Perthshire Advertiser

Dinner for 45 is snow problem

Goodwill gets meals to OAPs

- DOUGLAS DICKIE

Heavy rain and icy conditions arrived in Perth this week.

Nearly eight inches of snow was recorded while temperatur­es dropped to minus 18 degrees on Thursday morning at a weather station located at Strathalla­n Airfield.

On Tuesday, some schools were closed to the children of key workers while the council told people to travel only if “absolutely necessary”.

In Perth, drivers abandoned vehicles on several streets as they struggled to get moving through the snow.

HGVs had to be dug out of the snow in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

But while the conditions brought a headache for travellers, there were smiles for youngsters who were able to start the half term school holiday sledging, and even skiing, throughout the region.

In Kinross, the church centre had to make an appeal for 4x4 drivers to help them deliver meals to elderly folk.

Nan Cook, manager of the centre, told the PA: “We do have minibuses but we have had great difficulty getting out.

“I put a post on social media asking if anyone could help with a 4x4 vehicle.

“So many people came forward, the community spirit is alive and kicking in Kinross.

“The response has been just fantastic. It was difficult but we got there.

“It’s been young and old coming forward. I think people are maybe on furlough and are eager to help.”

The community centre has been delivering meals to 45 pensioners in Kinross and the surroundin­g area throughout lockdown.

A yellow weather warning remains in place for snow and ice up until Saturday night.

And a Met Office meteorolog­ist reckons Sunday could also bring some unpleasant conditions to the region.

Tom Morgan - who predicted Wednesday night/Thursday morning would be the coldest im the region since 2010 - told the Perthshire Advertiser: “I think we’ll see two to five centimetre­s of snow in parts of Perthshire on Friday morning, with showers coming back in from the south.

“It will be mostly dry on Saturday but it’s likely we’ll see more disruptive snow on Sunday.

“We could see frozen rain, which is not particular­ly common, and is more of a hazard than snow itself.”

Tom explained the recent cold snap has been caused by cold air arriving from Russia and Scandinavi­a, with the warmer North Sea reacting to cause snow showers.

He also explained it was not related to Storm Darcy.

Asked what we could expect for the rest of the month, Tom said: “Long range forecastin­g has always been uncertain and will remain that way but I think there is going to be very cold air in place over Scandinavi­a for a few weeks and it would not surprise me if we get cold spells for the rest of February into March, although it is looking milder next week.”

I put a post on social media. So many people came forward, the community spirit is alive and kicking in Kinross

Nan Cook

• The farmers who help keep our roads clear - page 16

 ??  ?? Helping hand From left, Nan Cook, Kinross Centre manager; Isobel Gardner, Glen Douglas, Yvonne Cook, and volunteer Ailsa Smith. Front, Laura Beverage and Jo McLaughlin
Helping hand From left, Nan Cook, Kinross Centre manager; Isobel Gardner, Glen Douglas, Yvonne Cook, and volunteer Ailsa Smith. Front, Laura Beverage and Jo McLaughlin
 ??  ?? Big smiles John Connolly with children Sophie Mia Keay (9) and brother Noah Connolly
Big smiles John Connolly with children Sophie Mia Keay (9) and brother Noah Connolly
 ??  ?? Hit the slopesSnow­boarder Douglas Munro makes his way down the 3rd hole at Craigie Hill Golf Club
Hit the slopesSnow­boarder Douglas Munro makes his way down the 3rd hole at Craigie Hill Golf Club
 ??  ?? Clear the way Iain and Linda Watt clearing snow in Beechgrove Gardens, Perth
Clear the way Iain and Linda Watt clearing snow in Beechgrove Gardens, Perth
 ??  ?? Hitchin’s a ride Charlie Gray hitches a ride with his big sister Georgia in Kinross
Hitchin’s a ride Charlie Gray hitches a ride with his big sister Georgia in Kinross

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