Difficult Travel Conditions
Last minute shoppers face transport mayhem this Christmas Eve as freezing temperatures, ice and snow look set to cause yet another day of extreme weather conditions. Northern Britain will face the worst disruption following heavy snowfall and another night of sub-zero temperatures.
The Met office has issued warnings of “widespread icy roads” across virtually all of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Airports are standing by as many warn more disruption to passengers are on the cards. Staff have been forced to clear snow and ice from runways at Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick airports further difficulties have been predicted.
Prestwick airport was nearly the scene of a catastrophe yesterday, as a Ryanair passenger jet with 129 people on board skidded off the runway after hitting a patch of ice. Pilots wrestled it to a stop on grass – 30 yards from the perimeter fence and the A79 dual carriageway – luckily no-one was hurt.
Easyjet has already the cancelation of a number of flights while British Airways are warning passengers to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Although Gatwick Airport is open there have already been warnings of minor delays with Heathrow Airports also warning flyers to expect problems. Liverpool Airport was forced it to close briefly overnight after a heavy snow. It reopened with travellers warned to expect delays
The lowest recorded temperatures overnight were in the highlands of Scotland, falling to -15C with -11C in Edinburgh.
However, there was some relief across southern England to the freezing temperature’s of the last few days. In England it was comparatively warmer, with many places having temperatures as high as freezing or even slightly higher. Today, showers are forecast in central and southern England. Cumbria northwards will see the coldest temperatures.
The chances of a White Christmas in the southern half of Britain are receding today – but it remains a possibility in the north. Predictions of snow falling in a line South from north Wales to Lincolnshire tomorrow are “slim to nil” according to one forecaster. With rain coming in from the Atlantic to meet cold air the north means there is a chance of some snow during the evening of Christmas Day.