Chaos on the commute as Arwen brings -10C blasts
SNOW and bitter winds threatened a chaotic start to the working week this morning with temperatures of minus 4C (24.8F) forecast – having dropped as low as minus 10C (14F) in exposed spots overnight – in the wake of Storm Arwen.
Parts of the country were blanketed yesterday as 100mph winds wreaked havoc, damaging buildings and causing disruption on roads and railways.
Three people died when trees were blown down and at least 450,000 homes were left without electricity across northern England, North Wales and Scotland.
There were no trains between Edinburgh and Newcastle, while the Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham
‘Cold, northerly flow of wind’
was called off little under an hour before kick-off with snow falling as fast as groundsmen could remove it.
Many parts of the country fell below freezing on Saturday night, with Shap in Cumbria coldest at minus 6.4C (20.5F).
Around 60 guests trapped by 3ft of snow since Friday at Britain’s highest pub were spending a third night there last night.
Spirits were kept up by an evening of karaoke courtesy of an Oasis tribute band who were among those stranded when blizzards swept the Yorkshire Dales.
Nicola Townsend, general manager of the Tan Hill Inn, which is 1,732ft above sea level, said the sense of camaraderie was so strong that some didn’t want to leave, saying: ‘It’s just been lovely and everyone is in really good spirits. It’s a really good atmosphere.’
In the village of Audlem in Cheshire, the 30ft village Christmas tree came crashing down just hours after people gathered for its festive lights switch-on on Friday evening, although no one was hurt.
And almost 40 dogs had to be rescued after the roof of their kennels in Trimdon, County Durham, was torn off by the winds.
The Met Office issued yellow ice warnings and said the widespread ‘Arctic shot’ would lead to icy patches this morning. Forecaster Tom Morgan said: ‘As Storm Arwen is clearing out to Europe, a cold northerly flow of wind has been left behind in the UK, causing bitterly cold temperatures.’
He said a brief return of milder conditions this evening was expected to be short-lived, with the return of ‘biting’ north westerly winds from Wednesday.