Wooden bench in foreground with trees in background and snow covering the ground and tree branches

Winter - the coldest season

Winter in the UK is typically the coldest season with the shortest days often accompanied by unsettled weather conditions.

Winter in the UK is a season of dramatic change—marked by shorter days, colder temperatures, and a unique blend of weather and seasonal traditions.

When does winter start?

The start of winter in the UK depends on whether you use the astronomical or meteorological definition:

Meteorological winter

The season’s start is always on 1 December and it ends on the last day of February (28th or 29th in a leap year). This method divides the year into four fixed three-month seasons, making it easier to compare weather statistics.

Astronomical winter

Begins with the winter solstice, when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn. This is usually around 21 December, and the season ends around 20 March. These dates can shift slightly each year due to the Earth’s elliptical orbit.

Signs of winter

Winter is marked by several distinctive signs:

  • Shorter Days: The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year, with daylight lasting just 7 hours and 50 minutes—almost nine hours less than the longest day in summer.
  • Earliest sunset: Interestingly, the earliest sunset occurs a few days before the solstice due to the way our clocks align with the Earth’s orbit.
  • Nature’s adaptations: Some animals, like reindeer in the Arctic, adapt to the darkness by changing the colour of tissue in their eyes to see better in low light.

Weather in winter

Winter in the UK is known for its unsettled weather:

  • Coldest season: Winter is typically the coldest season, with the lowest temperatures and the highest chance of snow and frost.
  • Average temperature: The long-term average for UK winter is 4.09°C (1991–2020).
  • Coldest winter on record: December 1962 to February 1963 when snowdrifts of 6 metres deep were recorded in southwest England and Wales.
  • Snow types: Snow can be “dry” (powdery and loose, ideal for skiing) or “wet” (sticky and heavy, perfect for snowballs and snowmen), depending on the temperature as snowflakes fall.
  • There are many factors that influence winter weather in the UK including the North Atlantic Oscillation. Read more about these global drivers.

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