Travel
White Christmas update for Scotland after snow storms & 80mph winds wreak chaos
WEATHER experts have provided a Christmas snow update after Scots were blasted with 80mph winds over the weekend.
It comes after a “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and road congestion led to widespread disruption over the weekend.
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The Met Office issued yellow warnings for wind which remained in place until 9pm on Sunday.
The warnings were in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in England the warnings covered the North East, North West, South West and West Midlands as well as Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire.
There also remains a yellow warning for ice in parts of north-east Scotland, which is in place until 10am today (Monday).
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The Met Office has forecast a “grey Christmas” with some sunny spells and “extremely mild” temperatures.
Looking ahead to next week, conditions are expected to improve and the UK could see a “grey Christmas”, rather than a white one.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “We’re expecting to see some sunny spells further east and a lot of cloud from the west.
“Temperatures should rise considerably and it will be extremely mild over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“In England and Wales, temperatures will be well above average with some grey in the mix.
“We’re expecting an average of around 12C or 13C on Christmas Eve and 11C or 12C on Christmas Day. The usual average for this time of year is 7C or 8C so we’ll be around double where we usually are.
“Overnight temperatures in Scotland for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be extremely mild.”
It’s worlds away from some parts of the country over the weekend, where Scots woke up to a blanket of snow, with many abandoning vehicles at the roadside in the blustery conditions.
In the Highlands, Drivers along the A939 were forced to leave their cars, with snowploughs struggling to clear the area.
Weather maps revealed that more snow is expected in the area today and on Christmas Eve.
Yesterday morning, forecasters from the Met Office said: “It’s a cold, blustery start to Sunday, and as the sequence shows we’re even seeing a little snow in places this morning, chiefly over hills towards the north and west.”
Heathrow Airport confirmed around 100 flights had been cancelled on Sunday and passengers were advised to check with their airline before travelling.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Due to strong winds and airspace restrictions, a small number of flights have been cancelled (on Sunday).
“This will ensure the vast majority of passengers can still travel as planned.
“We know how important travel at this time of year is and have extra colleagues on hand in our terminals to support people on their journeys.
“We encourage passengers to check with their airline for the latest information about their flight.”
The airport was keen to stress the vast majority of flights were operating as normal.
Several Loganair flights from Glasgow Airport to the Hebridean islands were also cancelled, and 18 CalMac ferry routes were axed.
Disruption continued as people were ferried to Ireland on alternative routes after the temporary closure of Holyhead port in an effort to get people home for Christmas, a Welsh Cabinet Secretary said.
The busy ferry port in Anglesey, North Wales, was forced to close following damage during Storm Darragh and is not set to reopen until January 15 at the earliest.
All ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead are currently cancelled, upending travel plans for thousands in the festive season.
But alternative sailings to Ireland have been taking place this weekend amid high winds and challenging conditions.
The strongest wind speed during the weekend was recorded at 82mph in Kirkwall on Orkney and the South Uist Range.
Met Office Safety Advice
The Met Office provides several pieces of advice for staying safe during high winds. They said:
1. Protecting your property from damage and other people from injury
Don’t risk injury to others or damage to your property. Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them in high winds. Items include:
- bins
- plant pots
- garden furniture (bring inside or secure in place)
- trampolines (turn upside down or secure with tent pegs)
- sheds (ensure doors are locked)
2. Things you can do before a journey
Windy weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous. Follow these few simple steps to prepare before journeys:
- Plan your route, check for delays and road closures
- Listen out for travel updates on your car radio/sat nav
- If you don’t have essentials in your car then pack for the worst (warm clothing, food, drink, blanket, torch)
- Take a fully charged mobile phone with an in-car charger or battery pack
3. Driving safely in strong wind
Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do this more safely by:
- Driving slowly to minimise the impact of wind gusts
- Be aware of high sided vehicles/caravans on more exposed roads
- Be cautious overtaking high sided vehicles/caravans
- Make sure you hold the steering wheel firmly
- Give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses more room than usual
- More about travelling in storms, rain and heavy wind
4. Staying safe when you’re at the coast
If you live or work on the coast take extra care during windy and stormy weather. Keep yourself and others safe by following these simple steps:
- Check the forecasts and tides in your local area here
- Beware of large waves, even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea
- Take care if walking near cliffs – know your route and keep dogs on a lead
- In an emergency 999 (UK) or 112 (Ireland) and ask for the Coastguard
5. Avoiding injury if you’re out and about
Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees.
Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly. When a weather warning is issued, stay up to date with the weather in your area.
Meanwhile, the weekend’s lowest temperature was recorded at Killylane in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, where the mercury fell to -0.4C on Sunday.
The AA predicted 21.3 million drivers would hit the road on Sunday, while 22.7 million had been expected on Saturday, slightly fewer than the 23.7 million on Friday which was expected to be the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
The RAC estimated seven million leisure trips would be made on major roads during the weekend, which excludes everyday traffic.
At Belfast City Airport yesterday, emergency services rushed onto the tarmac as a flight from Edinburgh suffered a landing gear failure on touch down.
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The landing gear of the aircraft collapsed as it touched the runway as the Emerald Airlines flight hit the ground.
The hard landing in the tough conditions left the plane stranded on the runway, forcing the airport to close for the rest of the day.
A spokesperson said: “At around 16:00 today, Sunday 22 December, an Aer Lingus regional flight, operated by Emerald Airlines, had an incident on landing at Belfast City Airport.
“This was a positioning fight with no passengers but four crew members onboard.
“The airport’s emergency procedures were enacted.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“The runway is currently closed and will be for the rest of the day.
“Passengers are asked to contact their airline.”
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