The earliest date of snowfall observed at sea from merchant ships was November 12th, when the M.V. Glamis reported sleet showers from 17 miles east of the Tyne to iz miles off Coquet lighthouse between 20.45 hr. and 23.00 hr. Sleet and snow showers were reported between Harwich and the Dowsing lightship on the 17th and 18th. Considerable snowfalls occurred from the 21st to the 28th, from Loch Maddy in the Hebrides to the Thames and across the North Sea to Bremerhaven. The S.S. Marlwood reported heavy snowfall in the Thames estuary from 17.20 hr. to 22.00 hr. on the 26th, and the M.V. Crombie reported a severe snowstorm on the 21st at a point in mid-North Sea to miles east-north-east of the Pit Buoy.
In December moderate to heavy snow showers were widespread from the 11th to 17th. The M.V. Loch Carron reported moderate snowfalls on the 14th and 15th between Barra and Lochboisdale in the Hebrides; and on the 15th the S.S. Dalewood reported heavy continuous snowfall from midnight to 05.32 hr. off the east coast between the Dowsing and Corton lightships. On this day the S.S. Bestwood, moored at Charlton Buoy in the Thames, reported heavy snow from 05.00 hr. to 07.00 hr. and the M.V. Oriole encountered heavy sleet and snow showers between the Nore Towers and London Docks. Heavy squalls of snow on this day were reported between Trevose Point, Cornwall, and Foreland Point, Lynmouth, by the S.S. Fulham IV. This ship also reported heavy snow in squalls off Dunster, Bristol Channel, on the 27th. The M.V. Errol reported heavy snow and sleet showers at Dundee on the 30th.
In January snow showers were widespread from the Tyne to the English Channel. On the 2nd the M.V. Cortachy encountered moderate snow showers between Flamborough Head and Longstone lighthouse, between noon and 22.50 hr., and the M.V. Oriole reported intermittent snow and sleet between Le Havre and the North Goodwin lightship from 09.00 hr. on the 3rd to 12.20 hr. on the 4th.
On the 31st, between Lochboisdale and Usinish Point in the Hebrides, the M.V. Loch Carron reported heavy showers of snow, accompanied by a north-north-westerly gale, from 04.00 hr. to 15.00 hr. The M.V. Accum and the M.V. Edinburgh Merchant, anchored in Yarmouth Roads, reported continuous snowfall from 23.00 hr. to midnight.
In February snowfalls were widespread between the 6th and 15th; the M.V. Arbroath met with squalls of snow on the 6th between the Fame Islands and St. Abb’s Head; and the M.V. Lochee encountered heavy squalls in the North Sea from a point 160 miles north-west of P8. L.V. (off Germany) on the 4th, to a point 4 miles north-east of St. Abb’s Head on the 6th. The S.S. Marl-wood reported a heavy snowstorm at 11.00 hr. on the 6th when leaving Blyth, which reduced visibility to nil, and on this date the S.S. Dalewood reported continuous heavy snow off Whitby between 13.15 hr. and 14.50 hr.
On the 7th, the S.S. Birdwood reported one hour of continuous heavy snow between the Cromer and Dudgeon lightships, which gave a half-inch layer on decks and reduced visibility to nil. Further south, between the Corton and Newarp lightships, the S.S. Cerne met with continuous snow from
03.25 hr. to 05.22 hr. On the 11th and 12th, between Longstone lighthouse and Cross Sand lightship, the M.V. Gowrie reported 24 hours of heavy snow showers, and on the 13th, between Orfordness and Limehouse, she experienced a further 9 hours of heavy showers of snow. On the 14th, the M.V.Gannochy met with frequent heavy snow showers between the North Goodwin lightship and Dungeness. The S.S. Pinewood reported light snow showers on the 15th in the Orwell at Ipswich.
In March snowfalls were confined to Hebridean waters, where the M.V. Loch Carron reported heavy snow showers from Loch Dunvegan, Skye, on the 28th to Tirec on the 30th.
The only snowfall reported in April was on the 15th, when the S.S. London Merchant reported snow showers between the Fame Islands and St. Abb’s Head, from 12.40 hr. to 14.40 hr.
Fig. 1
