Our cold spell has come to a very abrupt end. It’s been the coldest spell of weather since December 2010. That spell in December 2010 was the beginning of the coldest winter in 100 years. To be honest the cold temperatures back in that December were colder than we’ve experienced so far this month.

The chart above shows all the rolling average temperatures for December 2010 through December 2020. In general, the lines for each month are bunched together, and difficult to distinguish apart from 2010 and 2022. The amber and blue lines meet up around the middle of the month meaning the average temperatures for 2010 and 2022 are about the same at 1.4°C (34.5°F) for this point in the month. The forecast for this December is that after one very mild day, on Monday, the temperatures will return to around normal for the rest of the month. Back in 2010, we were plunged into another cold spell after a milder interlude mid month.

So far we haven’t had any snow just very frosty conditions. We’ve had some lovely cold sunny days mixed in with some very dull days. Anywhere missing out on any sunshine remained hard and frosty all day. 

Whilst we’ve managed to get out and take Ruby for a few walks during the cold spell we haven’t entertained the idea of visiting the allotment. We may well venture down there one day this week if we can avoid the spells of rain forecast over the next few days to see if we have any parsnips for Christmas dinner.

I ought to mention that the coldest day this month was Wednesday 14 December which made it into my list of the top twenty coldest days. The temperature fell to -5.1°C (22.8°F), although this is only just low enough for it scrape into the table in the 19th position.

As you might expect this table is dominated by the cold December in 2010  which holds the top eight coldest days I’ve recorded.

I’ve noticed that one of the weather models is suggesting we might get some snow on Christmas day. There are a good few days to go yet so there is plenty of time for the forecast to change.