KEEPING THINGS  IN PERSPECTIVE

Yes, we are in the middle of a cold spell & yes, snow has fallen with some regularity over the last 8 days; indeed there may be worse to come.
However, there has not really been severe cold, with temperatures having been no lower than -6.2 by night, while only 1 day has failed to reach zero by day. We simply haven't been subjected to Arctic or Siberian air streams, with a large displacement of the Jet Stream further south.

Last night, I watched an old documentary, in black & white, about the very severe winter of 1963. . In the area where I lived at the time, the cold began on Dec.19th & didn't loosen its grip until March 3rd. The documentary showed how many parts of Britain were effectively paralysed in terms of transport, water & energy supplies. It was as though Britain had been moved 10 or more degrees further North or several hundred miles into the heart of Northern Europe.

Pitlochry had a brief severe snap in January 1982, when around the 7th/8th, one day peaked at -10.9, with the adjoining night plunging to -19.6!

December 2010 should still be fresh in the memory, as virtually the entire month was severely cold. All but 4 days had snow lying (maximum depth 21cms). 16 days failed to reach zero & 27 nights had air frost. The mean temperature for the month was a staggering 6 degrees below the long-term average.      Barry