FREEZE CONTINUES

Chronicle (Levin), 25 February 1947, Page 5

FREEZE CONTINUES

Press Assn,

Longest Period of Frost in History

By Telegraph

.-Cbpyright

Received Tuesday, 1U.4& a,m. LONDON, Feb. 24. Snow and ice froze Britain today — the coldest day for many years. Reports of extreme cold c&me from country districts. The village of Bitteswell in Leicestershire recorded 9 degrees below zero, Banbury four degrees, Moreton-in-Marsh two degrees, and Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire one degree below zero. Near zero temperatures were recorded in various other parts of Engiand. Freezing temperatures have now continued in Engiand for ten days, which is the longest recorded period of continuous frost in history. Nine days of frost were recorded in ,1841. The temperature in London at 6 a.m. today was 23 degrees — two degrees below the lowest overnight temperature. At 1 p.m. it rose to 33 degrees, being above freezing point for the first time since February 14. The Thames froze at Windsor and the River Avon froze at Bristol bridge for the first time for 60 yeafs. It was so cold at Marketrasen that hungry crows were attacking sheep. In contrast to the rest of the country, North Scotland towns recorded 34 to 35 degrees. Peasoup fog blanketed London sbon after 9 a.m. and offices, already dimmed through power restrictions, become gloomier. The fog froze on car windscreens and long lines of traffic crawled along afterial roads around London, and tfains arrived up to 90 minutes late.