The December 2022 United Kingdom cold wave was a spell of unseasonably cold weather that affected the United Kingdom between 8 December and 18 December. It was considered to be one of most significant spells of low temperatures since the winter of 2010–11, with overnight temperatures widely falling below −10 °C (14 °F) on several occasions.[1] Heavy snowfall also affected large parts of the country, resulting in travel disruption, power outages, and school closures.[2][3]
On 5 December 2022, the UKHSA issued a level 3 cold weather alert for every region in England, suggesting a high probability of severe cold weather and icy conditions.[4] By 8 December, temperatures plummeted across the country with the arrival of an arctic maritime air mass, and several ice warnings were issued by the Met Office.[5] Snow fell across parts of Scotland, which led to travel disruption on the roads, particularly in Aberdeenshire.[6] In the following days, snow also began to fall across other parts of the country, and temperatures plummeted even further. On 11 December, a snowfall event affected southern England and the Midlands, with accumulations exceeding 20 cm (8 in) in some areas.[7] In London, there was widespread distruption caused by the snow, and several airports around the city were affected by flight delays and cancellations, including Heathrow and Gatwick.[8] On 12 December, the country experienced its coldest day since December 2010, with Braemanr in Aberdeenshire recording a maximum temperature of −9.3 °C (15.3 °F).[9] The cold spell eventually came to an abrupt end by 18 December, which led to some water pipes bursting as a result of a 'freeze-thaw' event.[10]
Incidents
On 11 December, four boys fell through ice which accumulated on the surface of Babbs Mill Lake in Solihull, resulting in their deaths.[11] An inquest heard that they fell into the frozen lake after feeding ducks and skimming stones, and it was concluded that their deaths were accidental.[12]
