Persistent convective snowfall in the South Lakes, Cumbria – 2 December 2023

On Saturday 2 December 2023, a persistent stream of snow showers affected south Cumbria through much of the day and into the following night, originating from the Irish Sea. As much as 30–40cm of snow accumulated in parts of the South Lakes, unprecedented in modern records according to local long-standing weather observers, and resulted in significant transport and power disruption. This short article examines the meteorological setup responsible and briefly highlights some of the challenges in forecasting snow accumulations from maritime convection.