SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!
Britons Braced For Heaviest Snow in Years
A band of freezing cold weather is heading for Britain bringing with it ice and blizzards.
Most of the country woke up to sub-zero temperatures - it was as low as -8C in parts of Scotland - and forecasters are warning that the heaviest snow in years could fall within the next 24 hours.
Arctic conditions are already gripping North America where an extreme cold weather alert has been issued from New York to Toronto and some people are suffering from frostbite.
Weatherman Paul Knightley said cold air from the north mixing with an "active" mild weather system from the Atlantic would bring the snowfalls.
"On Wednesday night and Thursday morning a much more active weather system comes in from the South West," he said.
"Overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning are going to see quite a significant band of sleet and snow into south west England and South Wales and eventually by morning across much of Wales into the Midlands and into the London area and southern England as well as the South East."
He continued: "The snow will be potentially disruptive in London because it is predicted for rush hour and is going to cause some significant disruption, I think.
"It will probably be some of the heaviest snow in the last couple of years in the London area."
The Met Office issued an early warning of severe weather.
A statement said: "The Met Office is expecting a period of heavy snow to develop across south-west England and much of Wales during Wednesday night and this is expected to extend across the Midlands, London, the South East of England and East Anglia during Thursday morning.
"There is also a risk that the snow will extend into parts of northern England for a time before dying away from all areas during Thursday afternoon."
The one thing that always makes me laugh about this stupid country is that whenever there is even a *hint* that there might be "severe" snowfall, everyone PANICS. (and I laugh at that term severe, becuase if you live in the UK, you honestly don't know what severe is until you've been burried with 6 feet of snow over night, the temperatures are -40 with the windchill and you can't get the fuck of your house because your door won't open)
I guess to be fair, this country really isn't equipped for even a small amount of snowfall. It's quite sad really, but its just not the norm. I am sure if they were as equipped as most Canadian towns/cities etc. they would be able to respond so much better. Also, there is the issue that this 'phenom' we call snow may only actually occurr a few times during the Winter season. So in a way, whats the point in investing in so much equipment for the 3-4 days a year you MIGHT need it. I get it. It's just silly.
So tomorrow morning, if we wake up to a blanket of snow, and people are panicing because they aren't prepared and peoples cars won't start and chaos reigns on the roads, I will be cuddled up in my cozy bed dreaming dreams of snow plows and snow men...something which is rarely seen in this country.
posted by Megs at 2/07/2007 12:55:00 PM
