Feb 07 2009
The Big Freeze Hits the UK - Great Britain in the Grip of Arctic Conditions – Heavy Snow Ice and Dangerous Weather falls across the UK – UK Snowed Under
The Big Freeze Hits the UK - Great Britain in the Grip of Arctic Conditions – Heavy Snow Ice and Dangerous Weather falls across the UK – UK Snowed Under
Yesterday both the Severn estuary bridges were closed, effectively cutting off England from Wales. Huge slabs of falling ice were crashing onto the bridges. Traffic was brought to a standstill and the bridges were quickly closed.
Luton and Bristol airports were closed due to the hazardous conditions and it is advised to call first about flights before travelling. Train travel is also disrupted as the Arctic conditions take hold.
The severe weather conditions saw the busy A3A3 brought to a halt. And many other major were roads were closed also due to the treacherous road conditions.
The heavy snowfall turned many roads into toboggan runs. 4,000 schools were closed and emergency services had trouble getting through in certain areas.
Frozen thunderstorms were experienced yesterday as lightening and thunder claps filled the sky. Trees and Power lines were brought down by the sheer weight of the falling snow and ice and now many people throughout Britain are without power and are living by candlelight.
The emergency services are receiving a larger amount of calls than is usual. Pensioners are freezing and without cooking facilities and are relying on the goodwill of their neighbours.
The Meals on Wheels service are doing their best to get through and deliver food to the old and needy but with the dangerous roads conditions it isn’t an easy job.
Football fixtures were cancelled and racing was called off. Britain is virtually at a standstill. In Exeter 200 vehicles lay abandoned, many buried by the snow. People are seeking shelter in emergency accommodation until the weather eases.
County after county it is the same story with many roads having been closed. Village shops have run dry and with no deliveries on the horizon things are looking bleak for the local villagers.
All important national supplies of salt for the purpose of gritting the roads has all but run out in cellars in the UK and emergency supplies are having to be imported by ship from abroad. Rock salt is normally used for this purpose but the gritters have been reduced to using common table salt till supplies arrive.
Drivers are angry at the lack of forethought when it is known that snow is on the way. They wonder why they pay such huge amounts to Council Tax and then pay the price again in inconvenience when the snow falls.
Great Britain is notorious for their lack of preparation for this event and every time there is a snowfall in the UK routine is brought to a halt and roads are gridlocked.
Temperatures dipped to -7 in Buckinghamshire yesterday while most of the other counties were experiencing -2 and falling.
Driving conditions are treacherous and people are being warned if you don’t need to travel, to stay at home and keep safe. Blizzards, deep snow and falling ice are turning the roads into ice skating rinks.
Well today we saw a short reprieve when the sun came out briefly and thawed the dangerous ice somewhat. But don’t be fooled into thinking it is all over, as another band of bad weather is on its way with more snow forecast for later tonight. -
- The Big Freeze Hits the UK - Great Britain in the Grip of Arctic Conditions – Heavy Snow Ice and Dangerous Weather falls across the UK – UK Snowed Under
- Climate Change Brings Deadly Widow Spider to Great Britain
- What is the United Kingdom? What is Great Britain?
- The Big Picture: An E.T. Hypothesis
- Appreciate the Winter Freeze
The weather conditions truly are terrible right now, and with more snow on the way; it really is quite a scary situation. It’s terrible that so many people have lost their power, and the roads and paths really are very dangerous right now.
I hope that we’re through the worst of it now, but as you say; there’s more snow on the way, so the bad weather certainly isn’t over yet!
Another really interesting article from you here. Extreme weather really is fascinating, and you’ve covered the issue of the current weather situation in the UK fantastically well here.
I always enjoy reading your articles, and I always love the photos that you pick for them too. The snowy traffic scene you’ve chosen here really is beautiful, stunning in fact. The presence of snow just makes things look so magical I feel. So yeah; a very well written article, and a great choice of picture too!