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The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow……

From the Barwicker No.92
December 2008



Winter conditions have varied over the years and in different parts of the country, for example February 1947 was the coldest month (apart from 1895) since 1881, with temperatures below freezing from the 11th-23rd.

Heavy snow fell in Durham, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with level depths at 20 inches in Huddersfield and 44 inches in Teesdale. Conditions in March 1947 were severe with 17.5 inches of snow recorded in Harrogate and up to 16 foot drifts near Crickhowell, Brecknock, Wales and 25 feet in parts of Scotland.

At Roundhay Park in 1963 the scene was of winter sports with skiing on the heavily snow laden slopes and skating on the frozen upper late (see photo on front cover). An arctic air stream spread south over the British Isles in February 1969 causing freezing temperatures in Central London. Strong winds lifted frozen snow from the streets in spirals of drifts up to and over the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.



TONY COX


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