UK HAS SNOW ESCAPE FROM STORM BLAST

Deirdre bringing weather chaos

STORM Deirdre was battering the UK with freezing rain, snow and 70mph gales last night.

Temperatures in some parts dipped to a bone-chilling -7C as forecasters warned the icy weather will affect roads and transport networks.

The Met Office issued yellow weather warnings and the more serious amber as it predicted the biggest snowfall since the Beast from the East last winter.

Scotland, northern England and the Midlands were all in the line of fire, with the A9 between Trinafour and Drumochter in the Scottish Highlands hit by snow, inset.

Freezing rain, a “rare” event for the UK, was forecast from the southern Pennines up to central Scotland.

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: “If you’re not under a snow and ice warning you’re probably under a wind and rain warning. The good thing is that Deirdre is expected to clear out the cold air and become milder at the weekend.

“The problem is it freezes instantly on contact with cold surfaces, covering them with hard ice. That means power cables can be covered and supplies can be interruptedif they are brought down.

“There can also be issues with untreated roads.”

More than 1,500 gritters were out in force while Network Rail was using 34 de-icing trains.

Airports in northern England and Scotland put dozens of snowploughs on standby, while around 8,000 breakdowns were expected by the RAC.

The storm also proved a “nightmare” for shoppers eager to pick up some last-minute presents with Christmas closing in. The Weather Outlook expert Brian Gaze said: “Snow Saturday was bad news for shoppers. “It’s the weather nightmare before Christmas, with snow and ice. “And now strong winds and rain to follow.” Bookies Ladbrokes cut odds on Britain’s first white Christmas since 2010 to 7/4 in Aberdeen, 4/1 in Manchester and 5/1 in London. A spokesman said: “The weekend whiteout is causing a snowstorm of bets.”