CoastView - Sussex coast in winter

Snow, ice and frost are rare along the Sussex coast. However, heavy snowfall can occur as the series of images taken on 22 January 1963 illustrate. Photographs taken by D. Pankhurst. Further down this page are images of frost shattered rock on the shore platform.

Slush on the water close to shore dampens the wave motion that can be seen further offshore.
Slush, snow and sea ice left on the shoreplatform during the receeding tide.
Snow drift below the sea wall at Peacehaven. Note also the slush on the water damping any wave motion.
Snow and ice on a groyne.
Snow drift on the coast road. Looking west from the road cutting near Beacon Hill (west of Rottingdean) with Roedean School in the background.

Frost shattering of chalk on the shore platform occurs only during very severe winters such as in January 1985 and February 1986. Images below show examples of frost shattered rock taken by D. A. Robinson. A detailed description can be found in Robinson, D.A. and L.C. Jerwood 1987: Sub-aerial weathering of chalk shore platforms during harsh winters in southeast England. Marine Geology, 77: 1-14

The junction of the cliff and shore platform displaying surface spalling. Black glove for scale left of centre.
Split rock on shore platform with large and smaller angular rock fragments. Lens cap for scale.
In situ shattered boulder (snow capped) that has not yet fallen apart. Lens cap for scale.