page_title: Winter of 1990–91 in Western Europe
section_title: February 1991
hierarchical_section_title: Winter of 1990–91 in Western Europe / February 1991
caption_attribution_description: English: It did used to snow in Darfield. Sledging down the bridleway.
context_page_description: The winter of 1990–91 was a particularly cold winter in Western Europe, noted especially for its effect on the United Kingdom, and for two significantly heavy falls of snow which occurred in December 1990 and February 1991. Sandwiched in between was a period of high winds and heavy rain which caused widespread damage. The winter was the coldest since January 1987, and the snowfall experienced in many parts of the United Kingdom would not be seen again until the snowfall of February 2009.
context_section_description: The second snow event of the winter occurred in early February 1991 and brought the coldest weather since January 1987. Unlike the previous storm it hit much of Europe, freezing rivers and lakes, and even the canals of Venice which froze over for the first time since 1985. In France the French Riviera experienced its heaviest snowfall for five years leading to traffic chaos – many drivers were stranded on the coastal road between Nice and Antibes, while elsewhere two people were killed after becoming exposed to the cold weather, and horse racing at the Mediterranean resort of Cagnes-sur-Mer was cancelled due to snowfall. The southern Soviet Union which usually experienced fairly mild winters saw temperatures fall to −10C, while Spitsbergen in Norway enjoyed unseasonably mild weather.
  In the United Kingdom the snow was brought in by a cold easterly wind. At first it was mostly concentrated in the eastern counties of England, although it quickly spread inland. By the evening of 6 February many parts of England and Wales were experiencing snow showers, and by the following morning many areas woke to a covering of powdery snow. Along with this came a severe frost coupled with sub-zero temperatures, and heavy snowfalls which continued to fall throughout the day. Temperatures were as low as −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) and did not exceed −5 °C (23 °F) in many areas. Snow depths were in excess of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) across England and drifted in the easterly wind. On higher ground levels reached 30 centimetres (12 in). Villages on Exmoor were cut off by drifts approaching 2 metres (6 ft 7 in).
  Once again the snow brought travel chaos to much of the country, particularly to the railways, with British Rail making its now infamous excuse that severe delays to services were being caused by the wrong type of snow. Heathrow Airport was forced to cancel flights, while Birmingham and Gatwick were closed. Cars were abandoned as roads and motorways became impassable, and canals, ponds and even part of the Bristol Channel froze over.
  By 8 February conditions had deteriorated further, with depths of snow approaching 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in many areas. London recorded 20 centimetres (7.9 in), with parts of Yorkshire recording 51 centimetres (20 in). Bingley in West Yorkshire had 47 centimetres (19 in) and Pencelli in Powys 35 centimetres (14 in). After temperatures dropped to −10 °C (14 °F) on the night of 8–9 February, conditions eased slightly the following day and continued to do so on 10 February. However, night-time temperatures remained low, and there was a fresh snowfall on 12 February. After this high pressure began to move across the UK and despite further night time frosts a slow thaw began. On 20 February an Atlantic system arrived bringing mild south westerly winds and rain which escalated the thaw and allowed temperatures to return to double figures.
caption: People sledging in Darfield, South Yorkshire in February 1991.
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