Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
In recent days, the UK has been experiencing a noticeable cold snap, including snowfall across various regions, prompting many to ask if winter has officially begun. While the chilly conditions are certainly in place, the meteorological calendar indicates that winter does not commence until the start of December. The final week of November, which we are currently in, is technically the tail end of autumn. This period has been characterized by its rich autumnal colours and highly variable weather patterns, swinging between mild and cold. Interestingly, November has seen some unusual extremes, recording both the warmest and coldest overnight temperatures for the month in the past 15 years.
When considering the official beginning of winter, two different frameworks are typically referenced in the UK: the meteorological and the astronomical definitions. BBC Weather adopts the meteorological season approach, which fixes winter as the three full months from 1 December through 28 (or 29) February. This system is favored by meteorologists because it allows for straightforward comparison between years. Alternatively, astronomical winter starts on the winter solstice, which falls on 21 December, marking the year’s shortest day. This season then extends until the vernal equinox, occurring around 20 March the following year.
Winter is generally understood as the coldest quarter of the year, including December, January, and February. This is reflected in the temperature records across the UK, which reveal some remarkable lows. The coldest temperature ever documented in the UK is –27.2°C (–17.0°F), recorded on three occasions in Scotland, specifically in Braemar, Aberdeenshire (twice) and in Altnaharra, Sutherland. Similarly, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland hold their own record winter lows: –26.1°C in Newport, Shropshire; –23.3°C in Rhayader, Powys; and –18.7°C in Castlederg, County Tyrone, respectively. Despite these extremes, prolonged cold spells aren’t always the norm, as some winters can be exceptionally mild, such as in February 2019 when temperatures in England and Wales rose above 20°C.
Climate change is having a significant impact on UK winters, making them generally warmer and wetter over time. Long-term observations show average temperatures rising and a decline in cold-weather extremes. Compared to a century ago, UK winters are approximately 1°C warmer, with the decade from 2015 to 2024 being 1.24°C above the 1961-1990 average. Most of the warmest winters recorded have occurred since the turn of the millennium, and 2023 was noted globally as the warmest year on record. This warming trend has led to a substantial reduction in frost days—about 25% fewer since the 1980s—and a decline in the frequency of snow. Consequently, precipitation during winter is now more often rain than snow. Nevertheless, the UK remains vulnerable to episodes of severe cold, as seen in 2018 when the “Beast from the East” caused widespread winter disruption across Europe well into spring
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.