Snow and ice create UK's 'coldest winter for 30 years'
Severe snow and ice in UK this winter has seen record cold spell for 30 years
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 01, Mar 2010 03:50
By Sarah Garrod.
Abnormally cold weather has seen the UK experience its coldest winter for 30 years, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
The weather forecaster said on Monday the mean UK temperature this winter had been 1.5C, the lowest since 1978/79.
Widespread snow and ice at the end of 2009 and the start of this year caused travel chaos across the country as airports closed and Eurostar trains broke down in the Channel Tunnel trapping passengers inside. Last week heavy snow in Scotland also left thousands of homes without power.
The Met Office said in a statement announcing the provisional figures: "Since mid-December cold weather has often dominated much of the country, with spells of snow and very low temperatures. From southern England to northern Scotland, heavy snow caused travel disruption at times through the season."
The weather service also confirmed that on Sunday temperatures fell to minus 22.3C in Altnaharra, in the Scottish Highlands; the lowest figure since 1995.
Last month the MeteoGroup also said the UK had experienced one of the "coldest winters in living memory", with many comparing the recent cold spells to the 'Winter of Discontent' - experienced in 1978/79.