On This Day: The Big Snow of 1982

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

On this day, 41 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 -27.2C recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. England also recorded its lowest ever temperature during the cold wave, with a staggering -26.1C in Newport, Telford and Wrekin.

This follows the brutal December prior, where temperatures also had just fallen to -25.2C 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 the UK and Ireland. On the 8th and 9th of January, the east coast of Ireland recorded snow depths of up to 25cm, alongside drifts over two 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 60cm 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.