As the famous song says, we’re always dreaming of a White Christmas. But snowfall can also cause disruption and chaos. So what are the most interesting UK snowfall statistics to know?
UK Snowfall Statistics
- The UK has, on average, 23.7 days of snowfall or sleet annually, according to data gathered between 1981 and 2010. (Met Office)
- Snow or sleet falls on an average of 5.6 days in February, 5.3 in January, 4.2 in March and 3.9 in December. (Met Office)
- The snowiest winter on record took place in 1947 when between January 22 and March 17, it snowed somewhere in the country every day. (Met Office)
- The deepest snow recorded so far was during March 1947, with a snow depth of 1.65 metres registered in Ruthin in North Wales. (Met Office)
- The most disastrous avalanche in the UK happened in 1836 in Lewes in East Sussex; heavy snow and strong winds caused drifts up to 20ft deep, and eight people died. (The Guardian)
- The ‘Beast from the East’ hit the UK in 2018 with up to 50cm of snowfall, closing schools, cancelling rail services and flights and isolating several villages. (Internet Geography)
- Scotland gets more snowfall, with snow or sleet falling on 38.1 days on average. (Met Office)
- The Cairngorms in Scotland is the snowiest place with 76.2 days of snowfall, while Cornwall in England is the least likely to enjoy snowfall with an average of 7.4 days of snow. (Met Office)
- White Christmases in the UK aren’t as rare as you might think; there has been snowfall somewhere in the UK on Christmas Day 38 times in the last 55 years. (Countryfile)
- On Christmas Day 2010, 83% of official recording stations across the UK recorded snow on the ground. (Countryfile)
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