Snow plays havoc with UK travel
Source: Agencies |
December 19, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FRESH snow brought much of Britain to a standstill yesterday, on what is traditionally the busiest weekend for shopping and travel in the run-up to Christmas.
Most of western Britain, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland suffered blizzards, while southern England was also blanketed in snow, disrupting trains and road traffic in what Transport Secretary Philip Hammond described as "extraordinary" conditions.
British Airways canceled all flights from London Heathrow and all European and domestic flights from London Gatwick between 10am and 5pm yesterday.
Gatwick closed its runway to all inbound and outward flights until at least 3pm after the accumulation of about 5 centimeters of snow, a spokeswoman said. About 200 of the day's 500 scheduled flights had been canceled by mid-day.
It was the second time this month that heavy snow had forced its closure.
Arctic conditions also hit rail and road travel, with the media reporting that hundreds of motorists were stranded in their cars in freezing conditions overnight in the northwest, with many accidents reported.
"We will be doing what we can to keep the transport network moving, but as I think is clear ... these are really quite extraordinary weather conditions, and we are expecting more heavy snow during the course of the day, particularly in southern England," Hammond told BBC radio.
It is the third winter in a row that Britain has been left largely snowbound, and hit by record low temperatures.
Hammond said he had asked the country's chief scientific adviser to see if it represented a "step change" in weather patterns due to climate change and whether the government needs to spend more money on winter preparations.
Some of the worst affected areas included Merseyside with 12-18 centimeters of snow, and southwest England and Wales with 5-10 centimeters, the Met Office said on its website.
The snow will blow into parts of southeast England and the south Midlands with temperatures dropping to minus 14 degrees Celsius later in western Scotland.
Researchers warned on Thursday the severe weather conditions could push retailers into the red over the peak Christmas trading period, although a survey on Wednesday showed British retail sales rising at their fastest pace since 2002.
Most of western Britain, Northern Ireland and northern Scotland suffered blizzards, while southern England was also blanketed in snow, disrupting trains and road traffic in what Transport Secretary Philip Hammond described as "extraordinary" conditions.
British Airways canceled all flights from London Heathrow and all European and domestic flights from London Gatwick between 10am and 5pm yesterday.
Gatwick closed its runway to all inbound and outward flights until at least 3pm after the accumulation of about 5 centimeters of snow, a spokeswoman said. About 200 of the day's 500 scheduled flights had been canceled by mid-day.
It was the second time this month that heavy snow had forced its closure.
Arctic conditions also hit rail and road travel, with the media reporting that hundreds of motorists were stranded in their cars in freezing conditions overnight in the northwest, with many accidents reported.
"We will be doing what we can to keep the transport network moving, but as I think is clear ... these are really quite extraordinary weather conditions, and we are expecting more heavy snow during the course of the day, particularly in southern England," Hammond told BBC radio.
It is the third winter in a row that Britain has been left largely snowbound, and hit by record low temperatures.
Hammond said he had asked the country's chief scientific adviser to see if it represented a "step change" in weather patterns due to climate change and whether the government needs to spend more money on winter preparations.
Some of the worst affected areas included Merseyside with 12-18 centimeters of snow, and southwest England and Wales with 5-10 centimeters, the Met Office said on its website.
The snow will blow into parts of southeast England and the south Midlands with temperatures dropping to minus 14 degrees Celsius later in western Scotland.
Researchers warned on Thursday the severe weather conditions could push retailers into the red over the peak Christmas trading period, although a survey on Wednesday showed British retail sales rising at their fastest pace since 2002.
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