The winter of 1962–1963 (also known as The Big Freeze of 1963) was one of the coldest winters on record in the United Kingdom.[1] Temperatures plummeted and lakes and rivers began to freeze over. In the Central England Temperature (CET) record, extending back to 1659, only the winter (defined as the months of December, January and February) of 1683–84 has been significantly colder, with 1739–40 being slightly colder than 1962–63. However, the winter did not rank so highly in Scotland for its severity as it did in England and Wales.
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A very cold easterly set in on 22 December and parts of the South of England in particular had heavy snow late on 26 December (Boxing Day) continuing into 27 December.
On 29–30 December 1962, a blizzard swept across the South West of England and Wales. Snow drifted to over 20 feet (6.1 m) deep in places, blocking roads and railways. The snow stranded villagers and brought down powerlines. The near freezing temperatures meant that the snow cover lasted for over two months in some areas. Snow lay to 6 inches (15 cm) depth in Manchester city centre, 9 inches (23 cm) in Wythenshawe, and about 18 inches (45 cm) at Keele University in Staffordshire.
In January 1963 the country started to freeze solid with temperatures as low as −16 °C (3.2 °F) in places. Freezing fog was a hazard for most of the country.[2]
In January 1963 the sea froze for 1 mile (1.6 km) out from shore at Herne Bay, Kent;[3][4] BBC television news expressed a fear that the Strait of Dover would freeze across. The upper reaches of the River Thames also froze over,[2][5] though it did not freeze in Central London, partly due to the hot effluent from two thermal power stations, Battersea and Bankside: the removal of the old multi-arched mediaeval London Bridge, which obstructed the river's free flow, and the river embankments, make the river less likely to freeze in London than in earlier times (see River Thames frost fairs). The ice was thick enough in some places that people were skating on it. Icicles hung from many roof gutterings; some of these were as long as a metre (3 feet, 3 inches).
In February 1963 more snow came. It was also stormy with winds reaching Force 8 on the Beaufort scale (gale force winds).
A 36-hour blizzard caused heavy drifting snow in most parts of the country. Drifts reached 20 feet (6.1 m) in some areas. Gale force winds howled with wind speeds reaching up to 81 mph (130 km/h). On the Isle of Man, wind speeds were recorded at 119 mph (191 km/h).
The thaw set in during early March; 6 March was the first morning of the year without any frost anywhere in Britain. The temperatures soon soared to 17 °C (62.6 °F) and the remaining snow rapidly disappeared.
One of the most noticeable consequences of the freezing conditions which hit the UK in the winter of 1962/63 was the enormous disruption to the national sporting calendar. For many weeks football matches in both the English and Scottish leagues suffered because of the severe effects of the winter weather.[1] Several ties in the 1962–63 FA Cup had to be scheduled more than ten times. From 8 December to 16 February, Bolton Wanderers played no competitive matches.[6] Both codes of rugby, union and league, went much the same way.[7] All this occurred in the days well before under-soil heating became widespread at major venues. By the time the thaw arrived, huge backlogs of fixtures had to be hastily dealt with.
National Hunt horse racing was also badly affected, with 94 meetings cancelled during the freeze. There was no racing in England between 23 December and 7 March inclusive, although a meeting at Ayr in Scotland went ahead on 5 January.[8]
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