Who remembers the big freeze? A year after Britain ground to a halt under snow and ice, pictures show this season's warmer winter
By Jessica Satherley
Last updated at 4:51 PM on 4th December 2011
This was the scene at the Sandown Racecourse a year ago as it lay under a blanket of snow in Surrey.
A year later the course was photographed again, and this week there was not a snowflake in sight - instead only green fields on the mild December morning.
After one of the warmest Novembers on record, December has begun with a balmy start in southern England, despite snow hitting northern parts of the country last night.
All white: The Sandown Racecourse on was covered in heavy snow on the 3rd of December in 2010 but a year later (below) there's not a snow flake in sight
Glorious green: The Sandown Racecourse pictured a year later in 2011 without any frost on the course
These contrasting photographs show the stark difference in temperatures on the same days exactly one year apart.
A year ago Brighton’s shoreline was covered in inches of snow, but a year later sunshine was beaming down on the coast, with temperatures reaching 10 degrees.
As the Big Freeze gripped southern Britain in December 2010, parks in Essex looked like ski fields and roads in Surrey almost came to a standstill in the frost.
The unusually early dumping of snow in 2010 was the start of the big freeze which gripped the nation, with hundreds of flights cancelled, drivers stranded in their cars overnight on the M25 and a trainload of people trapped in carriages from Kent to London.
Stark contrast: The Sandown Racecourse in Surrey as a bleak winter's day on December 3 in 2010
Not so chilly: The Sandown Racecourse in Surrey a year later in the mild winter of 2011
This year, having just experienced one of the warmest autumns on record, it would be easy to forget that winter starts with the arrival of December.
So far, most of us have not needed to dig out our woolly jumpers and cosy coats - even in early December.
Scotland enjoyed its warmest November on record last month according to the Met Office, with the mean temperature being 7.7C, compared to the previous warmest recorded in 1994 of 7.5C.
While the UK as a whole had a mean temperature of 11.2C over the period from September to November – the second warmest since records began in 1910.
Chilly Brighton: Snowy scene were captured on Brighton beach after overnight snow on December 2 in 2010
Bright Brighton: A year later in 2011, Brighton pier has blue skies and not a hint of snow
Met Office forecaster Alexander Fox told the BBC: ‘The mild November was caused by winds blowing largely from a warm south or southwesterly direction, with a notable lack of cold northerly winds.
Meteorologists consider autumn to last from September to November, and winter from December to February.
Stephen Davenport from MeteoGroup said the central England temperature (CET) for this November was approximately 9.6C, well above the average from when records began of 7C. However, last November the CET figure was a chilly 5.1C.
The forecaster said: 'Last November's cold temperatures were backloaded to the end of the month.'
A year on: The British Waterways building in Nottingham in the snow at the beginning of December in 2010 (left) and this year's warmer contrast (right)
Snowy Essex: On the fourth of December 2010 South Weald Park in Brentwood, Essex, was covered in show
Sunny Essex: A year later in 2011, South Weald Park in Brentwood, Essex, is a sunny field
He said it plunged to a numbing minus 18C in the Brecon Beacons on the night of November 27 - a record low for the month in Wales.
This time last year large parts of the country were hit with heavy snow, particularly in eastern regions.
Around 10 to 15 inches were recorded in Lincolnshire over the night of November 30 into December 1.
The last night of autumn last year was coldest for Scotland, with some parts reaching minus 10C, and it was well below zero in many other places in the UK.
This year it is considerably milder, ranging from around freezing in Scotland to 10C in the South.
Out in the garden: Bunty Orchard, 87, was pictured clearing show out of her front yard in Kippen, Scotland, at the start of December 2010
Enjoying the warmth: Bunty Orchard, 87, this week pictured clipping her tree's branches in the sun
Driving conditions: On the second of December in 2010 (left) cars were covered in snow in Fratton Park, Portsmouth, but today (right) there's not an inch in sight
The forecaster said that although there is a noticeable difference between 2010 and 2011, this November has been more 'normal'.
'The last couple of years it has tended to be a lot colder in November,' he said.
'But this year has been more normal, with the rain and fluctuating winds we might expect in a British autumn.'
Despite the mild temperatures in southern parts of the country though, up to three inches of snow fell across Cumbria, County Durham and parts of Northumberland overnight.
Rough riding conditions: This cyclist was seen battling through the snow on December 2 2010 in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire
Smooth riding conditions: A year later in 2011, this cyclist is enjoying the fine weather in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire
Seaside fun: These two snow lovers made the most of the cold weather on Brighton beach in December 2010
Seaside fun: But they didn't show up a year later to the same beach when there was no snow on the shoreline
Walking the dog: Going for a drive and walking the dog was almost impossible this time last year in Boroughshane Co Antrim
Walking the dog: A year later in 2011 it was still chilly but bearable in Boroughshane Co Antrim
Not a good day for cricket: Snow at the Essex County Cricket ground in Chelmsford, Essex, at the start of December in 2010
Nice day for cricket: Blue skies at the Essex County Cricket ground in Chelmsford, Essex, a year later
Rail disruptions: A frozen train making its way through the snow in Horley on December 2 2010
Warm tracks: A year later the sun is shining down on the tracks in Horley
Icy roads: A car was abandoned in the snow in Surrey on December 2 last year
Clear conditions: A year later the roads are safe and clear
Frozen ship: Nelson's historic flagship, HMS Victory, at Portsmouth Dockyard in Hampshire in the snow in December 2010
Chilly but clear skies: Nelson's historic flagship, HMS Victory, at Portsmouth Dockyard in Hampshire a year later
Dangerous driving: The M25 motorway in Reigate covered in the snow a year ago
Safer roads: The M25 motorway in Reigate this week
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2069821/UK-weather-A-year-big-freeze-UKs-warmer-weather-pictured.html#ixzz1fgqS4JBT
