Post date: Nov 27, 2010 6:13:56 PM
Britain shiveres in unseasonably cold weather as the earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years blankets many areas of the country.
EXMOOR, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 27, 2010) ITN - British Meteorological Office issued severe weather warnings on Saturday (November 27) of heavy snow for Scotland, northeast and southeast England and Northern Ireland.
Overnight temperatures across Britain plunged well below zero again, after a day when much of the country was badly disrupted by the earliest widespread snow for 17 years.Further falls of as much as 10 cm (3.9 inches) of snow were forecast for higher parts of the northeast and Scotland, with the chilly spell predicted to last throughout the weekend and
into next week.
The icy conditions made driving treacherous in many areas and hit sporting events. Police urged drivers not to travel unless their journey was of a critical nature after heavy snow in the north
east.
Many left their cars and took time off to enjoy walks through snow-covered woodland.
"It looks so amazing at the moment I said I want to scoop it up and roll in it.It is absolutely wonderful," a Devon resident walking her dog said.
Others worried about getting to and from work.
"It seems to have gotten much worse and the roads are just one lane, not enough grit," a Tyne Tees resident said.
Horse racing was called off at Newcastle's Gosforth Park and at Towcester in Northamptonshire, with snow also forcing the cancellation of Beith's replay with Airdrie United in soccer's
Scottish Cup.
Flights at some airports were delayed including those at Jersey Airport where lightning hit the radar system overnight.
Dozens of schools in Scotland, Northumberland, East and North Yorkshire and Wales were closed and many roads left impassable.
The unusual weather has been caused by high pressure over Greenland and low pressure in the Baltics, forcing cold winds from the north east across Europe.