By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
What's in an name? A motorist in the aptly-titled Durham village of Frosterley clears snow off his car yesterday
For some it will feel as though there is simply no let up in the wintry weather. The icy blast is continuing in parts of the UK as more snow fell overnight.
Temperatures fell as low as -15C in Scotland and snow fell as far south as Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
There is some good news for travellers who can make it the country's major airports - they're nearly all open although officials are warning of delays and cancellations due to fog and freezing weather.
Drivers across central Scotland were forced to abandon their vehicles yesterday after the worst wintry weather for several decades brought the country's busiest highways to a halt.
More than 100 vehicles were also trapped on an exposed route in North Yorkshire after a heavy snowfall at around 4.30pm.
Weather map: A satellite image taken at noon yesterday shows the snow gathered over Britain
More snow is expected today across north-east Scotland, Northern Ireland and in Yorkshire and Humber.
While widespread icy roads and showers are expected up and down the country today, by Friday there will be some respite with temperatures throughout the UK expected to stabilise around 0C.
In Scotland, many cars and lorries remained where they were left after the bitterly cold conditions left gritters unable to get them moving safely.
Black ice caused traffic chaos on the busiest road in North Wales for more than five hours after an articulated lorry jack-knifed.
The A55 was disrupted for the third day running near Llangefni on Anglesey after the early morning accident involving a huge Boots lorry.
An eye witness asaid: 'I spoke to one of the traffic officers and he said it was suspected black ice. The lorry had obviously hit a patch of it and skidded. The roads are treacherous.'
Scotland has been worst hit by this week's latest blast of snow and ice.
Yesterday it emerged that one retired couple was left ‘starving and freezing’ for 17 hours on a journey which would usually have taken 40 minutes.
Pensioners Stewart and Kathleen Hendrie left their daughter's home on Glasgow's south side at 10am on Monday and finally sought warmth in a hotel in Cumbernauld at 4am yesterday.
Nearly half of children were also turned away from class north of the border as schools closed their doors.
Misery: Cars stuck in the snow along the M8 in Scotland near Harthill
No let-up: A man braves a path in Penicuick, Midlothian (left) and another waits for a bus in Edinburgh
The M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh - where hundreds of cars are still stranded - remained closed westbound between junctions one and four, after gritters were unable to remove thick ice.
First Minister Alex Salmond last night admitted his government had been ‘caught out’ by a ‘perfect storm’ of heavy snow and bitter cold.
South of the border, the A171 between Whitby and Scarborough had to be closed temporarily last night when snow fell on ice, making driving extremely hazardous, North Yorkshire Police said.
At least nine people have died so far in the big freeze, including an elderly man found dead in snow at a Lincolnshire caravan park.
Forecasters say the sub-zero conditions will abate at the end of this week before returning during the following days.
Tomorrow night will be much milder, with lows of 2C for most of England.
The South West and parts of western Scotland will see temperatures peak at a balmy 9C on that day.
Lindsay Dovey, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: ‘The wind is changing to a westerly direction, which will bring some much milder weather. But colder temperatures are returning from Sunday into next week.'
Deep and crisp and even: Dog walkers brave the frost in Ashton Court despite temperatures of -4C
Frozen over: Ducks look forlorn on the ice at Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
The AA said yesterday it had attended a full day's worth of breakdowns by mid-afternoon, with calls peaking at around 2,500 every hour in the morning - around two and a half times the normal rate.
Since the first widespread snow on November 24, it has dealt with more than 230,000 - a 93 per cent increase on the same period last year.
Meanwhile the RAC said breakdowns were 50 per cent higher than normal
Transport Scotland advised drivers in the country's central belt to make only 'essential journeys' today.
The agency said 'significant' overnight progress had been made towards reopening those parts of the network still affected by the conditions, but the westbound M8 between junctions one to five remained
Police said all the cars stuck on the A171 near Whitby were released overnight in a joint operation between officers and snow ploughs.
A North Yorkshire force spokesman said there were no injuries and all the drivers 'were recovered without incident'.
He said officers began to receive calls at 4.30pm yesterday after a heavy and rapid snowfall.
More than 100 vehicles were stuck on the coastal road but all were reached by the rescue operation.
He said the A171 is 'currently passable with care'.
'Highways are out gritting the road and ensuring the road is as safe as it can be in these weather conditions,' he said.
source: dailymail
Blog Archive
-
▼
2010
(3631)
-
▼
December
(743)
- Not exactly low-key: Miley Cyrus makes sure she do...
- Not exactly low-key: Miley Cyrus makes sure she do...
- Not exactly low-key: Miley Cyrus makes sure she do...
- Happy 2011! London sees in the New Year with Eye-c...
- Happy 2011! London sees in the New Year with Eye-c...
- Happy 2011! London sees in the New Year with Eye-c...
- Happy New Year 2011
- Happy New Year 2011
- 2011 New Year celebrations
- 2011 New Year celebrations
- Taipei New Year 2011 Fireworks
- Taipei New Year 2011 Fireworks
- 2011 New Year celebrations
- 2011 New Year celebrations
- Kim Kardashian shows off a new braided hairstyle.....
- Kim Kardashian shows off a new braided hairstyle.....
- Forget something? A weary-looking Kourtney Kardash...
- Forget something? A weary-looking Kourtney Kardash...
- Anorexic model who appeared in shock fashion campa...
- Anorexic model who appeared in shock fashion campa...
- Nicole Richie's probation for drink driving arrest...
- Young at heart: Wossy the wizard can't hide his de...
- Young at heart: Wossy the wizard can't hide his de...
- Snow excuses: Chantelle Houghton and new man Rav d...
- Snow excuses: Chantelle Houghton and new man Rav d...
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shows off her long legs ...
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shows off her long legs ...
- Here comes the maid of honour: Chief bridesmaid Na...
- Here comes the maid of honour: Chief bridesmaid Na...
- Her look says it all: Christine Bleakley sits awkw...
- Her look says it all: Christine Bleakley sits awkw...
- Model mother Cindy Crawford has a ball with her fa...
- Model mother Cindy Crawford has a ball with her fa...
- English rose? Kate Winslet looks pale as she goes ...
- English rose? Kate Winslet looks pale as she goes ...
- We are not amused! A tight-lipped Hugh Grant looks...
- Grey skies see 2010 end with a whimper: Drizzle ex...
- Grey skies see 2010 end with a whimper: Drizzle ex...
- Lily Allen's surprise proposal leaves her in tears...
- Lily Allen's surprise proposal leaves her in tears...
- It's P Daddy! Sean 'Diddy' Combs is enjoying famil...
- It's P Daddy! Sean 'Diddy' Combs is enjoying famil...
- Kourtney Kardashian reveals slimming secrets after...
- Full track released for “And I Love You” by SuJu’s...
- New York's demolition derby: City clean-up crews w...
- New York's demolition derby: City clean-up crews w...
- Pictured: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie take Shiloh...
- Pictured: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie take Shiloh...
- Kids films rule as Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderlan...
- Kids films rule as Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderlan...
- Protective mother Kate Beckinsale keeps her daught...
- Protective mother Kate Beckinsale keeps her daught...
- 'Eric's the perfect addition to our family': Jessi...
- Did Usher plagiarise Homer Simpson? R&B star accus...
- Did Usher plagiarise Homer Simpson? R&B star accus...
- 'Extremely happy' Reese Witherspoon announces her ...
- 'Extremely happy' Reese Witherspoon announces her ...
- Rihanna hits the beach alone as it's revealed she'...
- Rihanna hits the beach alone as it's revealed she'...
- Walk through deep snow
- Walk through deep snow
- Snow in the city: Sarah Jessica Parker has fun in ...
- Snow in the city: Sarah Jessica Parker has fun in ...
- Hitting the big time: Cher Lloyd performs to a sma...
- Hitting the big time: Cher Lloyd performs to a sma...
- Simon Baker eclipses Hugh Laurie as top paid actor...
- Simon Baker eclipses Hugh Laurie as top paid actor...
- Kara Tointon's embarrassingly soppy display as she...
- Kara Tointon's embarrassingly soppy display as she...
- Action girl Rihanna takes to the waves on a jetski...
- Action girl Rihanna takes to the waves on a jetski...
- Don't these people know the thaw's started? Couple...
- Hat's not very stylish: Rebecca Ferguson hits a ra...
- Hat's not very stylish: Rebecca Ferguson hits a ra...
- Total white out: U.S. East Coast travellers warned...
- Total white out: U.S. East Coast travellers warned...
- Just something you threw on? Leonardo DiCaprio ado...
- Just something you threw on? Leonardo DiCaprio ado...
- But would she wear it on the red carpet? The Satur...
- But would she wear it on the red carpet? The Satur...
- Mariah sings for Mickey in a very festive red dres...
- Mariah sings for Mickey in a very festive red dres...
- That looks risky! Heidi Klum's son Henry rides a S...
- That looks risky! Heidi Klum's son Henry rides a S...
- Spot the Kardashian! Kim appears to be suffering s...
- Spot the Kardashian! Kim appears to be suffering s...
- Feline Rihanna wears a black panther swimsuit as s...
- 007's love nest with Rachel... Craig and co-star s...
- 007's love nest with Rachel... Craig and co-star s...
- Willow Smith whips her hair back and forth: Young ...
- Willow Smith whips her hair back and forth: Young ...
- Loved-up Penelope Cruz takes her romance courtside...
- Loved-up Penelope Cruz takes her romance courtside...
- Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz fuel romance rumours...
- Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz fuel romance rumours...
- 'She burst into tears': Hugh Hefner, 84, surprises...
- 'She burst into tears': Hugh Hefner, 84, surprises...
- Merry Tweetmas! Celebrities take to their Twitter ...
- Merry Tweetmas! Celebrities take to their Twitter ...
- B2ST’s Hyunseung & Kikwang perform “Let It Snow” o...
-
▼
December
(743)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
UK weather: Airports are open but travel chaos continues as fresh snow heads south
Labels:
News Update