Diary of Highlights

1st to 11th
A mild start with high pressure in charge. Despite the high, quite an active weather front affected the far south on the 2nd, giving some heavy rain. The high gradually drifted east into the Continent, allowing a weather front to spread southeast across all parts of the 4th. In the wake of the front, high pressure became established once again, allowing local air frost to develop in the south on the night of the 5th.

12th to 17th
The high receded west, allowing a cold front to sweep south across all parts. Pressure then built once again, allowing some very sunny days and quite sharp overnight frost. Westerly winds helped to establish milder conditions later in the period.

18th to 20th
A much colder Arctic airflow developed on the 18th as a succession of fronts spread south and winds swung into the north. Gusty winds and a very sharp temperature drop were experienced on passage of the fronts. Heavy rain readily turned to snow over higher ground as well as over lower ground in the north.

Significant snow fell as far south as the Chilterns and 5cm of lying snow was reported at Cottesmore (Rutland) and Wittering (Cambridgeshire). It remained cold, thereafter, but sunny, with some wintry showers and overnight frost.

21st to 30th
As milder air spread in from the west on the 21st, freezing rain became a hazard over the Pennines and eastern England. There was some disruption to transport, with black ice reported across some routes in Cumbria. There was also a marked temperature contrast across the region during the morning.

Marham (Norfolk) recorded minus 7°C, while Culdrose (Cornwall) recorded 11°C in the much milder air. Towards the end of the month conditions generally became quieter. Weak weather fronts gave patchy rain and drizzle, but there was also some sunshine, as well as overnight mist and fog. Overnight frost became a feature on the 30th.