Newport made history back in January 1982, when it recorded a bone-chilling −26.1C, which is the lowest temperature ever recorded in England, according to the Met Office. This extreme cold is said to have caused diesel fuel in vehicles to freeze and is way below the average temperatures for the area in January. In January, average temperatures range from around 0C to 6C with occasional dips below 0C, which is far from the −26.1C from 1982.
This freezing temperature is said to have been the result of a combination of different factors. A heavy, powdery snowfall blanketed the area, and as skies cleared, the ground lost heat rapidly, leading to a sharp unprecedented drop in temperature.
The temperature was recorded by Bill Burrell at Harper Adams Agricultural College.
Mr Burrell told the Shropshire Star back in 2007: “It had snowed the night before but had cleared up and it was a lovely day – just bitterly, bitterly cold.”
That day wasn’t just historic for England as it also marked Scotland’s coldest temperature on record, with Braemar hitting a staggering −27.2C.
Another location in Scotland, Altnaharra, later matched that record low of −27.2C on December 30, 1995, becoming the joint lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK.
While Newport is now known as the coldest town in the UK, Braemar and Altnaharra are known as the coldest places in the UK overall.
Newport is a charming market town in Shropshire dating back to the 12th century.
Located on the border with Staffordshire, the market town is rich in charm and history and features a weekly market, an annual carnival, and a High Street adorned with beautiful Georgian and Victorian buildings.
About 35 minutes from Birmingham, Newport boasts landmarks like the 17th-century Guildhall and St. Nicholas’ Church, a variety of independent boutiques, traditional pubs, and cafes, and the nearby Shropshire Union Canal for scenic walks and cycling.
