Key Takeaways:
- A village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has experienced one of the worst winters in 25 years, with 30cm of snow and drifts reaching up to 50cm deep.
- The severe weather conditions have caused major disruptions to transport services, with hundreds of schools shut for a third day and ambulance 999 calls soaring.
- Cold weather payments have been triggered in over 400 postcodes, with vulnerable pensioners and households on low incomes receiving automatic payments of £25 to help them stay warm.
- The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy snow from Thursday evening into Friday, covering parts of Wales, the Midlands, and South Yorkshire.
- British Red Cross teams are on the ground in Scotland and Northern Ireland, providing support to those affected by the freezing conditions.
Introduction to the Severe Weather Conditions
The village of Insch in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has been hit with one of the worst winters in 25 years, according to locals. Doug Griffin, a 58-year-old resident, described the weather conditions as "remarkable" and "exceptional." The village has seen 30cm of snow, with drifts reaching up to 50cm deep on Tuesday before they thawed. The severe weather conditions have caused the village to be cut off, with residents unable to leave their homes.
Disruptions to Transport Services
The severe weather conditions have caused major disruptions to transport services, with hundreds of schools shut for a third day. In Aberdeenshire, all schools and council-run nurseries remain closed, along with dozens of schools in Moray and Aberdeen. The treacherous conditions have also triggered amber cold health alerts, with health secretary Wes Streeting warning that hospitals are coming under intense pressure. Ambulance 999 calls have soared, with many incidents reported due to black ice and snow.
Incidents and Accidents
A school coach crashed with a bus in Reading, resulting in 18 people being injured, including nine children. The incident occurred due to black ice, and two people were taken to hospital. In another incident, a bus slipped off the road due to black ice, causing disruptions to traffic. The British Red Cross has deployed emergency response vehicles to help transport domiciliary care workers, ensuring vital care reaches people who need it most.
Support for Vulnerable Households
Cold weather payments have been triggered in over 400 postcodes, with vulnerable pensioners and households on low incomes receiving automatic payments of £25 to help them stay warm. The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that over one million eligible households will receive the payment for every seven-consecutive-day period of very cold weather. The support is available to those on Pension Credit, as well as some on Universal Credit and other qualifying benefits.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy snow from Thursday evening into Friday, covering parts of Wales, the Midlands, and South Yorkshire. The warning stretches from Sheffield in the north, down to Leicester, across much of the west Midlands, and into Wales. The snowfall, brought by Storm Goretti, will mean trains and planes could be delayed or cancelled, rural communities may be cut off, and power cuts or disruption to mobile signal are likely.
Preparation and Safety
The British Red Cross has advised people to take simple steps to prepare for the colder weather, including thinking about home heating and other ways to keep warm, as well as preventing water pipes from freezing. The charity has also warned people to consider whether they really need to travel or if they should wait until conditions improve, especially if the weather is severe. People are advised to check the weather forecast and travel updates and think about planning alternative routes in case they need them.