The strong winds and heavy rain today are a complete contrast to this
time last year - at least in Leytonstone, east London...Here's my very
unscientific diary entry

Wednesday, January 8th, 2003
Max +1.4c Min -3.1c

Between 0839z and 0849z big flakes of snow fell giving a light
covering. Temp +0.3c.
Snow then fell all morning until 1310z. Started again briefly at 1421z
before breaking to clear spells. Snow was very sticky - the wet stuff
that clumps together - great for snowmen! Road conditions were iffy
until the snow stopped - allowing the wet bulb temperature to rise.
Total of 7.2cms snow fell.

From memory I think the relatively deep snow was very localised - the
'Thames Corridor effect'. It also wasn't by any means a classic cold
snap with no ice days - I recorded a maximum of 11.8c just five days
later on the 13th.