Frozen Britain 2010

We had a very mild fall in London. Very little rain, sunny bright days much more like early October than late November and early December. The predictions were for a mild, dry winter too. I flew off to Oregon for winter break on a sunny, clear day.

While I was gone for 10 days, Great Britain turned cold. Icy cold. When I returned on 1 January 2010 it was to a very cold, grey day. It has gotten progressively colder since my return one week ago. It began snowing last Monday, 4 Jan, and has continued all week. Most days it has barely warmed to above freezing by mid-day. The nights have been well below freezing.

The London Times published the follow picture on Thursday taken by the University of Dundee showing all of the British isle covered in snow.


Some places have feet of snow, with many roads and schools closed, areas with no power, some with no heat. London has several inches but it has been too cold for any of it to melt away. If it melts during the day, it freezes that night to a sheet of ice. Many schools have been closed - not ours. The buses are on special routes, some of the tube lines are down because of ice on the tracks.

This is the most extensive snow cover Britain has ever know - at least in recorded history.

And the outlook? Many more days perhaps weeks, of sub-freezing temperature, snow and wind.

Time to snuggle up with a bowl of hot soup, a thick blanket and a good book!

Keep warm! Cheers all!