Digital News Report- The worst snowfall to hit the United Kingdom in almost 20 years has shut down 2,800 schools, caused 800 flights to be cancelled, and claimed the lives of two mountain climbers on Mount Snowden in Wales. Traffic jams have run rampant across the country and London Underground was closed.
Some parts of London have received over 8 inches. More snow is expected over the next two days. Freezing temperatures are expected throughout most of February. Parts of northern France have also been affected by the snowfall.
A Cyprus Airways plane slid off the taxiway at Heathrow. All 104 people made it off the plane safely. Both runways were promptly closed until further notice. People traveling between London and Paris on the Eurostar have been advised against making the journey due to delays.
Drivers have been advised to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the Automobile Association, said,”Someone who is sat in a queue for three or four hours is at the same risk of hypothermia as someone stuck on a mountainside or tent. You may not have enough petrol to keep the engine going for four hours.”
Drivers have also been warned to bundle up, even if they don’t expect to face the frigid temperatures. Andy Taylor, a rescue worker with the Automobile Association, said, “During the last cold snap we saw a lot more breakdowns, but very few drivers were completely prepared. Sometimes I found people in sub-zero temperatures wearing little more than you would expect on a mild spring day. Some had small children with them in similar clothing.”
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