In southern Hampshire (Southampton area), 2009/10 seemed less
exceptional than several winters I experienced in south-west Sussex in
the 80s (so not quite like for like). That said, I got a taste of
what the winter was like further inland due to trips out at the
weekend, but even there this winter seemed slightly less exceptional
than 1985, 1986 or 1987. 1985 had two separate long snowy spells in
January and February; 1986 was very cold through February with at
least two large falls (Feb 6th and March 1st) and 1987 was
exceptionally cold with snow lying, if I remember right, for two
weeks.

2009/10 did manage two widespread snowfalls in inland Hampshire, the
first lasting a few days from the 21st Dec and the second lasting
around a week from the 5th of January, but there was nothing
significant after mid January.

Another feature of the winter has been wetness. The overall impression
has been a rather damp, soggy but cool winter, with relatively little
in the way of dry, cold air compared to other cold winters: December
was often wet and seemed to divide into three thirds: the first 10
days mild and wet, the middle 10 cold and dry, the final 10 cold and
wet. Widespread inland snow fell on the 21st though missed the coast,
then apparently (I missed it) the end of December was very overcast,
cold and wet.

Of the three months, January fared best here and overall, January was
the most appealing of the three winter months. The best spell of the
winter was 1st-10th; there then followed a few cold but very dark and
dismal days as the warmer air very slowly moved in but it only finally
turned average on the 15th. There were then a few mild, damp days
before it turned colder around the 19th, and the last 10 days or so
was probably the most settled spell of the winter with a mixture of
cold and average days and generally dry conditions with low humidity.

By contrast to January, most of February was utterly miserable; the
phrase "always winter and never Christmas" frequently came to mind in
this month. A nice day on the 1st was followed by three dark, dull
days, then a mild but bright day on the 5th with an Atlantic airstream
provided some relief. The one decent week of February then followed
with a number of cold, dry days with low humidity and frequently
sunny, but from the 14th the weather was generally di dull,
overcast and wet, giving a feeling that we were still much closer to
the winter solstice than we actually were. Normally late Feb feels
semi-springlike down he this year there was no evidence whatsoever.
There was, if I remember right, one good day in the second half: the
17th, where we experienced all-day sun with very low pressure, but the
damp gloom returned the following day. After such a bad two weeks,
though, the "Xynthia" storm was much less significant than expected,
producing, apparently, a fair amount of rain (but nothing exceptional)
and the heaviest falling during the hours midnight to 8am and
consequently was missed by most. The last two or three daylight hours
of February were cold but bright and gave a sense that winter was
finally on the way out.

Like other parts of the country though there was a lack of real mild
days, but the lasting legacy of the winter has been the wetness, with
the countryside probably the most waterlogged at this time of year
since 2001.

Nick