The Met Office has warned that the snow fall this winter will be the worst in 18 years, and that “the UK winter has been the coldest for over a decade.” The cold snap has caused chaos in London with severe disruptions to the local transport system. As of the 2nd February, all London buses and tramlink services have been suspended. Flights have also been affected with many airports warning that there could be delays some cancellations. The advice is to check services and flights before setting off on journey, and if possible avoid travelling at all.
According to the BBC, “British Airways said 62 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow airport’s Terminal 5. Birmingham International has taken some flights that were diverted away from Heathrow. There were cancellations at Gatwick and passengers at Bristol International Airport have experienced delays.”
In this day and age of advanced technology, with the equipment to predict such conditions, it is astonishing that one of the world’s leading cities can be in such disarray due to expected snow. As the Times reports, the snowfall overnight was approximately 10cm.
Surely we should be able to cope with the weather of the winter months, particularly as we have better systems and an ability to predict and prepare for winters which are not as severe as they used to be – over ten years ago.
Nevertheless, we must prepare ourselves, especially if we are to venture out into the arctic cold. If are travelling on public transport, check the announcements on the local radio which will be updated regularly and if possible check the websites of the bus/train/tram services to see if any notices have been posted which will affect you. Transport for London (TFL) for London: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
If you are travelling by car, be extremely careful. Although gritters have been out making many roads bearable, the snow and icy conditions will still require cautious and slower driving, especially if there is reduced visibility. According to the BBC, “the M56 between junctions 10 and 11 near Warrington has been closed in both directions because of sheet ice, which has led to a number of collisions – although none were understood to be serious.
There are warnings of hazardous conditions on the M6 in Greater Manchester, while the M60, M66 and M602 have also been affected by the snow.
Warnings have also been made by the AA who warned motorists of breakdowns. Andy Taylor, of the AA, said: “People often treat their car as an overcoat. But when you break down you are suddenly vulnerable to the weather. If you break down on a motorway, the safety advice is to get out of the car and wait behind the barrier. Unless you have extra clothes you really are flirting with hypothermia.”
Before your head out on a journey, ensure as best you can, that your car is up for the task and throw in a few extra warm clothes. Check ahead for road closures and if necessary plan for an alternative route. The BBC Travel News lists road closures and incidents here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/local/londonm25.shtml
The Highways Agency also recommends that people should only take essential journeys and commented that there have been too many minor accidents on the roads “to put a number on”.