Guildford January 2010
JAN '10 10 WIND 06Z WX TEMP CLOUD PRES REMARKS MIN MAX RAIN WIND 18Z WX TEMP CLOUD PRES REMARKS
1 Fr N 5 RESHSN 0.0 SKC 1002 SL SN[1] -2.0 1.5 T WNW 4   -1.5 SKC 1009 -SHSN evng[2] [3] [4]
2 Sa W 7   0.0 7SC 1013 SL[5] -1.0 2.5 T SW 8   1.5 3AS 1017   [6]
3 Su NE 4   0.0 3SC 1021 SL[7] -2.0 1.0 0.0 CALM     -2.0 2SC 1023  [8] [9] [10]
4 Mo CALM     -6.5 SKC 1021 SL[11] -7.0 -1.5 0.0 CALM     -3.5 SKC 1016 Ice Day[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
5 Tu CALM     -3.5 7AS 1008 SL[18] -5.0 0.5 R SE 6 SN 0.0 8ST 999 SN after 17z[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
6 We E 5 SN 0.0 8ST 998 SN SL[28] -4.5[29] 0.5 15.0 NNE 4 RESN 0.0 7SC 1005 SN all day[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]
7 Th NW 5   -8.0 2SC 1005 SN SL 17cm -8.5[36] -1.0[37] 0.0 NW 4   -2.5 1SC 3SC 1013  [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44]
8 Fr NE 3   -1.0 5ST 3SC 1019 SL -2.5 -0.5 T N 3   -2.0 1SC 1024 SHSN pm Ice Day[45] [46] [47] [48] [49]
9 Sa NNE 4   -4.0 3SC 1023 SL 13cm -4.0 0.0 2.0 NNE 14 SN -1.0 7SC 1021 SHSN Ice Day[50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55]
10 Su NE 6   0.5 7SC 1017 SN SL 0.0 1.0 1.0 NE 5 -SN 0.5 8SC 1017  [56] [57] [58] [59] [60]
11 Mo ENE 5   -0.5 7SC 1017 SN SL 10cm -0.5 0.5 T ENE 2   0.0 8SC 1019  [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66]
12 Tu E 5   0.0 7SC 1013 SL 9cm -0.5 1.0 0.0 E 8   0.5 7SC 1002   [67] [68] [69]
13 We ENE 1 SN 0.0 8SC 999 SN SL 13cm 0.0 1.0 4.0 ENE 2   0.0 4SC 1001  [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75]
14 Th CALM   DZ 0.5 8ST 1000 SL 0.0 3.0 1.0 NNW 5   1.5 8ST 1008   [76] [77] [78] [79]
15 Fr S 6 FG 0.0 8ST 1016 SL 7cm 0.0 5.5 T SE 9   5.0 8SC 1018   [80] [81]
16 Sa SE 15 RA 3.5 8SC 1008   3.0 7.5 15.0 WSW 5 RA BR 7.0 8ST 1002  
17 Su WSW 5   2.5 5CI 1012   2.5 7.0 0.0 CALM     3.5 1AC 1021  
18 Mo WSW 2 BR 2.5 5ST 7SC 1024   2.5 7.0 0.0 SW 3   6.5 7SC 1025  
19 Tu CALM     5.0 8SC 1022   4.5 7.0 0.0 ESE 3   5.0 3SC 7CI 1018  
20 We SE 11   3.0 8ST 1011   0.5 4.0 7.0 NNE 2   1.0 7SC 1012[82] SN 1.5cm RASN [83] [84] [85] [86]
21 Th CALM     1.5 8SC 1018   1.5 4.5 T SE 10   4.0 8SC 1019  
22 Fr SSE 10   6.5 8ST 1016   6.0 7.5 3.0 CALM     7.0 8SC 1017  
23 Sa NNW 6   6.0 8ST 1019   3.5 7.5 4.0 CALM     4.0 8SC 1021  
24 Su CALM     2.0 7SC 1023   2.0 6.0 1.0 CALM     2.5 5SC 1025  
25 Mo NNE 6 RA 2.5 8SC 1026   2.5 3.5 1.0 NNE 6   2.5 8SC 1034  
26 Tu NE 10   1.5 8SC 1038   -3.0 1.5 0.0 SW 2   0.0 5CI 1041[87]  
27 We CALM     -2.0 4AS 7CS 1036   -4.0 5.5 1.0 W 10   3.0 8SC 1022  
28 Th WNW 5   3.5 8SC 1016   3.5 6.0 1.0 WNW 5 -RA 4.5 8SC 1009  
29 Fr SW 8 RA 4.5 5SC 8SC 990[88]   -1.0[89] 4.5 8.0 NW 10   1.0 2SC 994 PL SN[90]
30 Sa NW 11   -1.0 4SC 997   -2.0 2.0 0.0 WNW 4   0.5 6SC 1004  
31 Su CALM     0.0 4AS 1005   -3.0 3.0 0.0 CALM     0.0 1SC 4CI 1007  
            AVG 1014 AVG -0.6 3.2 64.0 TOT MEAN 1.3   AVG 1016  
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BBC NEWS / UK
18:49 GMT, Monday, 4 January 2010
Snow and ice cause more trouble


Snow and ice are causing further problems in Scotland and other parts of the UK, with forecasters warning the freezing conditions are here to stay.

Severe weather warnings have been issued for Northern Ireland and Scotland, where some councils have run low on grit.

The extreme weather has closed schools and caused travel delays.

More snow is set to spread across the UK and BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs said few, if any, areas would escape.

Provisional Met Office figures suggest December 2009 was probably the coldest since 1995 across the UK as a whole.

The lowest temperature recorded on Sunday night was -14.0C in Eskdalemuir, south west Scotland, while the mercury dipped to -12.6C in Sennybridge in mid Wales.

Fife Council became the first to confirm its grit supplies had been exhausted after receiving less than it ordered from suppliers, but 250 tonnes of salt have been dispatched to the area.

Meanwhile, treacherous road conditions have led to the closure of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction.

A National Trust spokeswoman said the icy weather had made the north Antrim coast area "extremely dangerous".

'No let up'

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for heavy snow and ice in Orkney and Shetland, Grampian, and the Highlands and Eilean Siar (Outer Hebrides) on Monday, with up to 10cm (3.9in) possible on higher ground.

It has also issued a warning for widespread icy roads in Central, Tayside and Fife, Strathclyde, south-west Scotland, Lothian and Borders, and Northern Ireland.

Sleet and snow is expected to spread across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England during Monday, leaving icy conditions in its wake.

The snow will move southwards across Wales and much of England overnight, with a likelihood of disruption for morning travellers on Tuesday.

The Met Office has issued an advisory for heavy snow and widespread ice across much of the UK on Tuesday.

BBC forecaster Peter Gibbs said he could see no end to the freezing conditions for at least a week.

"We're going to start seeing a very cold easterly wind feeding in direct from Siberia "

"It's going to stay cold and perhaps get even colder in parts," he said. "There probably won't be many places that don't see some snow by the end of the week.

"It's also going to be extremely icy on Tuesday morning for many of us, so really very difficult conditions for drivers and the authorities to cope with."

He added: "We can see no let up. By the weekend we're going to start seeing a very cold easterly wind feeding in direct from Siberia."

Weatherman John Kettley predicted the current freeze would turn out to be the longest spell of severely cold weather since 1987.

"It's not going to be the coldest ever because if you go back to 1963, I mean this sort of wintry weather went on for about 11 weeks," he added.

"That was a proper severe winter and we're not going to get the like of that one again, whether you're calling it global warming, climate change, or whatever."

The freeze, combined with rail delays, led to disruption for people returning to work on Monday morning after the Christmas break.

Trains in and out of London's Liverpool Street station were delayed for up to 60 minutes by over-running engineering work and services between Glasgow and Edinburgh were also interrupted by poor weather.

Network Rail said about 75% of trains were running on time on Monday, compared with recent punctuality figures of about 90%.

"The weather has played its part today," a spokesman said. "We've had some faulty trains and the continuing driver shortage on First Capital Connect routes."

By 0800 GMT on Monday, the AA said it had attended about 6,000 breakdowns since midnight, with a total of more than 22,000 expected by the end of the day.

The motoring organisation said that was about two-and-a-half times more than on an average Monday, with many call-outs prompted by flat batteries, frozen engines, or accidents on icy roads.

Curlers play a match on the frozen Lake of Menteith, Scotland on 4 January 2010

It said the "most prolonged period" of freezing weather for 20 years had left grit supplies exhausted.


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From Times Online
January 5, 2010
Met Office warns of 40cm of snow within hours in South East

The Met Office tonight issued an emergency alert warning that London and the Home Counties could be buried by more then 40cm (16in) of snow overnight.
As the Arctic cold snap was forecast to make this Britain’s coldest winter for 30 years, residents of counties including Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire were advised to take action to avoid the worst of the snowfall.

A Met Office meteorologist said the highest level of alert had triggered a warning for the emergency services advising them to prepare for the worst.
“This kind of warning is very rare,” he said. “It’s the level of alert we put out for the floods in the summer of 2007.”

The forecast warned: “There is a high risk of an extreme weather event affecting parts of southern England this evening and overnight. A period of exceptionally heavy snowfall is expected with accumulations of 15-30cm and perhaps in excess of 40cm."

The snowfall in the South is expected to start in the evening and turn heavy overnight. The worst is forecast to begin in Wiltshire at around 9pm and reach London by 3am; it will continue until tomorrow evening, with the heaviest falls west of London.
Every county in Britain has now been made the subject of a Met Office severe weather warning. Hundreds of schools were forced to close, airports cancelled flights and the National Grid issued an alert for only the second time in its history.

Gordon Brown insisted that the gas shortage would not lead to an energy crisis.
“I think Britain can deal with these problems,” he said. “There are always difficulties when we have a long spell of bad weather. But we can cope.”

Grit supplies across Britain were also running low today with some councils admitting that they were struggling to cope with demand. The sand and salt mixture was so scarce in West Lothian that council officials reported theft from supply bins.
The sporting calendar was also hit, with the League Cup semi-finals between Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa and the Manchester derby postponed.
The prolonged freezing spell has been caused by a dramatic shift in the weather pattern this winter.

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Britain braced for heaviest snowfall in 50-years
The heaviest snowfall in almost 50 years is hitting parts of Britain as Arctic weather brought nationwide chaos.
 
By Martin Evans
Published: 8:05PM GMT 05 Jan 2010
As the country was plunged into one of its worst winters for decades, the Met Office issued an emergency weather warning for all counties of the UK.
The South, including London and the Home Counties, were expected to bear the brunt of the snowfall with emergency services warning they are already struggling to cope with the increasingly bitter conditions.
 
Forecasters predicted that more than one foot of snow could fall in less than 24 hours in most southern areas leading to widespread chaos and disruption for millions.
The residents of Hampshire and Wiltshire were expected to be the worst hit, with as much as 16 inches likely to be dumped by the end of tomorrow.
Residents and commuters in London, which ground to a halt last February following heavy falls, were warned to expect a covering of several inches by the morning rush hour.
On the roads drivers were advised not to venture out unless their journey was absolutely essential, as councils warned they could run out of grit if the conditions failed to improve.
The Met Office claimed the amount of snow forecast could be the biggest single fall since the notorious winter of 1962-63, when some areas of the country were blighted by snow and ice for more than three months.
During that winter the south saw more than a foot of snow, while blizzards in some parts of Wales led to drifts of over 18 feet.
A Met Office spokesman said they had issued a so-called "flash warning" because of the substantial quantity of snow which was expected to fall across the south in a short period of time.
The spokesman said: "This kind of warning is very rare. It's the level of alert we put out for the floods in the Summer of 2007."

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EGLL 052126Z 0521/0624 10004KT 5000 -SN BKN012 TEMPO
            0521/0617 0400 +SN BKN001 BECMG 0614/0617 04010KT PROB40            0618/0624 9999 NSW FEW040=

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14cms at 06z
18cms at 18z
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at 2359z 0.5 night min
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BBC NEWS / UK

20:07 GMT, Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Freezing weather keeps grip on UK
Much of the UK remains in the grip of freezing conditions as snow and ice continue to severely hamper travel.
Forecasters say the snow over southern England has eased but there will be isolated show showers elsewhere.
Widespread ice will become the major problem, with temperatures staying well below zero across the UK.
Airports, roads and trains have all been hit by the severe weather. Thousands of schools closed and many are likely to remain shut on Thursday.
BBC weather forecaster Dan Corbett said there would be some snow showers in south-east and north-east England on Wednesday night, and eastern parts of the UK and south-west England could see up to 15cm (6in) of snow on Thursday.
He said it would be a "treacherous" start on Thursday, especially on untreated roads, as the snow begins to freeze.
There would be some snow showers on Friday, and the "deep freeze" would continue for the next few days, he added.
Forecasters predict it could drop to -20C in parts of Scotland this weekend.
First Minister Alex Salmond said the weather in Scotland was now at its worst since 1963.
He said 45,000 tonnes of salt and grit were available there, enough for only 10 days in a normal winter. These supplies will be replenished but will be used for main roads, because more snow and sub-zero temperatures have been forecast.
Parts of Scotland and northern England had more snow on Wednesday but the worst-hit areas were central southern England and parts of the South West and south Wales.
In the last 24 hours there have been snowfalls of up to 30cm (12in) in the worst-affected counties, including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey.
More than 8,000 schools closed their doors again on Wednesday, and some are planning to stay shut on Thursday.


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Review of UK weather on 6/1/10 
Further wintry weather affected almost all of the UK, with the heaviest snow falling over central southern England, north-east England and the Scottish Borders from the early hours.

Many areas woke up to widespread ice and freezing temperatures. Strong winds also affected eastern coastal areas.

During the day snow slowly moved south, clearing the far southeast by the end of the day.

Occasional snow showers continued to affect north-east England and eastern Scotland into the evening with significant accumulations and drifting snow in places.

A few snow showers spread into northern parts of Northern Ireland in the evening.

As the snow spread south, many central parts of the UK had some drier and brighter weather but this led to frost and ice developing quickly in the evening.

Snow accumulations amounted to 25 to 30 cm quite widely across central southern parts of the UK and up to 40 to 50 cm across the north-east of England and southern parts of Scotland.

Maximum temperatures were well below the seasonal average during the day.

Extremes of Temperature, Rainfall and Sunshine for the 24 hours ending 06/01/2010

Highest Day Max: Tiree (Argyll and Bute): 4.0 C

Lowest Day Max: Kinlochewe (Highland): -5.3 C

Lowest Night Min: Loch Glascarnoch (Highland): -12.9 C

Highest Rainfall: Chivenor (Cornwall): 9.8 mm

Highest Sunshine: Glasgow: 5.7 hours
 

   
   
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BBC NEWS / UK

________________________________________
20:03 GMT, Thursday, 7 January 2010
'Coldest night of winter' on way
Snow and ice are set to continue causing problems across the UK with warnings that Thursday night could be the coldest of the winter so far.
Temperatures could plummet to -20C (-4F), including in parts of the South, setting new local records.
UK-wide severe weather warnings of ice are in place amid freezing temperatures and "nightmare" side road conditions.
Thousands of schools have remained shut and travel problems continue, while power cuts have hit thousands of homes.
Temperatures barely rose above freezing on Thursday, remaining between -8C and 0C in most parts of the UK after plummeting to nearly -18C on Wednesday night.


The icy weather is predicted to continue for days to come, with more snow for eastern England overnight and on Friday.
Strong north-easterly winds are forecast for southern England, with warnings this could cause snow to drift.
More snow is forecast for central and southern parts of the UK on Sunday.
Many councils are restricting gritting to major roads as supplies dwindle, with supplies in some areas close to running out.
A survey of councils by the BBC found most had enough supplies to last another two to five days but were unable to meet guidelines brought in after the snowfall of February 2009 that they should have at least six days' supply.

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BBC NEWS / UK
________________________________________
21:29 GMT, Friday, 8 January 2010
UK braced for weekend icy blasts
Britain is bracing itself for icy blasts as the freezing weather looks set to continue over the weekend.
The forecast came as the government stepped in to conserve road-gritting stocks due to dwindling salt supplies.
The Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, said local authorities had agreed to cut salt use by 25%.
The Conservatives have said that the government's move is "an admission of utter failure" and plans should have been made earlier.
As temperatures remained at sub-zero levels, at least 24 people are believed to have died since before Christmas in weather-related incidents.
The latest are two brothers who died in hospital in Leicester after falling through the ice at Watermead Country Park.

Police say members of the public used ropes in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the brothers.
Forecasters say it will feel colder overnight because of an "increased wind chill" coming from Germany and Poland.
Up to 20cm (7.8in) of snow is forecast for parts of South Yorkshire and the south of London - from Essex to Brighton.
Lord Adonis announced the salt cut decision following a meeting of the "Salt Cell" - a body made up of ministers, the Highways Agency and local authorities.
Supplies of salt have been close to running out in some areas, with many councils restricting gritting to major roads.
The government has ordered salt from abroad but this is not due to arrive until 21 January.
Shadow local government and communities secretary Caroline Spelman told BBC Radio 5 live the government had failed to listen to a warning report by councils published last year on the matter.
However Lord Adonis rejected these claims.
Forecasters have warned that the freezing conditions could last at least another week.
Fresh snow
Prime Minister Gordon Brown spoke to several ministers and agencies about the severe weather during a ministerial meeting at the Cabinet Office and said the government was doing it all it could.

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BBC NEWS / UK

08:07 GMT, Sunday, 10 January 2010
Emergency salt sent to councils
A fleet of lorries is due to leave a depot in Cheshire loaded with emergency supplies of salt for hard-pressed councils as the cold spell continues.
Meanwhile, the National Grid has issued its third "balancing alert" in a week, aimed at adjusting gas supplies.
Gordon Brown has pledged the UK's gas supplies will not run out during the current cold snap, and that road salt will get to "where it is most needed".
More snow has been falling in eastern and southern parts of Britain.
The PM acknowledged the current "worrying and frustrating" situation but said agencies were working together to keep the public "safe and warm".
Forecast fears
Chemical firm Ineos said it had diverted 12,000 tonnes of white salt for use on Britain's roads after it was approached by several councils. The salt had been earmarked for food and chlorine production in Germany.
The first 50 trucks will leave its distribution facility in Runcorn, Cheshire, on Sunday morning and a further 50 are scheduled to leave on Monday.
Ineos chief executive Harry Deans told the BBC: "We've had numerous requests from local governments and councils over the past couple of weeks.
"We're sending out at least 50 lorries today from our site in Runcorn. They'll be going to places like East Yorkshire, Pembrokeshire in Wales, Gloucester, Bradford, Sheffield, and even Fife in Scotland."
BBC forecasters say freezing conditions will continue until at least Wednesday, and probably longer.
The forecast has led to fears there will not be enough salt to grit the roads, with local authorities agreeing to cut its use by 25% in a bid to preserve dwindling supplies.
The Highways Agency has stopped treating motorway hard shoulders in England and salt ordered from abroad is not due to arrive until 21 January.
The Highways Agency's David Grunwell said: "We've got sufficient supplies to treat the strategic road network at the moment given the current Met Office forecast.
"We're confident that we'll get the supplies that we need. Central government are now providing advice nationally to salt suppliers and they are advising where the priorities are greatest across the country."
The AA said it raised concerns about salt supplies with the Local Government Association (LGA) before Christmas.
Spokesman Paul Watters said councils had reduced stocks by 250,000 tonnes during the past 10 years.
The Conservatives said the decision to ration salt was "an admission of utter failure" and plans should have been made earlier.
Gas supplies
National Grid had already issued and lifted two "balancing alerts" warning of a potential shortfall in supplies.
These alerts help the market to consider increasing gas supplies, and encourage electricity providers to use alternative fuels such as coal.


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BBC NEWS / UK
________________________________________
19:42 GMT, Sunday, 10 January 2010
Battle to beat freeze continues
The government has pledged to do all it can to keep roads and schools open, amid signs the severe wintry weather is easing slightly.
The Met Office is currently issuing no severe weather warnings, but says snow, ice and low temperatures will continue.
The government has urged schools to make every effort to open to enable pupils to sit exams due this week.
A man has died after falling through ice on the River Tees in Stockton while trying to rescue his dogs.
Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton said great efforts were being made nationally and locally to beat the freeze.
"Council workers are working extremely hard to ensure that as many of the roads are open as possible so that people can get to work, people can, if at all possible, keep their hospital appointments, and that children can get to school. But there's no doubt that it is very difficult," she said.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls urged head teachers not to "overstate the risks" of icy playground and staff shortages.
"It is vital that schools do everything they possibly can to stay open so that valuable lessons are not missed, exams disrupted or life made very difficult for working parents," he said.
On Monday, thousands of pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland start a round of AS and A-level exams, and some GCSEs.
England's exam regulator Ofqual has come in for some criticism for refusing to postpone the tests.
If candidates cannot take the modules, they might have to wait until the next round in June or have estimated grades.
An Ofqual spokesman said: "These arrangements are the fairest possible for all candidates - both those affected by the snow and those who are not."
Essential journeys
Meanwhile, forecasters say slightly milder air has been feeding in from the east, bringing a mix of rain, sleet and some snow, with a slight thaw across parts of England and Wales.

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BBC NEWS / UK

________________________________________
18:06 GMT, Monday, 11 January 2010
Salt stocks 'must be conserved'
Efforts to ration salt supplies will be necessary for councils to cope with continuing cold weather, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has warned.
He insisted that all main transport networks were operational during "the most prolonged spell of freezing conditions" in the UK since 1981.
But shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers accused the government of making "inadequate preparations".
Forecasters have predicted a "slow, erratic climb" out of the freeze.
There has been a slight thaw in places but more snow in parts of central England.
Roads managers say milder weather could improve safety, amid salt shortages.
'Admission of guilt'
The transport secretary told the House of Lords that extra rationing would be required from councils to preserve salt stocks.
He said the Highways Agency and local authorities had agreed to cut salt used on roads by "at least 25%".


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BBC NEWS / UK

________________________________________
20:32 GMT, Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Fresh snow brings more disruption
Fresh snow has hit many parts of the UK, causing more problems for transport amid further limits on road gritting.
Met Office warnings of heavy snow remain in place for north-west England, the West Midlands and southern England, although milder weather is forecast.
Delays and cancellations hit rail and air travel again and several roads were closed. Hundreds of schools were shut.
In Essex, a woman died after falling into a freezing lake near Nazeing while trying to rescue her dog.
A flight taking more than 60 rescue experts, equipment and search to earthquake-hit Haiti was first to take off when Gatwick airport's runway reopened at 1515 GMT, having been closed all day.
Some rural communities remain cut off, while others are coping with power cuts, water leaks, increasing numbers of potholes and cancelled rubbish collections.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged a full review of the arrangements for keeping Britain moving during severe weather.
At Commons question time, he paid tribute to workers and volunteers for maintaining the transport network during "the worst weather for 30 years".
"It does prove that Britain works best when Britain works together," he said.
Tory leader David Cameron said the pressure on road salt supplies showed lessons had to be learned from the severe weather.
The Highways Agency and councils are cutting salt use by half - up from the 25% agreed last week - to protect supplies.
Mr Brown said one UK salt producer had announced it was stepping up production, while imports were expected in the coming days.
He said the government was confident it would be able to "maintain the road network".
The Local Government Association said no councils in England and Wales had run out of salt, despite facing freezing conditions for a third week.
It said this showed they had been well prepared because recommendations suggested storing only six full days' gritting capacity.
Meanwhile, Communities Secretary John Denham has said people should not let "myths about litigation" prevent them helping out with acts such as doing elderly neighbours' shopping or clearing paths.
The M48 old Severn Bridge has reopened after being shut overnight but the A66 in Cumbria and A628 in Derbyshire remain closed.
Runways at London City, Birmingham International, Southampton and Cardiff airports have reopened after a morning of delays and cancellations. Heathrow Airport reported 84 flight cancellations.
Most schools were open for students sitting A-level, AS-level and GCSE exams but many were closed to other pupils.
Geraint Edwards, who runs a climate station in Wales for the Met Office, said the snow was the worst he had seen in more than 30 years.
Speaking from the Berwyn Mountains, he said nearby roads were buried beneath 6ft (1.8m) snow drifts.


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BBC NEWS / UK

________________________________________
16:31 GMT, Thursday, 14 January 2010
Thaw begins but flood fears rise
Temperatures have climbed above freezing across much of the UK, signalling the start of a thaw but giving rise to fears of flooding.
Many roads remained icy on Thursday, as salt shortages limited gritting and hundreds of schools stayed shut. Snow has been limited to parts of Scotland.
Forecasters say typical temperatures have been 3-4C (37-39F) but warn of slush refreezing overnight.
The Met Office says weekend heavy rain could cause flooding in places.
"Heavy rain will move in from the west accompanied by strong to gale-force winds," it says, adding that up to 25mm (1in) of rainfall is likely.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "There may be an increased risk of flooding in some areas over the weekend due to predicted heavy rain and the partial thawing of snow due to slightly higher temperatures."
Milder weather helped the UK's transport network get back to normal on Thursday, after a day of delays and cancellations on railways and at airports.
Runways at London City, Birmingham International, Southampton and Cardiff airports were all open, having been closed for snow clearance for part of Wednesday.
However, Gatwick - where flights had been suspended for 12 hours - was experiencing knock-on delays on Thursday.
National Rail said most train operators were running normal timetables again, although disruptions still affected East Coast services in Scotland and between Leeds and London.
TransPennine Express was operating replacement buses in north-east England and four Eurostar services were cancelled.
The day began with Met Office warnings of treacherous roads and police reporting black ice in several areas.
The Highways Agency and councils have cut their use of salt for gritting roads by half - up from the 25% agreed last week - to protect supplies.
Councillors in Leeds and neighbouring Kirklees warned they had less than two days' supply of salt left, while private salt firm Grittit has brought in security guards after 75 tonnes of material was taken from its depots nationwide.
However, the Highways Agency reported "business as usual" on major routes in England.
School closures
A number of roads in the Highlands remained closed because of snow, along with several routes over high ground in Wales, the A66 in Cumbria and the A628 in Derbyshire.
Fresh snow swept through southern Scotland, shutting some schools and leaving some roads in the Borders passable only with care.
Most schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were open for students sitting A-level, AS-level and GCSE exams.
However, many were closed to other pupils. In West Yorkshire, 200 shut. Across Wales, at least 440 closed - mainly in the Valleys.
Exams watchdog Ofqual said it had not been informed of any centres being unable to hold exams, although some may have made alternative arrangements such as switching pupils to alternative venues or estimating grades.
Freezing conditions have caused water pipes to split in many regions. Yorkshire Water has been taking 160 calls a day about the problem and has 75 teams repairing them.
Meanwhile, rescue teams in Snowdonia have warned about the dangers of avalanches after 500 tonnes of snow slid down a mountainside near Aber Falls.
BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said that while temperatures were typically 3-4C across Britain, they were closer to freezing on high ground.
He said icy conditions and any sleet and snow across northern Britain on Friday morning would be short-lived, with temperatures rising to 5C (41F).
A "wet, very windy day with gales" will follow on Saturday, he added.
However, he warned that colder weather could return next week.
The AA predicts the thaw will reveal a 30% increase in the usual number of potholes. Councils spent £67m filling in almost 1m last year, figures suggest.


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BBC NEWS / UK

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20:46 GMT, Friday, 15 January 2010
Flood warning as snow thaws
Flooding is possible this weekend from heavy rain and snow melting in slightly warmer temperatures, the Environment Agency has warned.
The agency said there was a risk of some localised flooding from drains, especially in Wales and west England, but homes were unlikely to be affected.
The Met Office said heavy rain would move in from the west accompanied by strong to gale force winds on Saturday.
The Environment Agency has 15 flood watches in place.
Meanwhile, an 11-year-old girl has died in Lancashire after apparently slipping on ice outside her primary school.
Naeemah Achha suffered serious head injuries in the fall in Blackburn on Thursday. She was taken to Manchester Children's Hospital where she died on Friday.
Drainage systems
Five flood watches have been issued in Wales and three each in the Anglian region and the Midlands.
There are two in the South West and one each in the North East and the Thames area.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has five "flood watches" north of the border.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are not currently expecting any major property flooding from rivers this weekend as they should have capacity to cope with forecast rainfall and snow melt.
"However, people should be aware that there is a risk of some localised surface water flooding from overwhelmed drainage systems, particularly across Wales and western England.
"The Environment Agency may issue flood watches and flood warnings for possible isolated river flooding in these areas, as heavy rain moves in from the south west on Friday evening.
"Environment Agency teams are out on the ground checking for blockages in waterways, removing debris and checking flood defences as a precaution."
The Met Office said rainfall of 15mm to 25mm (0.6in-1in) was expected in some parts of the UK on Saturday, with up to 40mm (1.6in) on high ground.
With melting snow and ground still frozen in places there was a risk of localised flooding, it added.
Temperatures are expected to fall again next week, bringing a risk of more snow and ice.
Earlier, Greater Manchester Police said seven people were injured in a pile-up involving up to 10 cars on the frozen A627(M) motorway in Oldham.
Meanwhile, the Highways Agency and councils have cut their use of salt for gritting roads by half - up from the 25% cut agreed last week - to protect supplies.
Councillors in Leeds and neighbouring Kirklees warned they had less than two days' supply of salt left, while private salt firm Grittit has brought in security guards after 75 tonnes of material was taken from its depots nationwide.
Freezing conditions caused water pipes to split in many regions. Yorkshire Water has been taking 160 calls a day about the problem and has 75 teams repairing them.
Meanwhile, rescue teams in Snowdonia have warned about the dangers of avalanches after 500 tonnes of snow slid down a mountainside near Aber Falls.


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BBC NEWS / UK

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17:09 GMT, Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Weather warnings in place again
Rain, sleet and snow are again affecting many parts of the UK, weather forecasters say.
The Met Office has issued warnings of heavy snow in parts of Wales, the West Midlands, London and southern England.
The snowfall caused 50 schools across Gloucestershire to close for the day, while a meeting at Newbury Racecourse was abandoned due to the weather.
Forecasters say much of the snowfall will not settle but will be washed away by rain.
Conditions are expected to be drier in most places overnight, although there is due to be light rain and snow in parts of western Scotland.
However, the weather has not matched the Arctic conditions experienced across the UK during recent weeks.
The snow has affected colder, inland areas - with many places seeing around 1-3cm (0.39-1.18in) of snowfall.
School closures
South Wales valleys, Powys, Monmouthshire and north Wales are expecting snowfalls of between 5-10cm (2-4in), particularly on higher ground.
Gloucestershire County Council has said students' external exams are still expected to go ahead this week despite school closures.
The weather caused severe delays in that area, with police again being forced to use 4x4 vehicles to reach traffic accidents.
The A419 at Sapperton was closed due to a jack-knifed lorry while police blamed snow for delays on the A436 at Severn Springs.
Nine schools in Shropshire, 13 in Herefordshire and seven in Worcestershire closed because of the weather.
Seven schools in Torfaen and one in Powys were also shut.
Newbury Racecourse clerk Richard Osgood said he made his decision to abandon Wednesday's meeting after rain turned into snow.
He said: "It's getting worse and the snow is falling on the course and it's dangerous."
Forecasters say that most of the snow is settling on fields and verges.
The Environment Agency has issued several flood warnings as higher temperatures combined with heavy rainfall could result in snow thawing more quickly than expected.
A spokesman said: "Generally river levels are falling across the country, although temporary defences remain in place at Upton-on-Severn."
The latest snowfall has been caused by cold air colliding with a band of rain coming in from the Atlantic.
BBC meteorologist Philip Avery said: "An incursion of milder air from the Atlantic had displaced the colder, continental air that had dominated the UK's weather for many weeks."
The cold snap comes as the UK prepares to receive stores of grit ordered from abroad.
On Tuesday Transport Secretary Lord Adonis advised ministers that stocks of gritting salt were being replenished after supplies were heavily depleted by the snowfalls of recent weeks.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that the bad weather between 13 December and 19 January affected the punctuality of the UK's trains.
Network Rail said 20% of trains across the network failed to run on time.
A spokesman for the Association of Train Operating Companies said that train companies had managed to keep services running in "extremely testing circumstances" and staff had worked "around the clock" to "ensure disruption remained at a minimum".

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EGKK 201350Z 02004KT 350V080 1500 R08R/1200 R26L/P1500 SN SCT003 BKN008 01/00 Q1009
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EGKK 201250Z 06004KT 1400 R08R/P1500 R26L/P1500 -SN BR FEW002 SCT004 BKN010 01/00 Q1009
EGKK 201220Z 06005KT 1000 R08R/P1500 R26L/P1500 SN SCT003 BKN009 01/00 Q1009
EGKK 201150Z 08004KT 2300 -SN FEW004 BKN010 01/00 Q1009
EGKK 201120Z 07004KT 2800 -SN FEW005 BKN013 01/00 Q1009
EGKK 201050Z 09004KT 2500 SN FEW005 BKN010 01/00 Q1009
EGKK 201020Z 08008KT 6000 -RASN BKN009 02/01 Q1009
EGKK 200950Z 08007KT 030V110 6000 -RA FEW008 BKN009 02/01 Q1009

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