30th November 1788 - earliest known case of a long unbroken frost
began on this date, lasting until early January 1789. Although the
winter overall didn't stand out as regards severity, December, and
to a lesser extent January, were bitterly cold. The CET value for
December 1788 was -0.3degC, some 4.4C below the 'all-series' mean
for that month, and for January 1789, the value of 1.5degC was
nearly 2C below the 'all-series' mean. December 1788 in particular
is comfortably in the 'top-5' of coldest Decembers in the CET
series. The Thames was completely frozen during this severe winter
(implying a persistence of sub-zero temperatures) and a frost fair
was held on the river, with the usual reports of sports / pastimes
etc. "Deep snow" is noted in contemporary reports, diaries etc.
(In the London area, the 'hard frost' is noted as having lasted
from the 25th November, 1788 to the 14th January, 1789.(LW)
The combination of the extreme drought of 1788
(q.v.) & the bitter, frosty conditions, meant that water was
in very short supply in the winter of 1788/89; much 'profiteering'
as small quantities of water were sold for high prices.