From my area of the UK, which is of course East Anglia. This is how I would
categorise a cold spell. This occurring in either December, January or
February, which of course are the 3 winter months.

1 out 10: 3 or 4 days consecutive, of north westerly winds and night frosts
of -2 to -3. Daytime maximums of between 4 and 5C. The occasional light snow
shower.

2 out 10: 3 or 4 days consecutive of north winds and night frosts of -3
to -4C. Daytime maximums of 3 to 4C. The occasional light snow shower,
perhaps a moderate one or two snow showers.

3 out of 10: 3 or 4 days of north winds and night frosts of -4C. Daytime
maximums of 1C to 2C. Snow showers, the occasional one settling lightly.

4 out of 10: 3 or 4 days of north easterly winds and night frosts of -4C.
More frequent snow showers and a daytime max of 1C perhaps one or two days
in that with maxs of 0C. Daytime frosts from this level onwards.

5 out of 10: 3 or 4 days of easterlies and night frosts of -4C with one or
two at -5C to -6C. Snow showers and snow settling to a depth of 2 inches.
Maximum temperatures on 2 days of 0C to -1C. Snow on the ground for 3 days

6 out 10: 4 to 6 days of north east or easterlies with night frosts -5C
to -6C. Snow showers and daytime maximums of 0C to -1C on 2 to 3 days. Snow
lying for 4 days.

7 out of 10: 6 to 7 days with east to north east winds, night frost -6C
to -8C. Snow showers and a longer period of snow giving a level depth of 3
inches and laying on the ground for 5 days. Daytime maximums 0C to -2C on 4
days out of that.

8 out of 10: 8 days to 10 days with east winds and north east winds. Night
frosts -8C to -10C. At least 1 -10C in that bunch. Snow on the ground to a
depth of 5 to 8 inches having fallen from a southerly track depression in
the English Channel. Further snow later on from snow showers. At least 6
days with a max below -1C and 2 days with a max of -4C to -5C. Snow on the
ground in that for 10 days to 12 days.

9 out of 10: 12 days to 14 days with a cold spell from either north to north
east or easterly. Any combination will do. Snow on the ground at least 6
inches deep. Night frosts -7C to -12C with at least 4 nights with a -10C. At
least 6 days with a max below 0C and out of those 3 with a max below -4C.
Snow on the ground for 14 days or more. December 1981 did this and a bit
more besides.

10 out of 10: More than 14 days with a cold spell from any very cold
combination. Snow on the ground for the whole of that time and preferably
longer. Snow depths of greater than 6 inches caused by southerly track
depressions and fronts. Night frosts down to below -15C on at least 3
nights. They do not have to be consecutive. At least 7 days in a row with a
max below 0C with 3 days with a max below -5C. January 1982 nearly hit
this, but it wasn't for 14 days though. January 1963 managed to do so. As
did January 1940.


Obviously there are variations in this. This is a guide for those living in
the South Midlands, East Anglia and Home counties as to what I would regard
as cold spell categorisation.




Just for the records. Snow lay on the ground in Cambridge for 70 consecutive
days.




--
Gavin Staples.



Horseheath. Cambridge, UK. 93m ASL.

www.gavinstaples.com
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