Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    On this day: The Big Snow of 1982

11:33
10 January 2025

On this day
The Big Snow of 1982

Privacy Policy

Did you know, on January 10th 1982, temperatures across the UK and Ireland almost reached -30°C, following days on end of snow?

On this day, 43 years ago, several records were smashed out the park on one of the most severe cold spells in history.

The UK saw its all-time lowest temperature ever recorded, with -27.2°C recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. England also recorded its lowest ever temperature during the cold wave, with a staggering -26.1°C in Newport, Telford and Wrekin.

This follows the brutal December prior, where temperatures also had just fallen to -25.2°C in Shawbury, Shropshire, the lowest December temperature on record for England on December 13th 1981.

The days leading up to these utterly mind-blowing temperatures saw chaotic snow fall across many parts of the UK and Ireland.

On the 8th and 9th of January, the east coast of Ireland recorded snow depths of up to 25 cm, alongside drifts over two metres after one of the strongest blizzards of the century, while Wales saw up to 60 cm and drifts up to six metres.

Conditions were reported to be most severe in Dublin, with Phoenix Park having mean temperatures sub-zero for eight days straight.

Meanwhile, in Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, there was over 60 cm of snow, with drifts up to six metres high.

Snowfall across some areas started on the 7th and lasted for 36 hours straight, with large swathes of the British Isles coming to a total standstill for days on end.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Lee waves flow over the UK and Ireland. On the WeatherRadar. . . Monday, 6 July 2026
Satellite weather map of the UK and Ireland showing parallel bands of low cloud highlighted over southern Scotland and northern England, with additional cloud streets over Wales and western England circled in white.
Monday, 6 July 2026

On the WeatherRadar

Lee waves flow over the UK and Ireland
The monsoon has India firmly in its grip. Severe thunderstorms. . . Thursday, 9 July 2026
Satellite map of South Asia showing the weather situation over India. An arrow marks a low-pressure system over western and central India, which is causing heavy showers and thunderstorms. Thick clouds and rainfall extend across large parts of India as far as the Himalayas and into Bangladesh. Over Pakistan and south-eastern Iran, however, it is mainly sunny and hot, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.
Thursday, 9 July 2026

Severe thunderstorms

The monsoon has India firmly in its grip
Heat-health alerts ahead of heatwave. Across England. . . Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Temperature map of the UK and western Europe showing hot conditions across Britain, with temperatures reaching 33°C near London, 29°C around Cardiff, 24°C near Liverpool, and a large heat warning symbol highlighting elevated heat risk.
Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Across England

Heat-health alerts ahead of heatwave
All weather news
This might also interest you
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday, 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday, 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList