Spring 2013 United Kingdom cold wave: Difference between revisions
m for conciseness |
|||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
===Impact=== |
===Impact=== |
||
The cold weather caused several problems with electricity, agriculture |
The cold weather caused several problems with electricity, agriculture and road networks.<ref name="bbc"/> Some migratory birds such as the [[Common chiffchaff|chiffchaff]], [[sand martin]], [[willow warbler]], [[blackcap]], and the [[little-ringed plover]] arrived late in 2013 as a result of the abnormally harsh weather.<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/too-cold-for-comfort-british-weather-having-a-serious-effect-on-wildlife-8555232.html| title =Too cold for comfort: British weather having a serious effect on wildlife |publisher =''[[The Independent]]''| date=31 March 2013|accessdate = 31 March 2013}}</ref> The spring germination and growth of plants was delayed, affecting [[nurserymen]] and [[market gardener]]s, and causing the [[daffodil]] flower crop to bloom too late for [[Mothering Sunday]] and Easter. There were also significant issues with livestock, especially affecting and causing mass deaths of sheep and newborn lambs.<ref name="Met Office Report">{{cite web|title=Met Office Report|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/march2013-snow|website=Met Office|publisher=Met Office|accessdate=9 January 2018}}</ref> |
||
[[Category:Weather events in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Weather events in the United Kingdom]] |
||
[[Category:2013 in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:2013 in the United Kingdom]] |
||
Revision as of 04:38, 13 February 2018
 | This article may require copy editing for Grammar, cohesion & tone.. (January 2018) |
The Spring 2013 United Kingdom cold spell was a period of unusually cold weather in the United Kingdom between March 6th and early April 2013. The cold spell consisted of very low temperatures and significant snowfall. Extensive snowfall occurred on March 11th and 12th in the south east, north and west of England and in Wales. England as a whole also suffered heavy snowfall on March 22nd and 23rd.
Overview
During the cold spell, the low temperatures were not extreme, yet were notable because of the extended duration of below average temperatures. Official weather reports show that temperatures were lower than 0°C (32°F) for nine consecutive days.[1] March 2013 was reported to be tied for the country's fourth-coldest March since 1910. Mean temperatures were 2.5°C to 3°C below average from February to early April, and there was a continuous strong cold east wind.[2] March 31st was confirmed by the Met Office as the coldest Easter day on record, with the lowest temperature being −12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in Braemar.[3] The Central England Temperature, a long run of weather records dating back to 1659, reported its lowest March average since 1883. Furthermore, March was the coldest month of 2013 and the coldest month of the Winter season of 2012–2013.[4]
Snowfall
The snowfall on March 11th primarily affected Northern France also disrupted motorists in Kent and Sussex in Southeast England.[5] On March 22nd, the UK saw another snowfall. It was described as the worst March snowfall in 30 years. Areas of Northwest England, North Wales, Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland were affected the most.[6] Up to 4 feet (1.1 m) of snow was reported to have fallen up to 10 foot (4 m) drifts. There was a continuous covering of snow throughout the country from March 11th to April 1st.
Impact
The cold weather caused several problems with electricity, agriculture and road networks.[3] Some migratory birds such as the chiffchaff, sand martin, willow warbler, blackcap, and the little-ringed plover arrived late in 2013 as a result of the abnormally harsh weather.[7] The spring germination and growth of plants was delayed, affecting nurserymen and market gardeners, and causing the daffodil flower crop to bloom too late for Mothering Sunday and Easter. There were also significant issues with livestock, especially affecting and causing mass deaths of sheep and newborn lambs.[8]
References
- ^ http://trevorharley.com/weather_web_pages/british_weather_in_march.htm
- ^ Euan Stretch (28 March 2013). "Colder than Greenland! Britain set for coldest Easter weekend on record". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Coldest Easter Sunday on record, Met Office confirms". BBC. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadcet/cet_info_mean2013.html
- ^ Angwin, Richard (12 March 2013). "Snow hits France and UK". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ Barret, David; Robert Mendick; Patrick Hennessy (23 March 2013). "Worst March snow for 30 years brings chaos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ "Too cold for comfort: British weather having a serious effect on wildlife". The Independent. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Met Office Report". Met Office. Met Office. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
Further reading