Has it snowed yet in London?

[DrummondStreet]

Have you had any snow in London this season? I know that white Christmases are a rare occurrence nowadays (in London), but thought I'd ask, as there was a huge snowstorm a few years ago about this time of year.

Currently, I'm housebound due to a blizzard in the American Midwest. Everything in town has closed including the university and bus services. At least I'll get the white Christmas for which I had been hoping .

[Limehouse]

Hi Drummond,

There was snowfall in and around London a week or two back but today it's very wet everywhere. It rained all night here (Peterborough - about 100 miles north east of London) and has rained all day. My husband, who is one of the famous 'London Cabbies' tells me it's very wet down there too at the moment.

Hope you have all the supplies you need for Christmas if you have been 'snowed in'.

have a great holiday.

Julie

[DrummondStreet]

Hi Julie,

Many thanks for your concern. Luckily, I went grocery shopping yesterday and have plenty to eat. I also picked up the second season of Downton Abbey on DVD from the library, so I have something to pass the time.

Everything should be back to normal by Friday. In fact, I can hear the snow plows on the street right now. Heavy snowfall is a common occurrence in my part of the country, so everyone is always well prepared. It is very, very rare that the university should close, however. The students are in the midst of finals, but exams were cancelled for the day.

Would you enjoy a white Christmas across the pond or do you prefer it sunny and dry?

Happy holidays to you (and everyone else), too!

[Limehouse]

I'd like a white Christmas if I could just look out at it and not have to go shopping or go to work! Snow is never cleared from the paths or roads where I live, so if I have to walk to work, it's a terrifying experience trying to dodge the slippery bits.

A sunny and dry Christmas would be strange. Some of my family are visitng Australia right now and they tell me (via Facebook) how odd it is to be in the middle of summer in December!

[Cogidubnus]

No snow in Bognor so far...plenty of bloody floodwater (again) but no snow...

All the best

Dave

[Bridewell]

No snow in Bognor so far...plenty of bloody floodwater (again) but no snow...

All the best

Dave

Non-stop rain in Leicestershire. There's standing water at the end of the road here and the Winterbeck, which is normally a meandering brook is once again close to the top of its banks. If there's a snowman around here it will be made of sandbags.

Regards, Bridewell.

[DrummondStreet]

Julie: did you ever have snow for Christmas when you were a child? I lived in London several years ago and was so disappointed when the natives informed me that London had not had a white Christmas in a very long time. Just rain. The switch from snow to rain must be a 20th Century development. I've looked at Victorian photos of England that depict snow covered cities and landscapes, but that seems so uncommon nowadays.

Might any of our older British Casebook participants remember when the White Christmas was placed on the endangered species list?

Anyway, I already have cabin fever and I've been trapped indoors for less than a day. My lights were flickering; I really hope I don't lose electricity. Can't wait to get out tomorrow when everything has been cleared.

[sdreid]

We had some here in Illinois today. It ended our record of 291 days without any snow.

[DrummondStreet]

sdreid: I'm north of you in Wisconsin and in the midst of winter storm "Draco." We're expected to get 12-20 inches.

It ended our record of 291 days without any snow.

Last winter was absolutely pitiful for us, too. We didn't even get a proper snow storm until mid January.

[yen_powell]

Yesterday I rode to work in London in that 'snow' that soaks you through! My bike gear is still dripping this morning.

The only white about this christmas is the white bloom that appears on my boots from the repeated wetting and drying they are currently being treated to.

[Limehouse]

Julie: did you ever have snow for Christmas when you were a child? I lived in London several years ago and was so disappointed when the natives informed me that London had not had a white Christmas in a very long time. Just rain. The switch from snow to rain must be a 20th Century development. I've looked at Victorian photos of England that depict snow covered cities and landscapes, but that seems so uncommon nowadays.

Might any of our older British Casebook participants remember when the White Christmas was placed on the endangered species list?

Anyway, I already have cabin fever and I've been trapped indoors for less than a day. My lights were flickering; I really hope I don't lose electricity. Can't wait to get out tomorrow when everything has been cleared.

Hi Drummond,

Well, when I was five years old, and living in London with my parents, we experienced the coldest winter on record (1962). I don't think it actually snowed on Christmas Day, but soon afterwards snow covered the country for months. It was very cold indeed - and we had only a coal fire in the main family room - no heating anywhere else in the house!

Of course, we all went to school, and when the school heating broke down (school heated by a kind of furnace that warmed water and piped it round the building) we sat in our coats, hats and gloves and carried on learning!

We had a white Christmas here in Cambridgeshire about three years or so back. It snowed a few days before Christmas and was, for this region, quite thick (about 20 cms) - but i know that can't compete with parts of the USA!

Hope you can get out and about today!

[Robert]

1962-3 was huge fun. Lots of snow, ice and slush. Kids don't feel the cold.

[DrummondStreet]

I found an article on the "big freeze" of '62. It has several great photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20785406

Does this bring back any memories for you guys ?

[Robert]

Oh yes, it's true, as late as March there was unmelted ice in the gutters.

My parents had a new-born baby to keep warm. They used to get an old pair of trousers, or something like that, stuff the legs with warm material and put them down at the bottoms of doors to keep out the draught.

I don't remember feeling cold.

I'm afraid today's weather forecasts seem to be done with tea leaves.

[Limehouse]

1962-3 was huge fun. Lots of snow, ice and slush. Kids don't feel the cold.

Oh yes! I remember the boys making a huge long slide across the playground. If you were brave enough, you gave it a bit of a run-up and then woooooshshshsh - off you slid - and if you were lucky you didn't land on your backside!