Spring 2013 United Kingdom cold spell
The Spring 2013 United Kingdom cold spell was a period of unusually cold weather in the United Kingdom between 6 March and early April 2013. The cold spell consisted of very low temperatures and significant snowfall. Freezing temperatures worsened due to the significant overcast and cloud covered skies. Extensive snowfall occurred on 11 and 12 March in the South East, North and West of England and in Wales. England as a whole also suffered heavy snowfall on 22 and 23 March 2013.
Overview[edit]
During the cold spell, the low temperatures were not extreme, yet they were notable because of the extended duration of below average temperatures. Official weather reports show that temperatures were lower than 0°C (32°F) for nine consecutive days.[1] March 2013 was reported to be tied for the country's fourth-coldest March since 1910. Mean temperatures were 2.5 to 3°C (4 to 5°F) below-average from February to early April, and there was a continuous, strong, cold easterly wind.[2] 31 March was confirmed by the Met Office as the coldest Easter Day on record, with the lowest temperature reaching −12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in Braemar.[3] The Central England Temperature, a long run of weather records dating back to 1659, reported its lowest March average since 1883. Furthermore, March was the coldest month of 2013 and the coldest month of the winter season of 2012–13.[4]
Snowfall[edit]
The snowfall on 11 March primarily affected Northern France but it also disrupted motorists in Kent and Sussex in Southeast England.[5] On 22 March, the UK saw another snowfall. It was described as the worst March snowfall in 30 years. Areas of Northwest England, North Wales, Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland were affected the most.[6] Up to 4 feet (1.2 m) of snow was reported to have fallen with up to 10 feet (3.0 m) snow drifts. There was a continuous covering of snow throughout the country from 11 March to 1 April.
Impact[edit]
The cold weather caused several problems with electricity, agriculture and road networks.[3] Some migratory birds such as the chiffchaff, sand martin, willow warbler, blackcap, and the little-ringed plover arrived late in 2013 as a result of the abnormally harsh weather.[7] The spring germination and growth of plants was delayed, affecting nurserymen and market gardeners, and causing the daffodil flower crop to bloom too late for Mothering Sunday and Easter. There were also significant issues with livestock, especially mass deaths of sheep and newborn lambs.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ http://trevorharley.com/weather_web_pages/british_weather_in_march.htm
- ↑ Euan Stretch (28 March 2013). "Colder than Greenland! Britain set for coldest Easter weekend on record". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Coldest Easter Sunday on record, Met Office confirms". BBC. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ↑ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadcet/cet_info_mean2013.html
- ↑ Angwin, Richard (12 March 2013). "Snow hits France and UK". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ↑ Barret, David; Robert Mendick; Patrick Hennessy (23 March 2013). "Worst March snow for 30 years brings chaos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ↑ "Too cold for comfort: British weather having a serious effect on wildlife". The Independent. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ↑ "Met Office Report". Met Office. Met Office. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
Further reading
- "The 10 Worst British Winters Ever" from The Independent
- "Spring will be coldest in 50 years, Met Office says" from BBC News
This article "Spring 2013 United Kingdom cold spell" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Spring 2013 United Kingdom cold spell. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
|
This page exists already on Wikipedia. |
