What If? It was the coldest winter in history?

[Skullzrulerz]

I be happy in my lifetime.

[tadpole]

If it was the coldest winter in history it would lead to a population cull of the elderly, very young, sick, and anyone who has an average income as they wouldn't be able to afford the heating bills.

National grid would collapse and we'd probably run out of gas even if you could afford to pay for it. So no thanks, don't want to make history and end up dead!

[March Blizzard]

If it was the coldest winter in history it would lead to a population cull of the elderly, very young, sick, and anyone who has an average income as they wouldn't be able to afford the heating bills.National grid would collapse and we'd probably run out of gas even if you could afford to pay for it. So no thanks, don't want to make history and end up dead!

Really? Makes you wonder how those Canadians cope...

[smithyweather]

They cope pretty easily. -30c weather is not going to kill us.

Anyway I would love it to be the coldest winter in history. That means that we would actually experience a proper arctic winter i.e. 100 ice days. My aim in life for weather is actually to see 100 ice days in my home place. 

[Captain Shortwave]

Really? Makes you wonder how those Canadians cope...

Because they have in year in year out and are readily prepared, but still many many people die but mainly from extremes such as winter storms.

There would be many many people who would have to chose from either almost starving to death or freezing to death. Whilst lots of snow and ice is nice and all, the effects on the economy and standard of living (especially for the poor) would be disastrous. 

It's easy to sit back if you have the money, but remember millions do not

Edited October 13, 2013 by Captain shortwave

[March Blizzard]

Because they have in year in year out and are readily prepared, but still many many people die but mainly from extremes such as winter storms.There would be many many people who would have to chose from either almost starving to death or freezing to death. Whilst lots of snow and ice is nice and all, the effects on the economy and standard of living (especially for the poor) would be disastrous. It's easy to sit back if you have the money, but remember millions do not

You make valid points. I just thought that the assertion 3 quarters of the country would die was a bit far fetched, especially when you consider the coldest winter on record in the UK would still be relatively toasty in comparison to most places on or near our latitude.

[Bottesford]

I'd expect brownouts and gas shortages for sure. And yes a lot of folk would end up dead when the heat went off. Doesn't matter if Canada can deal with it - they're used to it. Iraq is used to +50c in summer but I somehow think we'd struggle with that too!

[smithyweather]

Well it depends what you mean by cold. If you mean Siberian style then yes people would die but I think if we got a 2010 style winter lasting for several months then I doubt we'd die. 

[Polar Maritime]

I would lap it up, whilst also trying to survive.

[Relativistic]

This forum would go mad for a bit, then probably get bored.

[Nights King]

If it was the coldest winter in history it would lead to a population cull of the elderly, very young, sick, and anyone who has an average income as they wouldn't be able to afford the heating bills.

National grid would collapse and we'd probably run out of gas even if you could afford to pay for it. So no thanks, don't want to make history and end up dead!

 

I find that hard to believe to be honest! used to it or not we humans can adapt to a hard winter! I myself am on slightly below average wage living in a rural hilly area with single glazed windows and un-insulated loft cavity but would be just fine.  As for gas we don't have that cheap luxury so wont miss it. In this day and age I am sure government would arrange extra heating allowance etc. They probably have a contingency plan in place already.

 

2010 style winter lasting 6 months not Antarctica obviously.

Edited October 13, 2013 by mullender83

[jonboy]

Well it depends what you mean by cold. If you mean Siberian style then yes people would die but I think if we got a 2010 style winter lasting for several months then I doubt we'd die. 

 

Some of the coldest winters saw the Thames freeze over. 2010 was a mild summers day in comparison. We rely on transport to get food into our shops London has only three days supply readily available just imagine if no transport could move for a week. Imagine who or how you would get food to the elderly or disabled.  Frozen pipes lack of heat and power. No please don't wish for something we are not remotely prepared for.

[March Blizzard]

Well it depends what you mean by cold. If you mean Siberian style then yes people would die but I think if we got a 2010 style winter lasting for several months then I doubt we'd die.

That's the point, Siberian levels of cold simply isn't obtainable in the UK, even In an ice age. Half the country didn't die in 47' or 63', so why would they now with our immeasurably more comfortable existance nowadays? The coldest winter we could get here would probably match an average Lithuanian winter, for example, and as far as I'm aware Eastern Europe doesn't bury half it's population every March.Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it would be pretty and that there wouldn't be far more winter excess deaths, I just don't subscribe to the apocalypse scenario.

[Milhouse]

The footy season would be cancelled, the economy would nosedive and mostly everyone would be depressed at not being able to go about their daily business.

[Summer Sun]

The footy season would be cancelled, the economy would nosedive and mostly everyone would be depressed at not being able to go about their daily business.

 

Yep the UK could not cope with a severe winter we are not prepared for it unlike like Canada where temperatures below -30c is common every winter

[EML Network]

If it was the coldest winter in history it would lead to a population cull of the elderly, very young, sick, and anyone who has an average income as they wouldn't be able to afford the heating bills.

National grid would collapse and we'd probably run out of gas even if you could afford to pay for it. So no thanks, don't want to make history and end up dead!

I bet the elderly would survive just fine. They know how to deal with a harsh winter !

We really don't give old people enough credit, I mean they went through a World War for crying out loud and a HARSH winter only a few years later and they did just fine , I think it's the 20 something's and the teenagers who would get caught out as some of them think they are untouchable and don't have respect for mother nature the same way the elderly do !

[Jax]

Think many are missing the fact that "back then" many people still had open fires and would stock up for winter with coal and wood etc anyway, lighting was not provided solely by gas or electric as many homes still used oil lamps and had parafin heaters,  modern homes would be dependant on the supply grid, and as for food, many grew and stocked their own so again the supply chain would be put under duress very quickly.

 

I would not like to have to endure a long drawn out winter such as being mooted, such an event would bring misery and chaos as the number of people around in the past was far less than it is now, so any contingency would have to be on such a massive scale it would become something difficult for any government to prepare for adequately.

 

No money, no food, how long would the "spirit" last when more and more people get desperate?

 

 

Doom I say!

Edited October 13, 2013 by Jax

[Mokidugway]

Construction industry would suffer badly, also our roads would finaly give up the ghost ,so not so cold please !!

[be cause]

I be happy in my lifetime.

The rest of us could be deep frozen and you would probably have a shower of sleet and a ground frost . If you are really pining for cold ... MOVE !!!

[Weather-history]

The question for me is: Is it the cold or the snow that is the real problem?

To me, it is the snow that is the problem. I think that the coldest winter on record wouldn't be quite as bad overall as the snowiest winter on record providing they don't coincide. Constant snow and blizzards would be highly disruptive but a severe cold winter with respite from the snow from time to time, you could just about manage. It depends on snow amounts.

[Captain Shortwave]

I would add that surely using the winter of 62/63 is  bit pointless given the thread is titled "the coldest winter on record"

Hence the winter could be much worse, in fact it would have to beat the winter of 1740 which caused chaos and resulted in a huge famine in Ireland.

[cheese]

Talk about melodramatic...

 

We'd be OK for the most part I think. The first few snowfalls would cause a headache, but after the initial disruption, we'd return to normality pretty quickly. It's only the first few snowfalls that cause problems - as long as it doesn't snow every day, there would be plenty of time for local authorities to clear snow. As for the cold - I don't buy into all of this talk of gas supplies running out. It strikes me as sensationalist nonsense. Issues would still persist though since many people simply can't afford to heat their home, but millions dying? A major population cull? Utter, utter tripe.

 

 

I would add that surely using the winter of 62/63 is  bit pointless given the thread is titled "the coldest winter on record"

Hence the winter could be much worse, in fact it would have to beat the winter of 1740 which caused chaos and resulted in a huge famine in Ireland.

 

Surely using 1740 as an example is a bit pointless given that it was a completely different time and with different capabilities. The comparison is automatically invalid IMO. 1962/3 was one of the coldest winters on record, so is a better example of how we'd cope with a very cold winter, since it was more recent.

Edited October 13, 2013 by cheese

[Jax]

Talk about melodramatic...

 

We'd be OK.

what about nature and lifestock?

 

I think to wish such a winter is not melodramatic but down right silly, we as a country are not designed or geared up for prolonged cold weather, we have neither the resources nor the experience to, other countries do however, so I suggest those that want it go there instead.

[March Blizzard]

I would add that surely using the winter of 62/63 is  bit pointless given the thread is titled "the coldest winter on record"Hence the winter could be much worse, in fact it would have to beat the winter of 1740 which caused chaos and resulted in a huge famine in Ireland.

How is including the winter of 63' pointless? It was the third coldest winter on record. The coldest UK winter on record wouldn't be drastically colder than that. 1740 was only marginally colder.

[cheese]

what about nature and lifestock?

 

I think to wish such a winter is not melodramatic but down right silly, we as a country are not designed or geared up for prolonged cold weather, we have neither the resources nor the experience to, other countries do however, so I suggest those that want it go there instead.

That's why I said, "We'd be OK for the most part." Of course issues would arise if we had the coldest winter on record - any extreme weather is going to cause issues, people are  going to suffer because of it, whether it's very cold weather, very hot weather, lots of rain or whatever else, but a few people are being a bit silly with their extreme suggestions.

 

And if we're going to get the coldest winter on record, then there is nothing you or I can do about it. People wishing for it does not make it more likely to occur - please, please, please allow that to sink into your head. Save the guilt trip - I've heard it enough on here to last a lifetime (I'm not even wishing for the coldest winter on record BTW)!

Edited October 13, 2013 by cheese