Pauline
Forums Admin
Much of Europe has been hit by heavy snow the past day or two. The storm is called "The Beast from the East" because it is coming from Siberia.
In the UK, Scotland was hit hard yesterday and it continues today. Red Alerts for Snow for much of Scotland and northern England.
Today our area in the Southwest got a Red Alert for Snow. The Beast from the East is merging with Storm Emma from the south. In Bridport (Dorset, on the coast) it started snowing about noon and it has been piling up. This is only our third winter here on the coast but it is the first time we've seen snow. In the Cotswolds we had snow a few times over the years. There was a lot of snow in 2012 when we were living at the bottom of the Painswick Valley.
I've seen photos of snow in Italy - Basilicata, Naples, Liguria, Rome, Florence - over the past few days. Also in many parts of France.
Today, March 1, is the official start of Spring in the UK (they don't use meteorlogical calendar like we do in the US). There are warnings of natural gas shortages and they are asking some industries to not use gas. I don't think there will be problems for regular consumers. Flights have been cancelled at Heathrow and other London airports. The roads are supposed to be pretty bad.
Since the UK hardly ever gets snow, our infrastructure is not prepared for it. Trains stop running, flights are cancelled and most people don't have snow tires so driving is difficult (we don't).
It feels like Christmas even though that holiday is long gone.
BBC - UK weather: Snowy scenes as Storm Emma arrives
In the UK, Scotland was hit hard yesterday and it continues today. Red Alerts for Snow for much of Scotland and northern England.
Today our area in the Southwest got a Red Alert for Snow. The Beast from the East is merging with Storm Emma from the south. In Bridport (Dorset, on the coast) it started snowing about noon and it has been piling up. This is only our third winter here on the coast but it is the first time we've seen snow. In the Cotswolds we had snow a few times over the years. There was a lot of snow in 2012 when we were living at the bottom of the Painswick Valley.
I've seen photos of snow in Italy - Basilicata, Naples, Liguria, Rome, Florence - over the past few days. Also in many parts of France.
Today, March 1, is the official start of Spring in the UK (they don't use meteorlogical calendar like we do in the US). There are warnings of natural gas shortages and they are asking some industries to not use gas. I don't think there will be problems for regular consumers. Flights have been cancelled at Heathrow and other London airports. The roads are supposed to be pretty bad.
Since the UK hardly ever gets snow, our infrastructure is not prepared for it. Trains stop running, flights are cancelled and most people don't have snow tires so driving is difficult (we don't).
It feels like Christmas even though that holiday is long gone.
BBC - UK weather: Snowy scenes as Storm Emma arrives
