It's Snowing!

[VikingHumpingWitch]

In fairness, in the rest of the country the impact on the local public transport system is likely to be much less significant on account of there not really being one to speak of.

There's not too much panicky about the bazillions of Facebook updates talking about unexpected Mondays in bed/being in the park playing with snow/being sent home early in a taxi. Bastards.

[justmyopinion]

My council has shut its offices from midday today and all day Tuesday - emergency services only

[cobblers]

London's had a lot - alot more than the zerozero's location. Still, I'm not panicking. I'm sitting eating cheese and crackers and wondering if I should go down the pub.

[vania]

Bar sounds like a good idea, but I'm booze free this month so that's out. Will chill with some DVDs instead. Watching 'Munich'. Pretty bloody good actually.

[sushimo]

We've had a warning to expect another 2' from 4pm this afternoon. The gritter has just been up our road for the first time ever, mind, it got stuck and had to reverse back down.

The kids are all on the hills with their tobogans, but it's falling heavy now.

South Yorkshire.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Haha I read that as Munch and was about to say something utterly hilarious. I won't now though.

Bollox to everyone else getting free days off, they should have to walk/ski to work.

[flatandy]

View from the balcony



And the garden



And out by the station with the myriad snowmen



And the common looking like something out of Lowry



With kids playing and everything

[flatandy]

Anyway, as it's clearly so bleak, and I'm trapped in my own house, I think I will brave the outside to head as far as the wine cellar/shed and get myself a recuperative bottle of red.

[cobblers]

It's melting quite quickly here. Shame.

[Charles Martel]

How much snow eventually fell in London, Andy? I read 12 inches in one of your newspapers but I don't buy it outright. I've been to much colder and mountainous places and haven't seen 12 inches, and it looks more like 4 to 6 inches (ankle-depth) from your photos. I am assuming the 12" may be referencing the hardest hit spot well away from the capital.

[flatandy]

A bit more fell this afternoon. On the insulated wood and stuff where most has settled, it's about 7 or 8 inches at a guess. They promised more than that but I've not seen it.

[cathy]

I haven't heard of any fatalities on the roads so far and I hope it stays that way.

Unfortunately two brothers were caught out in the freezing conditions on Snowdon on Sunday and their bodies were found early this morning at Clogwyn Coch. They had fallen a couple of hundred metres and were found close to each other by a search dog.


The two men, who were from Weston Super Mare, had climbed Snowdon in the summer and had wanted to return again, but this time with tragic consequences.


Meanwhile, another couple of men from Cheshire had to be winched to safety after getting into difficulty after climbing the mountain at a place called Crib Goch. Unlike the brothers, they were completely unequiped for bad weather.

The advice is ..... don't go out climbing or walking while this weather is so bad .. particularly in solitary areas .. unless you are very experienced and well equiped.

Mind you, that can also apply at any time of year as the weather can change so swifly on high hills and mountains. Always make sure you have good solid boots and weatherproof clothing with you ... even in the summer.

[Beachcomber]

Well said Cathy.

Here in Cumbria the mountain rescue is called out far too often by ill equiped 'walkers' wearing trainers and tracky bottoms even in summer. In this weather only the best equiped and experienced people should venture out on the high fells.

Having said that, if you're just out for a drive this week prepare for the worst that could happen - shovel, warm boots and clothes etc.

(You know it makes sense)

[Libby]

Right on the South Coast UK it's been pretty bad here today. Almost total standstill this morning. Heavy snowfall overnight, and more throughout the day. I'd say about 5". Enough to cause chaos, schools to close etc. Traffic jams, slushy roads and slippery paths! I noticed the old folk were generally staying at home, it was the mums venturing out on foot with the kids for the schools that stayed open. Bitterly cold and quite windy too. Already -5 this evening, and more snow expected.

[Muz]

Feb 2, 2009 15:06:57 GMT @vania said:

Bar sounds like a good idea, but I'm booze free this month so that's out. Will chill with some DVDs instead. Watching 'Munich'. Pretty bloody good actually.

Booze free month? The only people who do that are alcoholics trying in vain to prove they haven't got a problem.

[Beachcomber]

OI, MUZ - You been reading my diary ?

[cathy]

I know the temperatures are freezing, but standing in the falling snow and marvelling at how quiet and peaceful it is, I don't feel cold at all.

And it's strange, but it's 10.45 pm and it isn't even dark. Everything around is clear and beautiful.

Quite magical.

[Libby]

I did the same as you Cathy! I didn't feel the cold either. The sky is clear, not a sound, so peaceful and beautiful too. Seems like a different World doesn't it. It's a shame the snow is dangerous because it really is lovely.

[puffin]

It did try to snow here, for a few minutes.
I don't have any magical snow scenes...but then again we don't have the traffic disruption either.
You can't have everything.

[cathy]

I wouldn't say the sky is clear here, it's heavy with snow. Instead of darkness outside is as light as day but with a faintly pinkish hue.

It's lovely breathing in the clear, clean air, and enjoying the silence .... apart from the gentle hushing sound of falling snow.

Like you, I was also admiring its beauty but also aware of how deadly it can be.