The Big Freeze

The Big Freeze began in the early hours of a November morning with freezing winds sweeping in from the north.

Across the continents, three billion people froze to death in the first two days; a third of the worlds population. Over the following period into the early weeks of the new year, a further billion would perish. And with roads and rivers blocked by snow and ice, transport of people and provisions drastically diminished.

After The Big Freeze, the entire British Army, Navy and Airforce were recalled to the UK as forecasters predicted the coldest winter since 1709.

On the night of 3rd January the temperature fell dramatically and kept on falling. On 10 January, The Big Freeze really hit hard. The temperature in London was -20 °C, the lowest temperature ever experienced by the Capital. Although Mainland Europe did not suffer as badly the weather still caused devastation. In Paris, the temperatude fell to -15 °C on 7th January. The freezing temperatures did not rise above -5 °C for several weeks.

The Big Freeze devastated Europe and not only humans suffered. The greater population of wildlife across Europe began to freeze to death. Only the combined efforts of animal wildlife charities and Greenpeace along with thousands of volunteers who built shelters and provided food, prevented a total catastrophe. Without their help it is estimated that over 95% of the wildlife population would have perished. The soil froze to a depth of between one and two metres. Lakes and rivers froze.