Fourteen years ago, Dundee faced one of the most extreme weather events in its history.
Over the weekend of 28-29 November 2010, a freak storm brought the city to a standstill, leaving a lasting impact on its residents and the region.
Part of the broader 2010-11 winter season, which saw record-breaking snowfall across the UK, the Thundersnow storm was an unforgettable chapter in Dundee’s history.
This season marked one of the coldest Decembers on record, with temperatures dropping to unprecedented lows.
For the people of Dundee, however, it was the rare and dramatic Thundersnow phenomenon that truly defined this time.
What is Thundersnow?
Thundersnow resembles a traditional thunderstorm, but instead of rain, it delivers snow—sometimes in astonishing amounts.
During this event, Dundee experienced between 8 and 10 inches of snow falling rapidly, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and fierce winds.
The climatic conditions of the North Sea created what The Courier once described as “the perfect storm”, transforming the city overnight into a snowy and chaotic scene.
The dramatic lightning strikes and booming thunder early on 28 November 2010 startled many residents awake. Streets were covered in snow, major roads became impassable, and public transport came to a halt.
The storm caused significant disruption in the city, with 3,500 properties losing power due to snow-laden trees collapsing onto power lines.
In some instances, buildings were struck by lightning, including the Tayside Police headquarters, which lost its non-emergency phone line.
Throughout Dundee and the surrounding areas, the disruption was significant.
Schools were closed, and families resorted to using sledges to gather supplies, while gridlocked roads left drivers stranded for hours.
Non-urgent services were suspended, and the community came together to support one another during this challenging time.
By St Andrew’s Day, new snowstorms added further disruption, ensuring that the chaos continued into December.
The Thundersnow storm of 2010 remains etched in Dundee’s memory. Each year, locals commemorate the event in a humorous manner, and it has become a touchstone for stories of resilience and shared experience.
A recent exhibition at the Federation Gallery in the Keiller Centre features a breathtaking panoramic shot of the Dundee skyline taken from the Law during the storm—a stark reminder of the city’s dramatic brush with nature’s power.
Fourteen years on, the story of the Thundersnow storm continues to resonate. It serves as a reminder of how a city united in the face of unprecedented weather, with moments of humour and humanity shining through the ice and snow.
And, of course, we still joke about it to this day.
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