It could have been a scene from a Swiss ski resort, but these magical scenes were much closer to home when the snow came to Hastings between Christmas and New Year.
More than 12cms of the white stuff fell, making it one of the heaviest falls in the country. Pictures were featured in almost all the national newspapers showing the fairy tale charm of our snowy town. 
Temperatures dropped to a freezing minus five degrees but the snow came too late for those who had placed a bet for a white Christmas. Not a single flake of snow fell in cities where bets were placed. Last year saw an average of 25 days of heavy snow across the country. This was last seen in 1876. Not surprisingly many snowmen were built across the town but according to popular myth, snowmen were originally built to scare away evil winter spirits, rather than as frosty playmates.
Snow rarely lies on the ground at sea level before November and we are more prone to snow falling because of an eastern airflow bringing in the showers. 
Did you know that 25mm of rain equals 30cm of 'wet snow?
A single snowstorm could drop 40 million tonnes of snow carrying the energy equivalent of 120 atom bombs.
We might grumble about the weather, especially when it is cold and wet, but blizzards in Antarctica regularly include winds travelling at 193km an hour.
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This page last updated: 22/03/2006