Winter 1947: 'General Inference' and Discussion at 0600 on 4th February 1947

'A depression in the Channel is filling up steadily and drifting southeast.Weather will be generally dull with occasional rain, sleet or snow in most districts but there will be a few bright periods in Northwest Scotland. The rain will occur more especially in the South and near the coasts elsewhere. Over high ground in the Midlands, North England and South Scotland there will be considerable snow especially in the east. Later the precipitation will become snow or sleet generally. Visibility will be poor generally except in the Northwest where it will be moderate to good. Much fog will occur especially in the Midlands and Southeast. It will become somewhat colder in the South and Midlands. Slight frost will develop in many areas tonight and will persist locally tomorrow'

At 0600 hours-low pressure centred over the Channel Is and high pressure over Scandinavia. Generally NE/E winds over Britain. Occluded front Essex to N Devon. A cloudy picture with a broad zone of precipitation, as far N as S.Scotland, ahead of the front (earlier map had shown two other fronts aligned E-W across Midlands and N. England respectively). In the south precipitation is rain but from Midlands northwards to Scottish Borders, snow is falling (Tynemouth, wind E Force 7, continuous moderate snow, 33°F). Temperatures at 0600 are highest in the Southwest, Scilly 43°F (6.1°C) and remain above freezing away from the area of falling snow in the Midlands, N.England and S Scotland. Eskdalemuir is the coldest on 30°F (-1.1°C). In the previous 24 hours many places in the SE and Midlands have recorded >10mm precipitation (Little Rissington Glos, 731' asl - 18mm) and in the case of the Midlands this has been in the form of snow. The near continent is also cloudy with the lowest temperature,18°F (-7.8°C) ...on the Dutch/German border.

Overnight temperatures-coldest Dalwhinnie, Inverness, on 27°F (-2.8°C) warmest Scilly on 41°F (5.0°C). Previous day's temperatures-coldest Dalwhinnie, on 31°F (-0.6°C) and the warmest Predannack (S.Cornwall 51°F (10.6°C).

Snow cover/depth-generally much reduced in the South and South East. However in the Midlands and North snow cover is reported. The greatest depth is 8" at Little Rissington, Finningly reports 7", Waddington 6", W.Raynham 5" (interesting contrast between N.Norfolk and the rest of East Anglia which is milder) and Hawarden (nr Chester) 3"