It was another very cold night across the UK last night, with temperatures falling as low as -18.7 C at Pershore in Hereford and Worcester. Castlederg in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland recorded a minimum temperature of -18.0 C. This is provisionally a new record for the Province, beating the previous record of -17.5 °C recorded on 1 January 1979 at Magherally (County Down).
A band of heavy snow swept across southwest England and parts of south Wales overnight, giving fresh falls of 18cm at Dunkeswell in east Devon and causing major disruption to travel networks.
The tables below show the lowest temperatures (below minus 5 C) recorded at a selection of Met Office observing sites last night and snow depths recorded at 9am this morning.
| Location | Minimum temp (°C) |
| PERSHORE | -18.7 |
| CASTLEDERG | -18 |
| BENSON | -17.8 |
| CAPEL CURIG NO 3 | -17.5 |
| WOBURN | -16.3 |
| SHOBDON AIRFIELD | -15.5 |
| PERSHORE COLLEGE | -15.3 |
| WOODFORD | -14.8 |
| WINCHCOMBE, SUDELEY CASTLE | -14.8 |
| CAVENDISH | -14.8 |
| MONA | -14.8 |
| YEOVILTON | -14.2 |
| NORTHOLT | -14.2 |
| SOUTH FARNBOROUGH | -14.2 |
| LLYSDINAM | -13.8 |
| ANDREWSFIELD | -13.8 |
| CROSBY | -13.5 |
| WINTERBOURNE, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM | -13.4 |
| ST ANGELO | -13.2 |
| ASTWOOD BANK | -13.2 |
| WRITTLE | -13 |
| ODIHAM | -13 |
| ALTNAHARRA NO 2 | -13 |
| SENNYBRIDGE NO 2 | -12.9 |
| WEST FREUGH | -12.9 |
| REDESDALE CAMP | -12.8 |
| TREDEGAR, BRYN BACH PARK NO 2 | -12.6 |
| LEEMING | -12.6 |
| WISLEY | -12.6 |
| HAWARDEN AIRPORT | -12.6 |
| LOUGH FEA | -12.5 |
| TOPCLIFFE | -12.5 |
| BRIZE NORTON | -12.4 |
| ROTHAMSTED | -12.4 |
| RAVENSWORTH | -12.4 |
| TULLOCH BRIDGE | -12.3 |
| STRATHALLAN AIRFIELD | -12.2 |
| DERRYLIN, CORNAHOULE | -12.1 |
| BRIDGEFOOT | -12.1 |
| COLESHILL | -11.9 |
| ALDERGROVE | -11.7 |
| BEDFORD | -11.7 |
| WESTONBIRT | -11.6 |
| THREAVE | -11.6 |
| NEWTON RIGG | -11.5 |
| HEREFORD, CREDENHILL | -11.4 |
| TYNDRUM NO 3 | -11.4 |
| ESKDALEMUIR | -11.3 |
| LITTLE RISSINGTON | -11.3 |
| TRAWSGOED | -11.2 |
| CHARLWOOD | -11.2 |
| COTON-IN-THE-ELMS | -11.2 |
| NEWPORT (SALOP) | -11.2 |
| EXETER AIRPORT | -11.1 |
| SANTON DOWNHAM | -11.1 |
| NORWICH AIRPORT | -11.1 |
| BAINBRIDGE | -11 |
| LINTON ON OUSE | -11 |
| NORMANBY HALL | -10.9 |
| COVENTRY, COUNDON | -10.8 |
| CAIRNGORM SUMMIT | -10.7 |
| EAST MALLING | -10.7 |
| MARKET BOSWORTH, BOSWORTH PARK | -10.7 |
| CHURCH FENTON | -10.6 |
| CHURCH LAWFORD | -10.6 |
| PORTGLENONE | -10.6 |
| WATTISHAM | -10.6 |
| GRAVESEND, BROADNESS | -10.5 |
| BALLYKELLY | -10.5 |
| KEELE | -10.5 |
| BRAEMAR NO 2 | -10.4 |
| LOCH GLASCARNOCH | -10.4 |
| GREAT DUN FELL NO 2 | -10.4 |
| ROCHDALE | -10.4 |
| SHAWBURY | -10.4 |
| LAKE VYRNWY NO 2 | -10.3 |
| WADDINGTON | -10.3 |
| SCAMPTON | -10.2 |
| DISHFORTH AIRFIELD | -10.1 |
| CLUANIE INN NO 3 | -10.1 |
| LECONFIELD | -10 |
| BROOMS BARN | -10 |
| KEW GARDENS | -10 |
| PRESTWICK, GANNET | -9.9 |
| ALICE HOLT LODGE | -9.9 |
| BOSCOMBE DOWN | -9.8 |
| BLACKPOOL, SQUIRES GATE | -9.8 |
| RHYL NO 2 | -9.7 |
| GLENANNE NO 2 | -9.7 |
| MYERSCOUGH | -9.7 |
| CAMBRIDGE, NIAB | -9.7 |
| ALTNAHINCH FILTERS | -9.7 |
| MIDDLE WALLOP | -9.7 |
| DALWHINNIE NO 2 | -9.7 |
| NORTHAMPTON, MOULTON PARK | -9.6 |
| KINLOCHEWE | -9.6 |
| BINGLEY, NO 2 | -9.6 |
| HEATHROW | -9.4 |
| LARKHILL | -9.4 |
| NOTTINGHAM, WATNALL | -9.4 |
| BRADFORD | -9.3 |
| CHARTERHALL | -9.3 |
| MACHRIHANISH | -9.3 |
| WITTERING | -9.3 |
| COTTESMORE | -9.3 |
| KATESBRIDGE | -9.3 |
| PRESTON, MOOR PARK | -9.2 |
| VALLEY | -9.2 |
| CARLISLE | -9.2 |
| HIGH MOWTHORPE | -9.2 |
| LEVENS HALL | -9.2 |
| BRIDLINGTON MRSC | -9.1 |
| EDINBURGH, GOGARBANK | -9.1 |
| SHOEBURYNESS, LANDWICK | -9.1 |
| CRANWELL | -9.1 |
| RYHILL | -9 |
| GRINGLEY-ON-THE-HILL | -9 |
| STONYHURST | -8.9 |
| SAUGHALL | -8.8 |
| FILTON | -8.8 |
| MONKS WOOD | -8.8 |
| SUTTON BONINGTON | -8.8 |
| AUCHINCRUIVE | -8.8 |
| GOUDHURST | -8.7 |
| ALBEMARLE | -8.7 |
| LOFTUS | -8.6 |
| SHEFFIELD | -8.6 |
| LYNEHAM | -8.6 |
| BANAGHER, CAUGH HILL | -8.5 |
| KENLEY AIRFIELD | -8.5 |
| SPADEADAM NO 2 | -8.5 |
| FYLINGDALES | -8.5 |
| CARTERHOUSE | -8.4 |
| WEYBOURNE | -8.4 |
| BRAMHAM | -8.4 |
| PENNERLEY | -8.3 |
| KESWICK | -8.2 |
| SCARBOROUGH | -8.1 |
| HOUGHTON HALL | -8.1 |
| DURHAM | -8.1 |
| DONNA NOOK NO 2 | -8.1 |
| CAIRNWELL | -7.9 |
| DUNDRENNAN | -7.9 |
| CONINGSBY | -7.8 |
| CHARSFIELD | -7.8 |
| OTTERBOURNE W WKS | -7.6 |
| MARHAM | -7.6 |
| WAINFLEET NO 2 | -7.5 |
| WARCOP RANGE | -7.4 |
| HOLBEACH NO 2 | -7.3 |
| LEEK, THORNCLIFFE | -7.3 |
| EDINBURGH, ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN NO 2 | -7.2 |
| DUNKESWELL AERODROME | -7.1 |
| KINBRACE, HATCHERY | -7.1 |
| ST ATHAN | -7.1 |
| CASSLEY | -7 |
| PORTHMADOG | -6.9 |
| MANSTON | -6.9 |
| STORMONT CASTLE | -6.9 |
| NORTH WYKE | -6.8 |
| HERSTMONCEUX, WEST END | -6.7 |
| CROMER | -6.7 |
| ISLAY: PORT ELLEN | -6.7 |
| HIGH WYCOMBE, HQAIR | -6.5 |
| SALSBURGH | -6.5 |
| THORNEY ISLAND | -6.5 |
| GLASGOW, BISHOPTON | -6.4 |
| LISCOMBE | -6.4 |
| KILLOWEN | -6.3 |
| CARDIFF, BUTE PARK | -6.3 |
| SHAP | -6.2 |
| BLENCATHRA | -6.2 |
| MURLOUGH | -6.2 |
| AVIEMORE | -6.1 |
| LEUCHARS | -6.1 |
| DRUMALBIN | -6.1 |
| GLEN OGLE | -6 |
| ABERPORTH | -6 |
| ST BEES HEAD NO 2 | -6 |
| BEALACH NA BA NO 2 | -5.9 |
| SOLENT | -5.9 |
| PEMBREY SANDS | -5.9 |
| HAMPSTEAD | -5.8 |
| OKEHAMPTON, EAST OKEMENT FARM | -5.7 |
| NETTLECOMBE, BIRDS HILL | -5.5 |
| FYVIE CASTLE | -5.5 |
| LANGDON BAY | -5.4 |
| LONDON, ST JAMES’S PARK | -5.3 |
| SKYE: LUSA | -5.3 |
| DUNSTAFFNAGE | -5.2 |
| BALLYWATTICOCK | -5.1 |
| DRUMNADROCHIT | -5.1 |
| Source: Met Office |
| Location | Snow depth (cm) |
| DUNKESWELL AERODROME | 26 |
| SOUTH NEWINGTON | 22 |
| CAIRNGORM CHAIRLIFT | 21 |
| KIRKWALL | 18 |
| EDENFEL | 16 |
| DYCE | 13 |
| BRIZE NORTON | 13 |
| SENNYBRIDGE NO 2 | 13 |
| LOSSIEMOUTH | 12 |
| WICK AIRPORT | 12 |
| KINLOSS | 12 |
| NORTHOLT | 11 |
| LOUGH FEA | 11 |
| ALDERGROVE | 10 |
| LERWICK | 10 |
| REDESDALE CAMP | 10 |
| ANDREWSFIELD | 9 |
| EDINBURGH, GOGARBANK | 9 |
| WATTISHAM | 9 |
| BOULMER | 9 |
| LEUCHARS | 8 |
| COPLEY | 8 |
| BUNTINGFORD | 7 |
| ESKDALEMUIR | 7 |
| RONALDSWAY | 7 |
| ST ATHAN | 7 |
| LARKHILL | 7 |
| BENSON | 7 |
| YEOVILTON | 7 |
| BOSCOMBE DOWN | 6 |
| CHARLWOOD | 6 |
| LYNEHAM | 6 |
| SHAWBURY | 6 |
| LINGWOOD, STRUMPSHAW HILL | 5 |
| HEATHROW | 5 |
| FAIR ISLE | 5 |
| LOFTUS | 5 |
| GLASGOW, BISHOPTON | 5 |
| MIDDLE WALLOP | 4 |
| BRIDLINGTON MRSC | 4 |
| FILTON | 4 |
| BINGLEY, NO 2 | 4 |
| STORNOWAY AIRPORT | 4 |
| ALBEMARLE | 4 |
| HERSTMONCEUX, WEST END | 4 |
| COLESHILL | 4 |
| CROMDALE | 4 |
| WOODFORD | 3 |
| ODIHAM | 3 |
| LEEK, THORNCLIFFE | 3 |
| PRESTWICK, GANNET | 3 |
| Source: Met Office |
Minimum temperatures below -11 C on 20 Dec 2010
9am snow depths 20 Dec 2010
Met Office forecasters said: “Parts of south Wales and southern England will see outbreaks of snow through Monday afternoon, with significant fresh snowfall in places. Rain or sleet is more likely along English Channel coasts. Snow showers will also continue in northeast Scotland. Elsewhere it will be largely dry, but very cold and icy.”
Met Office forecasters continued: “It will be very frosty and icy again tonight with temperatures falling to between -5 and -10C generally and as low as -20C in some rural areas.
“On Tuesday many places dry and bright, but freezing fog may linger all day in places. Later in the week there is the risk of some sleet and snow across parts of eastern England, accompanied by strong easterly winds.”
Below is a media forecast for use in print publications. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius and represent those likely to be seen in urban areas. Rural areas are likely to be significantly colder at night. For the latest weather forecasts and warnings you should refer to the Met Office website where regional and location based forecasts are available for the next 5 days.
| Southern England | Northern England | Scotland | |
| Tuesday | Bright spells. Some fog lingering. Max: Zero Min: minus 5 |
Bright spells. Some fog lingering.
Max: minus 2 |
Bright spells, occasional snow showers mainly in east. Max: minus 4 Min: minus 10 |
| Wednesday | Bright spells, occasional snow showers. Feeling very cold Max: 2 Min: minus 3 |
Bright spells, occasional snow showers. Feeling very cold
Max: 1 |
Bright spells, occasional snow showers mainly in east. Feeling very cold
Max: Zero |
| Thursday | Further snow, especially in east. Windy and feeling very cold
Max: 2 |
Bright spells, some snow showers. Feeling very cold
Max: 2 |
Sunny spells, snow showers mainly in east. Feeling very cold
Max: 1 |
| Christmas Eve | Bright, risk of further snow in east.
Max: 2 |
Dry, bright and very cold.
Max: 2 |
Dry, bright and very cold.
Max: 2 |
| Christmas Day | Bright, risk of further sleet or snow in east Max: 2 Min: minus 3 |
Bright, risk of further sleet or snow in east Max: 2 Min: minus 4 |
Dry, bright and very cold.
Max: 3 |
| Source: Met Office |
Official blog of the Met Office news team 
You must be logged in to post a comment.