No sign of a Glastonbury thaw as Britain plunges to -15C
DUSTED in unseasonal snow, this was Glastonbury Tor yesterday as Arctic conditions continued to grip Britain.
While the nearby famous rock festival is known for its ankle-deep mud, the Somerset town’s mystic landmark, topped by St Michael’s Tower, looked like a giant blancmange.
The freeze that hit many parts saw
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snow-lovers rush to take advantage, with tobogganists sliding down the steep Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset, which featured in the iconic 1973 TV advert for Hovis.
At King Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth, hundreds of hardy swimmers braved a bracing sea dip. It followed the coldest March night since 2010, with -15.2C (4.64F) recorded at Kinbrace in Scotland early yesterday. Shap in Cumbria saw -10.5C (13.1F), England’s coldest March night since 2006.
Snow depths of 5.5in (14cm) were seen at Altnaharra, while Liscombe, Devon, and Odiham, Hampshire, had 2.4in (6cm). The Met Office warned that the Arctic conditions will continue into tomorrow. Up to 4in (10cm) of snow is expected in the Midlands, North Wales and Northern England, perhaps double that on high ground.
An amber warning of significant disruption was issued for Pennine areas from the Peak District to Northumberland.