UK: New wave of Snow storms closes roads and airports, with oil prices adding to woes
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Dec 17, 2010, 9:16:56 AM12/17/10
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UK: New wave of Snow storms closes roads and airports, with oil prices adding to woes
No let-up expected in the next few days with more snow and ice making its way across the country
* Haroon Siddique and agencies
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 December 2010 09.14 GMT
A plane and airport vehicles are covered in snow Flights have been suspended at airports in Norwich, Aberdeen and Belfast due to heavy snow. Photograph: David Moir/Reuters
Thousands of homes could be left without heating as a result of the return of arctic conditions to the UK.
Rocketing oil prices, which have almost doubled in some cases, and restricted deliveries have already lefts some families without fuel. The energy minister Charles Hendry warned the situation could become "very serious" and said supplies could be rationed to help customers get through the festive period. Rural schools and hospitals that rely on heating oil could also experience shortfalls.
Oil companies have faced allegations of price-fixing as prices in the last month alone have jumped from under 40p a litre to more than 70p in some cases.
"We are extremely aware that if there is further snow over Christmas this situation could become very serious indeed," said Hendry.
"I have spoken to the Office of Fair Trading about the price of oil, as the enforcement of competition consumer law is a matter for them."
Snow and icy weather returned to the UK overnight, creating travel misery for commuters.
Treacherous driving conditions have closed roads and added hours to car journeys in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while flights have been suspended at airports in Norwich, Aberdeen and Belfast. Trains have also been cancelled.
Scotland and Northern Ireland were hit by heavy snow overnight. More snow and blizzards are expected, with Met Office severe weather warnings for similar conditions also in place for Wales and south-west England.
Severe weather warnings of icy roads have been issued across the country. Up to 20cm of snow is predicted today on high ground in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with up to 10cm predicted in south-west England.
Icy blizzards and temperatures as low as -6C have caused major disruption on transport networks, with police in the Scottish Highlands warning commuters not to travel. Heavy falls around Aberdeen left traffic at a standstill, with four-mile journeys taking up to four hours.
A section of the M2 in Northern Ireland was closed due to heavy snow. In England a series of accidents on main roads led to tailbacks and lane closures on a number of major roads. There were hold-ups on the A14 in Cambridgeshire, the M40 in Buckinghamshire, the A20 in Kent and the A12 in Suffolk.
ScotRail introduced an amended timetable with no trains between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, or between Ardgay and Wick. In Wales no trains could run between Newport and Hereford and bad road conditions meant that replacement buses could not operate. There was no service between Holyhead and Bangor.
The arctic conditions are predicted to continue with heavy snowstorms expected to hit most of the UK over the weekend. Some parts of the south of England could get up to 25cm of snow tomorrow, according to forecasters.
The conditions could also lead to presents going undelivered over Christmas. "This year in Scotland and the north-east it is likely Father Christmas won't be coming," said Simon Veale, director of parcel and carrier management firm Global Freight Solutions. "There are likely to be more than 4m new parcels in the system every day this week on top of several million more which still had to be cleared from the recent extreme weather."
Network Rail is running "ghost trains" to try to keep routes open and the Local Government Association has said council gritting crews are out in force. The latest drop in temperatures comes as travel companies prepare for one of the busiest weekends of the year, with schools breaking up and the start of the Christmas getaway.
Bookmakers have slashed the odds of a white Christmas, with William Hill offering 6/4 for it to snow in London on 25 December.
UK: New wave of Snow storms closes roads and airports, with oil prices adding to woes
No let-up expected in the next few days with more snow and ice making its way across the country
* Haroon Siddique and agencies
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 December 2010 09.14 GMT
A plane and airport vehicles are covered in snow Flights have been suspended at airports in Norwich, Aberdeen and Belfast due to heavy snow. Photograph: David Moir/Reuters
Thousands of homes could be left without heating as a result of the return of arctic conditions to the UK.
Rocketing oil prices, which have almost doubled in some cases, and restricted deliveries have already lefts some families without fuel. The energy minister Charles Hendry warned the situation could become "very serious" and said supplies could be rationed to help customers get through the festive period. Rural schools and hospitals that rely on heating oil could also experience shortfalls.
Oil companies have faced allegations of price-fixing as prices in the last month alone have jumped from under 40p a litre to more than 70p in some cases.
"We are extremely aware that if there is further snow over Christmas this situation could become very serious indeed," said Hendry.
"I have spoken to the Office of Fair Trading about the price of oil, as the enforcement of competition consumer law is a matter for them."
Snow and icy weather returned to the UK overnight, creating travel misery for commuters.
Treacherous driving conditions have closed roads and added hours to car journeys in Scotland and Northern Ireland, while flights have been suspended at airports in Norwich, Aberdeen and Belfast. Trains have also been cancelled.
Scotland and Northern Ireland were hit by heavy snow overnight. More snow and blizzards are expected, with Met Office severe weather warnings for similar conditions also in place for Wales and south-west England.
Severe weather warnings of icy roads have been issued across the country. Up to 20cm of snow is predicted today on high ground in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with up to 10cm predicted in south-west England.
Icy blizzards and temperatures as low as -6C have caused major disruption on transport networks, with police in the Scottish Highlands warning commuters not to travel. Heavy falls around Aberdeen left traffic at a standstill, with four-mile journeys taking up to four hours.
A section of the M2 in Northern Ireland was closed due to heavy snow. In England a series of accidents on main roads led to tailbacks and lane closures on a number of major roads. There were hold-ups on the A14 in Cambridgeshire, the M40 in Buckinghamshire, the A20 in Kent and the A12 in Suffolk.
ScotRail introduced an amended timetable with no trains between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, or between Ardgay and Wick. In Wales no trains could run between Newport and Hereford and bad road conditions meant that replacement buses could not operate. There was no service between Holyhead and Bangor.
The arctic conditions are predicted to continue with heavy snowstorms expected to hit most of the UK over the weekend. Some parts of the south of England could get up to 25cm of snow tomorrow, according to forecasters.
The conditions could also lead to presents going undelivered over Christmas. "This year in Scotland and the north-east it is likely Father Christmas won't be coming," said Simon Veale, director of parcel and carrier management firm Global Freight Solutions. "There are likely to be more than 4m new parcels in the system every day this week on top of several million more which still had to be cleared from the recent extreme weather."
Network Rail is running "ghost trains" to try to keep routes open and the Local Government Association has said council gritting crews are out in force. The latest drop in temperatures comes as travel companies prepare for one of the busiest weekends of the year, with schools breaking up and the start of the Christmas getaway.
Bookmakers have slashed the odds of a white Christmas, with William Hill offering 6/4 for it to snow in London on 25 December.
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