16
National Meteorological Library and Archive Fact sheet 5 — White Christmas Christmas

Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    2

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

National Meteorological Library and Archive Fact sheet 5 — White Christmas

Christmas

Page 2: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

The National Meteorological Library and Archive

Many people have an interest in the weather and the processes that cause it, which is why the National Meteorological Library and Archive are open to everyone.

Holding one of the most comprehensive collections on meteorology anywhere in the world, the Library and Archive are vital for the maintenance of the public memory of the weather, the storage of meteorological records and as an aid to learning.

The Library and Archive collections include:

• around 300,000 books, charts, atlases, journals, articles, microfiche and scientific papers on meteorology and climatology, for a variety of knowledge levels

• audio-visual material including digitised images, slides, photographs, videos and DVDs

• daily weather reports for the United Kingdom from 1861 to the present, and from around the world

• marine weather log books

• a number of the earliest weather diaries dating back to the late 18th century

• artefacts, records and charts of historical interest; for example, a chart detailing the weather conditions for the D-Day Landings, the weather records of Scott’s Antarctic expedition from 1911

• rare books, including a 16th century edition of Aristotle’s Meteorologica, held on behalf of the Royal Meteorological Society

• a display of meteorological equipment and artefacts

For more information about the Library and Archive please see our website at:

www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/library

Page 3: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?Snow at Christmas is deep-seated in British culture. Many of us long for the likes of the scenes depicted on traditional Christmas cards and in works like Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ or ‘Pickwick Papers’.

The interest in snowy Christmases has its origins in the colder climate of the period 1550—1850 when Britain was in the grip of a ‘Little Ice Age’. Winters were particularly persistent and severe – 1813/14 was the last winter that a ‘frost fair’ was held on the River Thames in London.

For most parts of the United Kingdom, Christmas comes at the beginning of the season for snow. Wintry weather is more likely in the deepening cold of early January. White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas day back by 12 days.

What is a White Christmas?

For many people, a White Christmas means a complete covering of snow, ideally falling between midnight and midday on 25 December.

However, the definition used most widely, notably by those placing and taking bets, is for a single snow flake (perhaps among a mixed shower of rain and snow) to be observed falling in the 24 hours of 25 December.

Page 4: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Christmas weather – will it or won’t it snow?

The likelihood of snow depends on many factors, mainly latitude and height above sea level. Not all of us live in the Scottish Highlands and falls of sleet or snow over low-lying areas are usually confined to between November and April. However, there have been isolated falls as late as June.

Even if snow falls in December, there is no guarantee that snow will ‘stick’. On days when snow is falling, the temperature of the air above the ground sometimes remains above freezing — so the snow does not settle for long.

Climate change has brought higher average temperatures over land and sea and this generally reduces the chances of a White Christmas. However, the natural variability of the weather will not stop cold, snowy winters happening in the future. In fact, in terms of widespread sleet/snow falling across the UK on Christmas Day, between 1971 and 1992 there was only one year (1980), whereas in the years 1993 to 2004 there were six such occasions.

Page 5: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Recent White Christmases across the UK

The last time a White Christmas was recorded across the UK was 2016 (last updated November 2017), when sleet or snow fell, mostly at locations in northern and eastern Scotland.

Page 6: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Before 2016, the last notable White Christmas across any area was 2004, which had widespread snow over northern and western areas. A map showing the distribution of climate stations which reported either sleet or snow falling is shown below.

Christmas day 2004

No sleet/snow reported Day of sleet reported Day of snow reported

Page 7: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

1995 saw a White Christmas being recorded widely across the UK. A map showing the distribution of climate stations which reported either sleet or snow falling is shown below.

Christmas day 1995

No sleet/snow reported Day of sleet reported Day of snow reported

Page 8: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

1993 also saw a White Christmas being recorded widely across the UK. A map showing the distribution of climate stations which reported either sleet or snow falling is shown below.

Christmas day 1993

No sleet/snow reported Day of sleet reported Day of snow reported

Page 9: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

White Christmas information across the UK since 1960

White Christmas information for areas of the UK since 1960 is shown in the following table. For the purpose of this table, a White Christmas has been indicated when sleet or snow is reported to have fallen on 25 December at multiple official climate stations across the area (only stations with an altitude of less than 1,000 feet have been used).

A map showing the areas in the table is shown below.

N Scotland

E Scotland

W Scotland

NorthernIreland NW

EnglandNE England

WalesMidlands East

Anglia

SE England

SW England

Page 10: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Year

Sout

heas

t and

Cen

tral

So

uthe

rn E

ngla

nd

Sout

hwes

t Eng

land

Mid

land

s

East

Ang

lia

Nor

thw

est E

ngla

nd

Nor

thea

stan

d Ea

st E

ngla

nd

Wal

es

Nor

ther

n Ire

land

Wes

tern

Sco

tland

East

ern

Scot

land

Nor

ther

n Sc

otla

nd

1960 - - - - - - - - - - Yes

1961 - Yes - - - - - - Yes Yes Yes

1962 - - - Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes -

1963 - - Yes - Yes - - - Yes Yes Yes

1964 Yes Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

1965 - - - - - Yes - - - Yes Yes

1966 - - Yes Yes - Yes - - Yes Yes Yes

1967 - - - - - - - - - - -

1968 Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes - - Yes Yes Yes

1969 - - - - - - - - - - -

1970 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - Yes - -

1971 - - - - - - - - - - -

1972 - - - - - - - - Yes - -

1973 - - - - - - - - - - -

1974 - - - - - - - - - Yes Yes

1975 - - - - - - - - - - -

1976 Yes - Yes Yes - Yes - - Yes Yes Yes

1977 - - - - - - - - - - -

1978 - - Yes - - Yes - - - Yes Yes

1979 - - - - - Yes - - - Yes Yes

1980 - Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

1981 Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes

1982 - - - - - - - - - - -

1983 - - - - - - - - - - Yes

1984 - Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - Yes

1985 - - - - - - - - Yes Yes Yes

1986 - - - - - - - - - Yes Yes

1987 - - - - - - - - - - -

1988 - - - - - - - - - - -

1989 - - - - - - - - - - Yes

White Christmas information for areas of the UK since 1960

Page 11: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Year

Sout

heas

t and

Cen

tral

So

uthe

rn E

ngla

nd

Sout

hwes

t Eng

land

Mid

land

s

East

Ang

lia

Nor

thw

est E

ngla

nd

Nor

thea

stan

d Ea

st E

ngla

nd

Wal

es

Nor

ther

n Ire

land

Wes

tern

Sco

tland

East

ern

Scot

land

Nor

ther

n Sc

otla

nd

1990 - Yes Yes - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

1991 - - - - - - - - - - Yes

1992 - - - - - - - - - - -

1993 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

1994 - - - - - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes

1995 - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

1996 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes

1997 - - - - - - - - - - -

1998 - - Yes - - - - Yes Yes Yes Yes

1999 Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2000 - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2001 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2002 - - - - - - - - - - -

2003 - - - - - - - - - - -

2004 Yes Yes Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2005 - - - - - - - - - - -

2006 - - - - - - - - - - -

2007 - - - - - - - - - - -

2008 - - - - - - - - - - -

2009 - - Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2008 - - - - - - - - - - -

2009 - - Yes - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2010 - - Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

2011 - - - - - - - - - - -

2012 - - - - - - - - - - -

2013 - Yes - - - - Yes - - - -

2014 - - - - - - - - - - -

2015 - - - - Yes Yes - - - - Yes

2016 - - - - - - - - - Yes Yes

Page 12: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

White Christmas information for capital cities across the UK since 1960

White Christmas information for capital cities of the UK since 1960 is shown in the following table. A White Christmas has been indicated when sleet or snow is reported to have fallen on 25 December.

Year London Cardiff Belfast Edinburgh

1960 - - - -

1961 - - - -

1962 - - Yes Yes

1963 - - - Yes

1964 Yes - Yes -

1965 - - - -

1966 - - Yes -

1967 - - - -

1968 Yes - - Yes

1969 - - - -

1970 Yes - - -

1971 - - - -

1972 - - - -

1973 - - - -

1974 - - - -

1975 - - - -

1976 Yes - - -

1977 - - - -

1978 - - - -

1979 - - - -

1980 - - Yes Yes

1981 - - - -

1982 - - - -

1983 - - - -

1984 - - - -

1985 - - - -

1986 - - - Yes

1987 - - - -

1988 - - - -

Page 13: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Year London Cardiff Belfast Edinburgh

1989 - - - -

1990 - Yes - -

1991 - - - -

1992 - - - -

1993 - Yes Yes Yes

1994 - - - -

1995 - - Yes Yes

1996 Yes - Yes -

1997 - - - -

1998 - - Yes Yes

1999 Yes - Yes Yes

2000 - - - Yes

2001 - Yes Yes -

2002 - - - -

2003 - - - -

2004 - Yes Yes -

2005 - - - -

2006 - - - -

2007 - - - -

2008 - - - -

2009 - - - -

2010 - - - Yes

2011 - - - -

2012 - - - -

2013 - - - -

2014 - - - -

2015 - - - -

2016 - - - -

Page 14: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

This fact sheet has been produced by the National Meteorological Library in conjunction with the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre.

All of the images used in this fact sheet along with many others covering all aspects of meteorology can be obtained from the National Meteorological Library.

For more information about available images, please contact the Library Information Officer:

Tel: 01392 884845 Email: [email protected]

For more information about the Met Office, please contact the Customer Centre on:

Tel: 0870 900 0100 Fax: 0870 900 5050 Email: [email protected]

If you are outside the UK: Tel: +44 (0)1392 885680 Fax: +44 (0)1392 885681

Page 15: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Other titles in this series still available are:

• Number 1 Clouds

• Number 2 Thunderstorms

• Number 3 Water in the atmosphere

• Number 4 Climate of the British Isles

• Number 6 The Beaufort Scale

• Number 7 Climate of South West England

• Number 8 The Shipping Forecast

• Number 9 Weather extremes

• Number 10 Air masses and weather fronts

• Number 11 Interpreting weather charts

• Number 12 National Meteorological Archive

• Number 13 Upper air observation and the tephigram

• Number 14 Microclimates

• Number 15 Weather radar

• Number 16 World climates

• Number 17 Weather observations

Page 16: Christmas - Met Office · White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas

Met OfficeFitzRoy Road, ExeterDevon, EX1 3PBUnited Kingdom

Tel: 0870 900 0100Fax: 0870 900 [email protected] www.metoffice.gov.uk

Produced by the Met Office. © Crown copyright 2018 10/0403Met Office and the Met Office logo are registered trademarks

Our unique collection of weather images is now available via the National Meteorological Library and Archive’s online catalogue.

The collection illustrates all aspects of meteorology, from clouds and weather phenomena, to instruments and the work of the Met Office. Our online catalogue can be found at:

library.metoffice.gov.uk

All of the fact sheets in this series are available to download from our website

The full list can be found at:

www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/library/factsheets