.0 Corgarff Castle 1997 22 May 5.9 Braemar 1899 23 May 4.6 Braemar 1899 24 May 5.1 Braemar 1899 25 May 5.0 Balmoral 1923 26 May 5.0 St Kilda 1985 27 May 5.4 Tomatin 1980 28 May 5.7 Tomatin 1983 29 May 6.2 Corgarff Castle 1999 30 May 5.5 Lerwick 1962 31 May 4.9 Braemar 1902 1 Jun 5.4 Knockanrock 1975 2 Jun 5.1 Nunraw Abbey 1975 3 Jun 5.2 Braemar 1888 4 Jun 5.8 Corgarff Castle 2000 5 Jun 7.2 Balmoral 1935 6 Jun 5.7 Dalwhinnie 1977 7 Jun 7.4 Clashnoir 1977 8 Jun 7.8 Cape Wrath 1987 9 Jun 7.2 Balmoral 1958 10 Jun 6.3 Clashnoir 1977 11 Jun 5.9 Tomatin 1977 12 Jun 7.0 Braemar 1882 13 Jun 7.7 Braemar 1928, 1942 14 Jun 7.8 Lerwick 1952 15 Jun 6.5 Corgarff Castle 1994 16 Jun 7.7 Braemar 1923 17 Jun 7.8 Braemar 1903 18 Jun 8.8 Loch Glascarnoch 2015 19 Jun 7.9 Balmoral 2004 20 Jun 8.6 Leadhills 1980 21 Jun 8.5 Balmoral 1982, Knockanrock 1996, St Kilda 1984 22 Jun 8.3 Braemar 1934 23 Jun 8.3 Balmoral 1926 24 Jun 8.9 Baltasound 1918 25 Jun 7.7 Corgarff Castle 1997 26 Jun 8.5 Fair Isle 1979 27 Jun 8.3 Tomatin 1997 28 Jun 8.9 Baltasound 1989 29 Jun 7.7 Braemar 1919 30 Jun 8.0 Tomatin 1980 1 Jul 9.1 Braemar 1997 2 Jul 9.3 Braemar 1997 3 Jul 9.0 Glenmore Lodge 1978 4 Jul 8.5 Clashnoir, Tomatin 1978 5 Jul 7.5 Clashnoir 1978 6 Jul 8.7 Glenmore Lodge 1978 7 Jul 8.5 Lerwick 1978 8 Jul 8.9 Balmoral 1948 9 Jul 8.6 Loch Glascarnoch 1993 10 Jul 8.7 Loch Glascarnoch 1993 11 Jul 9.4 Cape Wrath 1978 12 Jul 9.3 Braemar 1998 13 Jul 9.4 Blyth Bridge 1965 14 Jul 8.9 Balmoral 1968 15 Jul 10.0 Cape Wrath 1962, Lerwick 1952 16 Jul 10.0 Cape Wrath 1957 17 Jul 10.3 Braemar 1903 18 Jul 9.5 Cape Wrath 1979 19 Jul 10.0 Cape Wrath 1979 20 Jul 9.6 Clashnoir 1978 21 Jul 10.1 Leadhills 1979 22 Jul 9.9 West Linton 1971 23 Jul 8.9 Balmoral 1971, Braemar 1867 24 Jul 9.6 Lerwick 1979 25 Jul 9.9 Braemar 1867, Fealar Lodge 1988 26 Jul 9.6 Braemar 1902 27 Jul 10.0 Balmoral, Braemar 1928 28 Jul 7.8 Balmoral 1965 29 Jul 8.0 Glenmore Lodge 1965 30 Jul 9.6 Braemar 1866 31 Jul 8.3 Glenlivet 1965 1 Aug 10.3 Eskdalemuir 1912 2 Aug 10.0 Baltasound 1964, Blackford Hill Edinburgh 1912 3 Aug 10.0 Lerwick 1956 4 Aug 9.7 Knockanrock 1977 5 Aug 10.4 Braemar 1902 6 Aug 9.4 Balmoral 1945 7 Aug 10.2 Braemar 1902 8 Aug 9.3 Braemar 1892 9 Aug 9.4 Corgarff Castle 1999 10 Aug 9.4 Braemar 1943 11 Aug 10.0 Braemar 1904 12 Aug 10.5 Braemar 1948, 1951 13 Aug 8.9 Braemar 1912 14 Aug 10.3 Braemar 1888 15 Aug 9.4 Braemar 1962, Balmoral 1964 16 Aug 9.0 Glenmore Lodge 1962 17 Aug 9.4 Stenness 1964 18 Aug 8.9 Lerwick 1964 19 Aug 10.0 Cape Wrath 1964 20 Aug 9.8 Braemar 1877 21 Aug 9.1 Braemar 1903 22 Aug 9.1 Ballater 1993 23 Aug 9.9 Lewick 1980 24 Aug 9.4 Balmoral 1923 25 Aug 9.4 Leadhills 1956 26 Aug 9.4 Stornoway 1919 27 Aug 10.1 Fair Isle, Lerwick 1979 28 Aug 9.1 Cromdale 2011 29 Aug 9.4 Grantown-on-Spey, Tomatin 1986 30 Aug 9.5 Clashnoir 1978 31 Aug 8.5 Braemar 1881 1 Sep 8.8 Braemar 1915 2 Sep 5.8 Braemar 1860 3 Sep 9.4 Braemar 1956, Tomatin 1984 4 Sep 7.7 Braemar 1925 5 Sep 7.5 Balmoral 1982 6 Sep 8.3 Lerwick 1983 7 Sep 8.2 Gartly 1985 8 Sep 8.3 Baltasound 1964, Glenmore Lodge 1965 9 Sep 6.8 Leadhills 1976 10 Sep 8.0 Glenmore Lodge 1976 11 Sep 7.5 Tomatin 1983 12 Sep 8.6 Braemar 1876, 1887, 1903, Tomatin 1983 13 Sep 7.2 Braemar 1913 14 Sep 7.8 Balmoral 1918 15 Sep 6.6 Braemar 1918 16 Sep 6.1 Balmoral 1918 17 Sep 6.7 Stornoway 1922 18 Sep 6.6 Braemar 1952 19 Sep 6.3 Fealar Lodge 1990 20 Sep 7.7 Kirkwall 1990 21 Sep 4.6 Glenmore Lodge 1979 22 Sep 5.6 Balmoral 1927 23 Sep 6.1 Braemar 1893 24 Sep 7.1 Braemar 1893, Leadhills 1990 25 Sep 6.5 Leadhills 1974 26 Sep 5.5 Strathdearn Dalarossie 2007 27 Sep 5.4 Glenmore Lodge, Leadhills 1975 28 Sep 6.1 Braemar 1974 29 Sep 4.4 Braemar 1915 30 Sep 6.1 Balmoral 1954 1 Oct 5.1 Braemar 1888 2 Oct 5.3 Braemar 1888 3 Oct 4.7 Loch Glascarnoch 1994 4 Oct 4.7 Gordon Castle 1888 5 Oct 4.3 Braemar 1888 6 Oct 3.1 Braemar 1888 7 Oct 2.8 Marchmont 1917 8 Oct 4.6 Knockanrock 1987 9 Oct 4.7 Fealar Lodge 1987 10 Oct 2.1 Braemar 1860 11 Oct 2.2 Braemar 1860 12 Oct 2.7 Braemar 1860 13 Oct 3.8 Braemar 1932 14 Oct 2.9 Braemar 1900 15 Oct 2.0 Knockanrock 1993 16 Oct 2.9 Carterhouse 1992 17 Oct 0.4 Glenmore Lodge 1973 18 Oct 2.0 Glenmore Lodge 1973 19 Oct 1.7 Stornoway 1880 20 Oct 1.6 Glenmore Lodge 1970 21 Oct -0.2 Braemar 1859 22 Oct 0.9 Braemar 1859 23 Oct 1.4 Glenmore Lodge 1964 24 Oct 1.1 Braemar 1931 25 Oct 1.7 Balmoral 1949 26 Oct 1.7 Wick 1948 27 Oct 1.1 Braemar 1890 28 Oct 1.4 Braemar 1865 29 Oct 1.1 Balmoral 1931 30 Oct 1.4 Auchen Castle 1992 31 Oct -0.5 Braemar 1859 1 Nov 0.5 Braemar 1930 2 Nov 1.6 Braemar 1922 3 Nov -2.2 Braemar 1860 4 Nov -0.6 Braemar 1968 5 Nov 1.0 Braemar 1878 6 Nov 0.1 Dalwhinnie 1984 7 Nov 0.0 Balmoral 1921, 1927 8 Nov 0.0 Braemar 1927 9 Nov -1.1 Dunning 1964 10 Nov -1.1 Balmoral 1966 11 Nov -1.1 Braemar 1919 12 Nov -1.1 Braemar 1919 13 Nov -1.1 Braemar 1919 14 Nov -11.1 Braemar 1919 15 Nov -1.4 Gordon Castle 1919 16 Nov -1.1 Braemar 1955 17 Nov -2.2 Fort Augustus 1947 18 Nov -3.3 Paisley 1915 19 Nov -2.2 Glasgow 1862 20 Nov -3.3 Lauder 1962 21 Nov -2.2 Glentress 1962 22 Nov -4.2 Kindrogan 1993 23 Nov -5.3 Aviemore 1993 24 Nov -4.3 Dingwall, Kiltarlity 1993 25 Nov -5.5 Braemar 1952 26 Nov -2.8 Glenmore Lodge 1973 27 Nov -4.0 Braemar 1890 28 Nov -5.6 Leadhills 1969 29 Nov -11.1 Braemar 1912 30 Nov -6.7 Altnaharra 2010 1 Dec -11.5 Altnaharra 2010 2 Dec -7.1 Cassley 2010 3 Dec -6.5 Fyvie Castle 2010 4 Dec -2.6 Braemar 1879 5 Dec -4.6 Cromdale 2016 6 Dec -5.0 Braemar 1913 7 Dec -8.9 Tyndrum 2010 8 Dec -7.5 Carlisle 2010 9 Dec -5.3 Stanhope Farm 1981 10 Dec -4.5 Dall Rannoch School 1981 11 Dec -5.2 Abbotsinch 1981 12 Dec -10.1 Penicuik 2022 13 Dec -5.9 Floors Castle 2022 14 Dec -6.5 Tummel Bridge 1989 15 Dec -6.5 Keith 1981 16 Dec -11.2 Braemar 1981 17 Dec -10.5 West Linton 1981 18 Dec -8.9 Braemar 1859 19 Dec -4.7 Gordon Castle 1886 20 Dec -7.3 Threave 2010 21 Dec -13.8 Altnaharra 2010 22 Dec -13.6 Altnaharra 2010 23 Dec -6.1 Tyndrum 2010 24 Dec -13.9 Glasgow 1860 25 Dec -12.8 Glasgow 1860 26 Dec -10.8 Tomatin 1995 27 Dec -13.3 Braemar 1995 28 Dec -13.0 Balmoral 1995 29 Dec -15.9 Fyvie Castle 1995 30 Dec -8.8 Strathconon 1978 31 Dec -7.4 Kindrogan 1978 I omitted some date records which didn’t seem plausible or were recorded at a station (such as Dawyck Botanic Gardens) with questionable readings. The date records omitted include: 25 May 4.7* Dawyck Botanic Garden 2022 5 Jul 7.0* Faskally 2023 11 Jul 8.9* Faskally 2023 5 Oct 3.1* Durris 2022 18 Oct 1.8* Dawyck Botanic Garden 2022 7 Dec -11.4* Dawyck Botanic Garden 2010 13 Dec -6.0* Dawyck Botanic Garden 2022 14 Dec -8.6* Dawyck Botanic Garden 2022 I’ve excluded mountain stations such as Cairngorm Summit. I am not 100% certain about the accuracy of all the date records but I’m confident the majority are valid.
  5. March 2006 was memorable for a remarkable snowfall on the 12th which was one of the largest snowfalls I’ve experienced. I didn’t get to measure it however at Bishopton the depth was 22cm - the highest snow depth in the Glasgow area since Dec 2000. The snow cover didn’t last long as milder Atlantic air arrived. The month as a whole was pretty cold - especially the first half. I don’t have too many memories of Mar 2010 though I remember experiencing thundersnow for the first when driving near Fintry where a lot of snow had fallen at the end of the month. I can remember snow cover lasting into April on the Campsie Fells after a long, cold winter. March 2012 was a very mild and dry month with an exceptional spell of early warmth around the 25th-28th with 20C recorded at Glasgow airport on the 26th and 27th. March 2013 was a truly extraordinary month. The only days when maxima exceeded 10C were the first two days which was the last of a very fine settled spell at the end of February. Around a third of the way from the month it turned colder with snow showers arriving from the east and a depth of 2cm on the 10th. A very low temperature of -8C was recorded at Glasgow airport on 12th. This was followed by 16 consecutive days of maxima no higher than 6C from the 16th to 31st. A maximum of 1C on the 23rd was the coldest since 1980. It was a very snow period was snow falling on 13 out of 14 days from the 17th-30th. Despite this there was snow cover on only 5 days in that period with depths no greater than inch (which melted after sunrise). An inch of snow on the morning of the 28th remains the latest date I’ve recorded lying snow. The overall mean temperature at Glasgow airport was 2.6C (0.9C lower than the second coldest since 1973). With most of the cold weather occurring after mid month it was a reminder of how winter can make its presence felt so late in the season. I quite liked March 2015 which was quite mixed with some sunshine, showers and was quite chilly at times. On the 3rd snow showers from the west brought 4cm. 2018 is best remembered for the Beast from the east. Most of the snow fell on the 28th Feb but the depth on the morning of 1st March was 26cm - the highest depth I recorded since I started in 2010. December 2010 was the last time I recorded a similar depth. 26cm is possibly an underestimate and Bishopton recorded 46cm. The snow was very powdery and the drifts were the most impressive I’ve experienced here. The maximum temperature on the 1st was 0C at Glasgow airport - the coldest for March in over 50 years of records. Despite the low temperatures the snow melted in the sunlight which resulted in icicles. It took around a day for traffic to return on some of the main roads. The first few days were quite cloudy with some light snow in the easterly wind. The first 4 days had maxima no higher than 2c and by the 4th the depth was 17cm - the 5th day with a depth of at least 6 inches. The snow cover was largely gone by the 6th with the arrival of less cold weather though it remained chilly throughout the rest of the month. I remember some nice spells of chilly and bright early Spring conditions. On the 18th cold and snow from the east returned with a fall of 5cm. This is the latest I’ve recorded a 2 inch snowfall (2017/18 was also the only time I’ve recorded 2 inch falls in December, January, February and March). March 2022 was a very fine month with a lot of sunshine. The nights were quite cold with plenty of frosts and a low of -7C on the 7th. The 19th-28th saw notable maximum temperatures reminiscent of 2012. 17C was recorded on the 19th, 15C+ recorded 22nd to 28th with a high of 19C on the 23rd. It turned colder at the end of the month with some snow.
  6. I don’t have many clear weather memories of February in the 00s which stand out. I have a memory of deep snow cover at my grandparent’s and then being stuck on the M8 when travelling home during what I believe was the snowfall at the end of Feb 2001. I can remember the sunshine in early Feb 2008. While staying a few nights in Oban one day was warm with temperatures of around 15C and we spent the afternoon at the beach. My strongest memory of February weather in the 00s was 2009. It was the first time I had experienced a cold spell which lasted nearly two weeks. The snowfall on the 2nd was the largest since Mar 2006. Sadly it was all gone the following day as forecast of overnight snow ended up as rain. On the 4th a fall of snow brought a dusting. The frontal snowfall on the evening of the 8th was the most significant of the cold spell. I think there was another fall of snow around the 12th. I have vague memories of Feb 2010 being generally cold with some snow at the end of the month. Feb 2013 had a couple of snow falls early in the month. A north westerly brought an inch of the snow and lightning late on the 3rd. A frontal snowfall on the 8th was the largest of the winter with 8cm. The highlight of the month was the second half of the month which was largely calm, settled, dry and sunny. The transition from winter to Spring was very evident with temperates climbing during the day to after frosty nights with minima as low as -7C. Elements of both seasons was evident in terms of the quality of light with a wintry element still present but the stronger sunlight and longer daylight also becoming more clear. There were some fantastic sunsets during this period - a very fine period of late winter weather. The first week of Feb 2015 had around an inch of snow cover following the snowfall at the end of January. This period was quite sunny aswell. There was an impressive sunset across Scotland on the 7th. 2018 is best remembered for the beast from the east. Overall it was a decent winter month with a few snowfalls bringing a covering of snow earlier in the month. It was generally cold and sunny month too. The end of the month was remarkable. The snow really started to get going late on the 27th with an inch by the end of the day. It continued into the 28th and the Met office issued a red warning for heavy snow. By the end of the day the depth was 23cm and another 3cm was added early on 1st March. This depth is the highest I’ve recorded since I started measuring in 2010. Prior to 2010, the only snowfalls this century that rival 2018 were Dec 2000 and Mar 2006. The remarkable thing about 28th February was the maximum temperature at Glasgow airport was -3C. In records going back to 1973 this was coldest maximum temperature during the second half of winter. For it to happen on the final day of winter was extraordinary as well as the heavy snow and strong winds which accompanied the low temperatures. The spectacle of whiteouts, freezing cold powdery snow which drifted, and a bitter wind chill is an experience I’ll never forget. Feb 2021 was a month of two halves. Initially it was quite unpleasant with a lot of wet weather as the weather started to transition to something colder. Snow from the easterly started on the 7th. 6cm fell on the 8th and the depth peaked at 11cm the following day. The following days were cold and sunny. The stronger sun reduced the snow cover somewhat however the period 8-14th February had at least 5cm of snow on the ground at some point. It would be difficult for snow to last so long in sunny conditions after this point in the winter. It was a notably cold period a daily mean of -4.5c on the 11th at Glasgow airport the lowest in available records dating back to 1973. In addition, only two days in the last 50 years have recorded lower maxima (3 days with highs of 0C) and minima (-11C on the 11th). This was a very ideal period of winter weather. If you can’t have a protracted severe cold spell like 2010 or a major snowfall like 2018 then a spell like Feb 2021 is the next best thing: a fall of 10cm, up to a week of 5cm accompanied with sunshine, daytime highs struggling to get above freezing and a sub -10c low. The month as a whole didn’t turn out too cold as the final two weeks were very mild but sunny. It’s difficult to choose one month as my favourite. It’s a choice between 2013, 2018 and 2021.
  7. I can’t think of many Januaries which stand out prior to 2010. 2009 I recall was pretty seasonal - especially the first few days. 2010 was probably the most memorable largely because of the persistent low temperatures and snow cover during the first half of the winter. Most of the snow had fallen on 19 Dec 2009 although there was a top up early on the 5th January. The 8th January was the first very cold day I can remember with a high of -6C and a minimum of -12C at Glasgow airport. I can’t remember exactly when the snow cover disappeared but I remember it was rather sudden and unexpected. The rest of the month was generally cold with some snow. At Glasgow airport it was the coldest January since 1987 with a mean of 1.1C. January 2013 was an immensely frustrating month. The first couple of weeks were mild before it turned colder around mid month. January 2013 remains the last time Glasgow airport had 14 consecutive days of maxima 5C or less. The lowest temperatures were unimpressive with a maxima of 1C and minima of -4C. Snow fell on 9 days but it mostly struggled to settle. There was snow cover on 4 days with a depth no greater than a slushy cm. 2013 was no 2010! 2015 is pretty close to 2010 in terms of my favourite January. Like 2013 the first ten days were largely mild with some stormy weather at times. It started to turn colder with some snow around Jan 10th with a cm of snow late on the 13th. Then on the 16th snow showers from the west brought 6cm of snow. Around 3-5cm of snow stayed on the ground until the 23rd. From the 16th to the 22nd the temperature didn’t exceed 4C at Glasgow airport with 19th-21st the coldest days with highs of 0 to 1C and lows of -5 to -7C. The period was also accompanied with quite a lot of nice mid winter sunshine. Snow returned late on the 28th and I think I saw some lighting flashes that evening. On the morning of the 29th there was a depth of 7cm. Over an inch of snow would remain on the ground until the 4th February with the snow disappearing on the 8th. This period was also pretty sunny. From the 13th Jan to 8th Feb there were 22 days with snow cover at some point, 16 with 2cm+ and 10 with around 5cm. Definitely one of my favourite spells of winter weather. Jan 2018 wasn’t bad either. The first few weeks were quite cold overall. At the beginning of the month it was quite settled a low of -9C on the 8th was the lowest temperature at Glasgow airport since Dec 2010. The period 15-21 Jan was pretty snowy. The 16th was very snowy with 9cm - the highest depth since 2010. Over the following days the snow cover was reduced with depths varying from 3-7cm (depending on where I measured). It was quite frustrating as the wet snow showers often alternated between melting and adding to the existing snow cover. On the 21st the cold spell came to an end with a frontal snowfall. The depth was 10cm after a fresh fall of 5cm. While not as impressive as 2018 there were 7 days with over an inch of lying snow. The remainder of the month was milder and unsettled. January 2021 was the coldest month at Glasgow airport since Dec 2010 with a mean of 1.3C. It also saw the coldest temperature since 2010 with a low of -11C on the 9th. The cold weather at the end of December continued to the 9th Jan. It wasn’t a snowy period but a fall of snow on the 7th brought 4cm. The rest of the month saw more falls of snow but only slight coverings. The period was most notable for the absence of mild days (only 5 days with maxima 7C+).
  8. A temperature of 19.2C has been recorded at Kinlochewe. This is a record winter temperature for Scotland and a record January temperature for the UK.
  9. After last night’s snow showers the snow cover this morning was the most I had during the spell after the dusting from previous falls. It was a nice spell of winter weather with crisp winter sunshine during the day, harsh frosts overnight and a dusting of snow - which is probably the next best type of winter weather after the winter wonderland scenes experienced further north. The pictures from parts of northern Scotland were really fantastic and I take it this cold spell was unusually snowy even by the highland’s standards. The next time there’s a potent northerly I might be tempted to have a weekend away in the highlands to catch the snow!
  10. A lovely winter’s day with Glasgow airport recording a high of 2C after a low of -9C. I suspect if yesterday had delivered in terms of snow sub -10C would have been possible. Yesterday’s snow flattered to deceive after a big build up (a little like this cold spell sine might say) but it wasn’t that surprising as it appeared the precipitation would likely miss the central belt to the south (and if it had stayed further north it probably would have been a snow-rain event anyway). What was more surprising was how the Met office and BBC expected more snow than was likely to happen. It’s fair to say the Met Office hasn’t had the best of winters: underestimating falls of snow and a storm in December and overestimating snow on Tuesday. So far this cold spell reminds me a lot of late January 2019 which saw similar temperatures here and snow cover was no better than a dusting with one snow fall not producing as much as hoped. Hopefully February turns out differently than 2019! Looking at the weather stations across Scotland it appears pretty much all of Scotland had maxima below 3C. Around 20 stations failed to get above freezing (mainly in the highlands) and Dalwhinnie has struggled to get above -6C so far after an overnight low of -14C.
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