March is joint second coldest on record

Provisional full-month Met Office figures for March confirm it has been an exceptionally cold month, with a UK mean temperature of 2.2 °C.

This is 3.3 °C below the 1981-2010 long-term average for the month, and ranks this March as joint second coldest (with 1947) in our records dating back to 1910. Only March 1962 was colder, with a record-breaking month mean temperature of 1.9 °C.

In an unusual turn of events, this March was also colder than the preceding winter months of December (3.8 °C), January (3.3 °C) and February (2.8 °C). This last happened in 1975.

Looking at individual countries, the mean temperature for England for March was 2.6 °C – making it the second coldest on record, with only 1962 being colder (2.3 °C). In Wales, the mean temperature was 2.4 °C which also ranks it as the second coldest recorded – with only 1962 registering a lower temperature (2.1 °C). Scotland saw a mean temperature of 1.3 °C, which is joint fifth alongside 1916 and 1958. The coldest March on record for Scotland was set in 1947 (0.2 °C). For Northern Ireland, this March saw a mean temperature of 2.8 °C, which is joint second alongside 1919, 1937, and 1962. The record was set in 1947 (2.5 °C).

This March was also much drier than average for the UK, with 62.1mm of rain falling during the month – just 65% of the 95.1mm average. Scotland was particularly dry, seeing 49.5mm of rain which is 35% of its long term average for the month.

Sunshine hours were also slightly down compared to average, with 82.9 hours for the UK notching up 81% of the average.

The cold and dry conditions seen in March were largely due to high pressure dominating UK weather patterns, allowing cold and relatively dry air to move in from the east. While this pattern is set to continue through the first week of April, milder and more unsettled conditions are expected to move in for the start of next week. You can stay up to date with the latest information with the Met Office’s forecasts.

March 2013	Actual	Difference from average	Actual	% of average
Regions	°C	°C	mm	%
UK	2.2	-3.3	62.1	65
England	2.6	-3.6	64.4	101
Wales	2.4	-3.4	86.2	74
Scotland	1.3	-2.9	49.5	35
N Ireland	2.8	-3.1	74.1	78
England & Wales	2.6	-3.6	67.4	95
England N	1.8	-3.7	56.4	75
England S	3	-3.5	68.6	118

March – top five coldest in the UK

1	1962	1.9 °C
2	2013	2.2 °C
2	1947	2.2 °C
4	1937	2.4 °C
5	1916	2.5 °C

Met Office figures show we are on course for coldest March in over 50 years

This March is set to be the coldest since 1962 in the UK in the national record dating back to 1910, according to provisional Met Office statistics.

From 1 to 26 March the UK mean temperature was 2.5 °C, which is three degrees below the long term average. This also makes it joint 4^th coldest on record in the UK.

The table below gives details of statistics up to the 26 March for broken down by the counties used to compile climate statistics.

	mean temperature		precipitation
	Actual  (deg C)	Difference from 1981-2010 average (deg C)	Actual (mm)	Percentage of 1981-2010 average (%)
Regions
UK	2.5	-3.0	62.2	65
England	2.9	-3.3	63.4	99
Wales	2.8	-3.0	86.2	74
Scotland	1.6	-2.5	50.3	36
N Ireland	3.0	-2.9	78.9	83
England & Wales	2.9	-3.3	66.6	94
England N	2.0	-3.5	54.0	72
England S	3.4	-3.2	68.4	118
Historic Counties
Aberdeenshire	0.6	-3.1	67.9	86
Anglesey	3.9	-2.9	79.8	100
Antrim	2.9	-2.8	68.9	75
Argyllshire	2.5	-2.1	47.2	22
Armagh	3.1	-3.1	96.8	125
Ayrshire	2.0	-2.9	53.8	41
Banffshire	0.8	-3.1	56.4	76
Bedfordshire	3.0	-3.5	50.1	119
Berkshire	3.4	-3.2	78.5	157
Berwickshire	1.6	-3.2	65.0	108
Brecknockshire	1.9	-3.1	100.5	74
Buckinghamshire	3.1	-3.4	66.6	137
Buteshire	2.7	-2.3	58.0	36
Caithness	2.3	-1.9	45.5	52
Cambridgeshire	3.2	-3.5	40.0	102
Cardiganshire	2.8	-2.8	62.5	54
Carmarthenshire	3.4	-2.7	87.0	69
Carnarvonshire	2.8	-3.0	96.1	64
Cheshire	2.9	-3.5	42.1	72
Clackmannanshire	1.7	-2.7	65.3	57
Cornwall	5.1	-2.3	102.0	109
Cumberland	1.6	-3.3	42.1	37
Denbighshire	2.1	-3.4	66.2	75
Derbyshire	1.9	-3.7	58.8	81
Devon	4.0	-2.7	112.9	118
Dorset	4.0	-2.7	96.8	132
Down	3.2	-3.0	158.4	193
Dumfriesshire	1.3	-3.1	65.6	53
Dunbartonshire	2.1	-2.7	49.4	25
Durham	1.6	-3.4	61.9	99
East Lothianshire	1.9	-3.2	55.4	100
Essex	3.5	-3.3	44.2	110
Fermanagh	3.0	-3.0	45.6	42
Fifeshire	2.3	-3.0	58.8	89
Flintshire	2.9	-3.5	60.9	105
Forfarshire	0.9	-3.0	73.1	89
Glamorganshire	3.6	-2.8	123.1	98
Gloucestershire	3.2	-3.3	77.1	129
Hampshire	3.9	-2.9	85.4	133
Herefordshire	2.9	-3.5	80.3	134
Hertfordshire	3.2	-3.4	50.3	109
Huntingdonshire	3.1	-3.6	56.4	143
Inverness	1.3	-2.1	36.9	19
Kent	3.8	-3.1	58.2	121
Kincardineshire	1.5	-3.1	56.5	82
Kinross	1.5	-3.0	65.6	65
Kirkcudbrightshire	1.7	-3.0	79.2	54
Lanarkshire	1.2	-3.0	51.8	47
Lancashire	2.6	-3.3	41.1	45
Leicestershire	2.4	-3.8	52.4	114
Lincolnshire	2.7	-3.6	49.0	113
Londonderry	3.0	-2.8	59.3	60
Merionethshire	1.8	-3.1	98.6	62
Mid Lothianshire	1.7	-3.1	59.4	83
Middlesex	4.2	-3.3	57.7	128
Monmouthshire	3.1	-3.2	94.8	100
Montgomeryshire	2.0	-3.4	64.5	56
Moray	1.7	-2.8	39.5	60
Nairnshire	1.5	-2.9	32.0	47
Norfolk	3.0	-3.4	60.5	128
Northamptonshire	2.6	-3.6	61.0	133
Northumberland	1.5	-3.3	63.0	92
Nottinghamshire	2.6	-3.8	49.0	113
Oxfordshire	3.0	-3.3	74.3	149
Peeblesshire	0.4	-3.4	69.6	68
Pembrokeshire	4.0	-2.6	76.9	77
Perthshire	0.6	-2.6	58.8	39
Radnorshire	1.7	-3.2	87.8	91
Renfrewshire	2.5	-2.8	42.8	29
Ross and Cromarty	2.1	-2.0	35.1	20
Roxburghshire	1.0	-3.4	62.8	73
Rutland	2.4	-3.7	58.0	123
Selkirkshire	0.5	-3.1	76.5	68
Shropshire	2.6	-3.5	61.6	108
Somerset	3.8	-3.0	65.3	91
Staffordshire	2.3	-3.7	51.0	87
Stirlingshire	1.9	-2.9	53.2	36
Suffolk	3.2	-3.3	46.4	104
Surrey	3.7	-3.1	72.1	135
Sussex	4.0	-2.8	64.6	103
Sutherland	1.5	-2.4	38.8	27
Tyrone	2.8	-2.8	60.1	57
Warwickshire	2.8	-3.6	52.2	110
West Lothianshire	1.9	-3.1	49.3	62
West Suffolk	3.3	-3.5	31.8	80
Westmorland	1.2	-3.1	56.1	40
Wigtownshire	2.7	-2.8	55.5	51
Wiltshire	3.3	-3.0	76.1	118
Worcestershire	3.1	-3.5	63.9	133
Yorkshire	1.9	-3.6	59.0	84

Clearly March has been extremely cold and snowy and joins 2006, 2001, 1995, 1987, 1979, 1970 and 1962 as years when March saw some significant snowfall.

The cold weather is expected to continue through the Easter weekend and into April. You can stay up-to-date with forecasts and warnings online, through our mobile apps, facebook and twitter, and through TV and radio broadcasts.

The table below lists the coldest March average temperatures on record and details where March 2013 ranks in terms of cold months of March.

Area	Coldest March on Record (deg C and year)		Rank of March 2013
Aberdeenshire	-1.4	1947	5
Anglesey	3.6	1962	2
Antrim	2.2	1947	5
Argyllshire	1.5	1947	5
Armagh	2.9	1919/1947	4
Ayrshire	1.0	1947	5
Banffshire	-1.0	1947	5
Bedfordshire	2.3	1962	2
Berkshire	2.6	1962	2
Berwickshire	0.3	1947	5
Brecknockshire	1.1	1962	2
Buckinghamshire	2.3	1962	2
Buteshire	1.5	1947	5
Caithness	0.0	1947	5
Cambridgeshire	2.6	1962	2
Cardiganshire	2.0	1962	3
Carmarthenshire	2.5	1962	3
Carnarvonshire	2.3	1962	3
Cheshire	2.6	1962	2
Clackmannanshire	0.1	1947	4
Cornwall	3.9	1962	2
Cumberland	1.0	1947	4
Denbighshire	1.4	1962	2
Derbyshire	1.5	1962	2
Devon	3.1	1962	2
Dorset	3.1	1962	2
Down	3.0	1937/1947	4
Dumfriesshire	0.5	1947	5
Dunbartonshire	0.3	1947	5
Durham	0.9	1947	4
East Lothianshire	0.2	1947	5
Essex	2.8	1962	2
Fermanagh	2.8	1947	3
Fifeshire	0.7	1947	5
Flintshire	2.4	1962	2
Forfarshire	-0.6	1947	4
Glamorganshire	2.9	1962	3
Gloucestershire	2.6	1962	2
Hampshire	3.0	1962	2
Herefordshire	2.4	1962	2
Hertfordshire	2.4	1962	2
Huntingdonshire	2.6	1962	2
Inverness	0.0	1947	5
Kent	2.9	1962	2
Kincardineshire	0.3	1947	2
Kinross	-0.1	1947	5
Kirkcudbrightshire	0.9	1947	3
Lanarkshire	0.0	1947	5
Lancashire	2.3	1962	2
Leicestershire	2.0	1962	2
Lincolnshire	2.4	1962	2
Londonderry	2.2	1947	5
Merionethshire	1.2	1962	3
Mid Lothianshire	0.1	1947	5
Middlesex	3.4	1962	2
Monmouthshire	2.5	1962	2
Montgomeryshire	1.3	1962	3
Moray	-0.2	1947	5
Nairnshire	0.0	1947	5
Norfolk	2.5	1962	2
Northamptonshire	2.1	1962	2
Northumberland	0.4	1947	4
Nottinghamshire	2.4	1962	2
Oxfordshire	2.4	1962	2
Peeblesshire	-1.2	1947	5
Pembrokeshire	3.2	1962	3
Perthshire	-1.2	1947	5
Radnorshire	1.1	1962	2
Renfrewshire	0.8	1947	5
Ross and Cromarty	0.8	1947	5
Roxburghshire	-0.4	1947	5
Rutland	1.9	1962	2
Selkirkshire	-0.8	1947	5
Shropshire	2.1	1962	2
Somerset	3.0	1962	2
Staffordshire	1.9	1962	2
Stirlingshire	0.1	1947	5
Suffolk	2.5	1962	2
Surrey	2.8	1962	2
Sussex	2.9	1962	2
Sutherland	0.1	1947	5
Tyrone	2.3	1947	5
Warwickshire	2.3	1962	2
West Lothianshire	0.3	1947	5
West Suffolk	2.5	1962	2
Westmorland	0.4	1947	3
Wigtownshire	1.7	1947	3
Wiltshire	2.5	1962	2
Worcestershire	2.7	1962	2
Yorkshire	1.4	1947	3

The full month figures for March 2013 will be available later next week and a summary of the month will be issued soon after.

Overnight minimum temperatures

Last night temperatures fell to as low as – 12.2 °C in Cambridge. This was close to the lowest recorded temperature of this winter so far, which was -13.4 °C, recorded in Marham, Norfolk on the 16 January.

Minimum temperatures Tuesday 22 January 2013

Location	Area	Temperature (°C)
Cambridge	Cambridgeshire	-12.2
Andrewsfield	Essex	-11.1
Cavendish	Suffolk	-10.6
Rothamsted	Hertfordshire	-10.4
Marham	Norfolk	-10.3
South Newington	Oxfordshire	-9.4
Houghton Hall	Norfolk	-9
Bedford	Bedfordshire	-8.9
Brooms Barn	Suffolk	-8.8
Charlwood	Surrey	-8.5
Northolt	Greater London	-8.4
Writtle	Essex	-8.4
Wisley	Surrey	-8.2
Santon Downham	Suffolk	-8.1
Monks Wood	Cambridgeshire	-8

Not everywhere was so cold, with some areas in the Scotland and the south of England and Wales staying above freezing.

Highest minimum temperatures Tuesday 22 January 2013

Location	Area	Temperature (°C)
Scilly St Marys Airport	Isles Of Scilly	4.7
Isle Of Portland	Dorset	3.7
Harris Quidnish	Western Isles	3.1
Achnagart	Ross & Cromarty	2.9
Swanage	Dorset	2.6
Stornoway Airport	Western Isles	2.4
Wight St Catherines Point	Isle Of Wight	2.4
Dunstaffnage	Argyll	2.3
Mumbles Head	West Glamorgan	2.3
South Uist Range	Western Isles	2.2

More very low temperatures are forecast over the next few nights, before it turns less cold and wetter over the weekend. See your local forecast and temperature range on our website.

Cold weather clue in upper atmosphere

During a period of colder than average weather across northern Europe in February this year we issued a blog discussing potential causes – including changes in circulation high up in the atmosphere.

We also discussed these disruptions, known as Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSWs), in a news release about advances in predicting these events in our long-range guidance for winters.

SSWs happen when the usual westerly winds in the stratosphere, between 10km and 50km up, are disrupted, break down and even reverse.

This signal can then burrow down to the lower atmosphere over the course of a few days to a few weeks, thereby reducing the westerly winds at lower levels.

Figure illustrates how reversal of winds in the stratosphere ‘burrows’ down to surface level.

For the UK in winter, that means a disruption to the westerly flow that usually brings mild air from the Atlantic and there is a potential to allow easterly winds to take hold, bringing in cold air from the continent.

So SSWs can herald cold weather ahead. However, there are variations in their magnitude – sometimes they are fairly minor, just a ‘wobble’ in the flow of the stratospheric winds, but sometimes they are more pronounced, with a complete reversal of the pattern of winds.

The more significant the SSW, the more likely it is to have an impact at the surface and also the greater the potential impact.

Met Office observation systems have picked up a minor SSW in the stratosphere over the past few days, suggesting that this may have an impact on the UK.

Jeff Knight, a Climate Scientist at the Met Office, said: “Satellite and other observation data show that there is a minor SSW going on and this is one factor amongst many others which could perpetuate the colder than average conditions we have seen recently.

“It could take anything from a few days to a few weeks if it is going to have an impact. However, it’s consistent with the current 30-day outlook from the Met Office which favours colder than average conditions – albeit with a fair amount of uncertainty.”

The Met Office will continue to monitor the situation and, as ever, will keep everyone up to date on any periods of cold weather through our forecasts and warnings.

Responding to more ‘winter weather’ headlines

We wrote only last week that it seems that it is the time of year again for colourful headlines about an impending big freeze.

We had them at this time last year, which prompted our Chief Executive to write an opinion piece in The Times. Now we have very similar stories again, with the front page of the Daily Express declaring last week ‘Coldest winter freeze on way’ and warning that temperatures are set to plunge as low as -15C and again a week on we have another front page from the Daily Express which declares ‘Coldest winter for 100 years on way‘. with the UK expected to grind to a halt within weeks.

These longer range forecasts for December and January have not come from the Met Office and a look at our current 30 day forecast provides perhaps a more measured assessment of our weather prospects to the middle of December:

As is usual, there are uncertainties in the forecast for this period. Whilst changeable conditions are considered more likely initially, some signs are beginning to emerge for more settled conditions to develop over parts of Europe. The signal is that these conditions may extend towards the UK during the first part of December. So, although there are no strong indications of any particular weather type predominating, on balance, colder and drier-than-average conditions are favoured over the recent mild and damp weather many areas have experienced.

What is clear from the forecast is that although there are some signs that after a rather unsettled period, the weather may become colder and drier than we have seen recently there is still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast which again the article has failed to pick up on and report to its readers.

The science does not exist to make detailed forecasts for temperature and snowfall for the end of this month, let alone for December or even the winter as a whole with these types of forecasts only able to provide an indication of how our weather might change, or be different from normal, (i.e. warmer, colder, wetter, drier) across the whole UK or even Europe

Ultimately, we’re heading into winter and it is perfectly possible that we will see the whole range of weather that we get in winter at some point over the coming months, including snow and freezing temperatures, but also heavy rain, windy weather and mild conditions too.

Our five day forecasts and warnings will provide you with the best possible guidance on any periods of cold weather, frost or the likelihood of snow, giving detailed local information across the UK to help you make the most of the weather over the coming months.

What’s in store this winter? Responding to the headlines

It seems that it is the time of year for colourful headlines about an impending big freeze. We had them at this time last year, which prompted our Chief Executive to write an opinion piece in The Times.

Now we have very similar stories again, with the front page of the Daily Express declaring ‘Coldest winter freeze on way’ and warning that temperatures are set to plunge as low as -15C.

There have been other stories elsewhere along similar lines, with some saying that the Met Office is briefing the Government about a cold winter ahead.

So what are the facts behind the headlines?

Some of the stories have taken a cue from parts of our current 30-day forecast. Today’s forecast for 26 November to 10 December reads as follows:

As is usual, there are uncertainties in the forecast for this period, but there are signs that the changeable conditions will continue through the start of this forecast period. There is also a signal for temperatures to be close to or just below the seasonal average. Into December, although there are no strong indications that any particular weather type is going to dominate, on balance colder, drier conditions than at present are favoured, rather than milder, wetter weather, especially across the southern half of the UK.

However, perhaps what the newspapers have failed to pick up on and report to their readers is that there is still a great deal of uncertainty about exactly what weather we will see – as there often is when looking at timescales of over five days ahead.

The science does not exist to make detailed forecasts for temperature and snowfall for the end of this month, let alone for December or even the winter as a whole.

With regards to us ‘briefing the Government on a cold winter’, this is related to our three monthly outlook for contingency planners.

This is a complex product designed to help contingency planners making long-term strategic decisions based on risk exposure. However, it’s not useful for most other people as it doesn’t give one forecast for what’s ahead – rather it outlines potential scenarios and their associated probabilities.

It’s worth noting that while contingency planners use our three month outlook to inform long-term decisions, they make their operational decisions on our five day forecasts and warnings.

These will always provide the best possible guidance on any periods of cold weather, frost or the likelihood of snow, giving detailed local information across the UK.

Ultimately, we’re heading into winter and we expect winter to be colder than the rest of the year – but it’s too early to say exactly what temperatures we can expect or where and when we might see snow.

October coldest since 2003

Provisional figures from our National Climate Information Centre have shown that this October has been a fairly unremarkable month in terms of weather for the UK.

Temperature, rainfall and sunshine have all been fairly close to the average and there’s certainly nothing record breaking about the general figures.

With a mean temperature for the UK of 8.2 °C for the month, it’s on the colder side of average and the coldest October since 2003 – which was the same temperature.

To find a colder month, you have to go back to 1993, which had a mean temperature of 7.3 °C.

In the records dating back to 1910, this October is ranked joint 18^th alongside 2003, 1955 and 1931. Just for the record, the coldest on record was set in 1917, with a much colder 6.6 °C.

For rainfall, the 128.0 mm of rain that fell across the UK during the month is very close to the 1981-2010 average of 127.1 mm – so this October was very ‘normal’ in that respect.

Sunshine is similarly close to the norm, with 92.8 hours of sunshine virtually spot-on with the 1981-2010 average of 92.5 hours.

As ever, there are some regional variations within the national picture, illustrated with these maps:

With regards to temperature, most parts of the country were cooler than average but parts of Scotland saw slightly colder conditions than anywhere else when compared to the regional average.

While rainfall was average for the UK overall, some parts of southern and eastern Britain were considerably wetter than their regional average but it was a somewhat drier than average month across parts of the west and north – particularly western Scotland.

Sunshine also saw regional variation. Parts of the south-east were notably dull – here it was provisionally the dullest October since 1982. The northern half of the UK, and particularly western Scotland, was somewhat sunnier than average.

Here’s a roundup of Met Office observation station extremes for the month:

• Highest temperature: 18.8 °C at Holbeach, Linconshire on 1st

• Lowest temperature: -7.8 °C at Braemar, Aberdeenshire on 17^th

• Wettest day (0000 hrs-0000 hrs): 61.4 mm at Ballpatrick, Antrim on the 18^th

• Sunniest day: 10.4 hours of sunshine at St Athan, Glamorgan on the 6^th

• Strongest gust of wind: 78 mph at the Needles, Isle of Wight on the 5^th

 

Top ten: Mildest temperatures recorded last night

Yesterday was a mild day with temperatures reaching as high as 19.2 °C, which was recorded in Langdon Bay during the daytime. However night-time temperatures were also mild for the time of year, with many areas not dropping below 10 °C. Jersey was particularly warm, not falling below 13.5 °C last night.

Station	Temperature (°C)
Jersey: Airport	13.5
Bognor Regis	12.9
Guernsey: Airport	12.9
Langdon Bay	12.1
Manston	12.1
Frittenden	11.9
Herstmonceux, West End	11.9
Faversham	11.8
Scilly: St Marys Airport	11.7
Skegness	11.7

Overnight lows at this time of year would typically be around 7 to 9 °C across southern England, making last night around 4 or 5 °C milder than average. More UK climate and weather statistics are available on our website.

Turning colder this weekend

There have been many references in the media to the UK having an Indian summer this week, with temperatures expected to reach 20 °C. However, as forecast by the Met Office many of us woke up today to rather grey, misty and drizzly skies and although temperatures are well above average for the time of year, it certainly doesn’t look or feel summery outside for most of us. We have also seen widespread mist and fog overnight across England and Wales, which the Met Office warned for over the weekend, and further foggy conditions are expected for the next couple of nights.

Visible satellite image from 0900 22 October 2012

So are we going to see any sunshine at all this week? Well, yes, the cloud should break in some places, and we may even see temperatures rise to the high teens along the south coast of England at times, but these temperatures will be short lived.

For most of us it will be the end of the week before the sunshine returns and when it does the weather will be far from warm.

By Friday, much colder air from the Arctic will spread across the UK, bringing drier and clearer weather but much lower temperatures. In fact, daytime highs will struggle to reach double figures by the weekend and there may even be a few wintry showers across north-eastern parts of the UK. It will be cold and frosty overnight too and for many of us this will be the first cold snap of the season.

In this video, Deputy Chief Forecaster Baden Hall explains exactly what we can expect over the next few days.

The latest information about the weather and warnings can be found on the Met Office website, iPhone and Android apps and on twitter. Cold weather can also have an impact on people’s health and you can find out more on the Met Office’s Cold weather and health web pages.

Top ten coldest recorded temperatures in the UK

This lists the lowest temperatures recorded in separate cold spells since 1961.

	Date	Station	Area	Temperature
1	10 January 1982	Braemar	East Scotland	-27.2 °C
1	30 December 1995	Altnaharra No 2	North Scotland	-27.2 °C
3	13 December 1981	Shawbury	Midlands	-25.2 °C
4	13 January 1979	Carnwath	West Scotland	-24.6 °C
5	20 January 1984	Grantown-On-Spey	East Scotland	-23.6 °C
6	27 January 1985	Lagganlia	North Scotland	-23.4 °C
7	13 January 1987	Caldecott P Sta	Midlands	-23.3 °C
8	08 January 2010	Altnaharra No 2	North Scotland	-22.3 °C
9	18 February 1960	Grantown-On-Spey	East Scotland	-22.2 °C
9	30 December 1961	Cannich	North Scotland	-22.2 °C
9	18 January 1963	Braemar	East Scotland	-22.2 °C

• The lowest temp of -27.2 °C is shared between 30 December 1995 and 10 January 1982.
• On the 10th January 1982, 26.1 °C was also recorded in Newport (Salop) in the Midlands.
• January 1982 was the most widespread occurrence of temperatures below -20 °C.
• Temperatures below -20 °C are much rarer for Wales, the coldest temperature recorded for Wales was -22.7°C in Corwen,  North Wales on 13 December 1981.
• Temperatures below -20 °C are most common at stations in East Scotland followed by North Scotland and the Midlands in England.

More UK climate statistics on our website.