UK records – January 23-29, 1940 – Data not used for climate research

Certain historical data are so exceptional that they cry for being thoroughly investigated. The cold record for Wales in January 1940 occurred in conditions, on land, in the air and at sea, which make it almost easy to trace the causes and effects to human activities. World War II has just started. But people, who talk about global warming, say they can forecast the future, but refuse to understand the past.

The winter 1939/40 was extreme severe in Europe. Several cold records were broken already in January (Here). Toward months end it hit Wales and the entire UK. Like this winter also in winter 1939/40 El Niño was active in the Pacific. What an air temperatures difference? Now up to record high now (HERE), but record cold in winter 1939/40 (HERE).

January 1940 was a severe wintry month with frequent frosts and heavy snowfalls. The month was the coldest month in England (-1.4C) since February 1895. On the night of the 23rd, a minimum of -23.3C was recorded in Wales at Rhaydaer(Powys) a record low for that date.

The most alerting aspect is that the cold was man-made. Only 150 days of war theatre into WWII was needed to impel Europe into ice-age condition. But climate research shows no interest to understand why. Neither the Met-Office is able to explain the extraordinary event, although January 1940 offered more than low temperatures, but will always be remembered for the Snowstorm and Ice-storm that struck the UK.

Other lows include -20°C at Canterbury, Welshpool, Hereford and Newport in Shropshire. The Thames was frozen for 8 miles between Teddington and Sunbury and ice covered stretches of the Mersey, Humber and Severn. The sea froze at Bognor Regis and Folkestone and Southampton harbours were iced over. The Grand Union Canal was completely frozen over between Birmingham and London. Central London was below freezing for a week and there was skating on the Serpentine on 6″ ice. (MORE)
However January 1940 will always be remembered for the Snowstorm and Ice storm that struck the UK.

SNOWSTORM On the 26th, two occlusions were moving up from the SW engaged the cold air over the UK. At the same time, the anticyclone over Scandinavia was intensifying blocking the fronts from pushing through the UK, they became stationary over Wales and SW England. This resulted in a great snowstorm across many northern and eastern areas. Vast areas of northern England reported between 30-60cm of level snow, the higher parts in excess of 60cm+. The snowfall lasted to the 29th of January

ICESTORM Ice storms are rare in the UK, but the worst incident was in January 1940, It was the coldest winter for a century when, on January 27, a savage ice storm swept much of southern Britain. The landscape seemed to be encased in glass, trees looked like frozen waterfalls, and the ice weighed them down until they broke and smashed to the ground. (The Times, 2007). Precipitations fell as freezing rain, which is reckoned to be the severest that has struck the UK in recorded history. The duration of the storm was remarkable lasting up to 48 hours in places. The effect of this prolonged ice storm was severe and damaging.

For climate research the unique weather events in January 1940

could be a blessing to understand human impact

on weather and climate more thoroughly.

See for more details  : http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=tystat&id=1180&title=January+1940