The Big Snow: Winter of December 1981

Over 40 years ago, Britain experienced one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record, termed 'The Big Snow'.

The winter of 1981-82 saw one of the coldest Decembers ever recorded. The 12th-13th in particular saw temperatures widely plunge below -18C, with much of the country then snowbound for nearly one month.

With the cold snap taking grip on this day 42 years ago, Shawbury, Shropshire saw temperatures fall to -25.2C on December 13, the coldest December temperature on record for England.

Wales also recorded their lowest ever temperature for the month on December 13, with -22.7C at Corwen, Denbighshire.

The lowest UK-wide record was of course stolen by Scotland, with -27.2C at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, though this was not until January 10th 1982. On that same day, Newport then recorded -26.1C, the all-time minimum temperature for England.

The storm of December 1981 was noted as one of the worst blizzards for SW England and Wales in the last 50 years, along with 1982 and 1978.

These parts of the UK can often be very hard-hit with snowstorms if the conditions are right, despite being mild in normal winters.

Keep tabs on just how cold it's getting over the next few days with the TemperatureRadar!