Snow in Scotland

[BEEDEE]

Just caught this on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11924238

Hope all our members in Scotland are safe home and warm!

Brian

[Lallans]

Like most Canadians, I am inclined to scoff at any stories of, or complaints about, winter weather when they come from other countries . However, drastic accounts about the current cold and snowy weather in the UK and throughout Northern Europe have been on our several national newscasts EVERY SINGLE NIGHT for what seems like at least two weeks, so I too am getting concerned. Do stay warm, ye Scots wha hae!

[cessna152towser]

We've had snow lying on the ground here in the Scottish Borders for twelve days now and more snow fell today. We always get snow in Scotland in winter time but it only makes the news when it falls in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the central belt where most of the Scottish population live and where it tends to snow less often.

[Jordan]

We have had a little bit of snow up with me, I havent managed to make it home in two weeks. Today wasnt too bad however so I should hopefully be able to get home tomorrow.

Jordan

[Pleater]

I just went out to put some rubbish in the bin and the top was frozen on - I had quite a struggle to force it open - the neighbours must have wondered what was going on at 22:30 when most of them would be at the cocoa stage of the evening.The snow and ice have cleared away here, after only two days, but the temperature has been below freezing all day and there has been freezing fog around as well as blue skies.Last winter was rather severe but I suspect that this one will be one for the record books.My brother in law up in Yorkshire sent me a photo of the wall of clear ice, a couple of feet tall, which had formed across the back door and remained across the doorway when it was opened. Although I do still miss the heather and the hills, I find that the feeling only arises in the warmer months of the year these days.This is a time for staying warm and safe inside - take care.Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[skauwt]

well here its chaos

folk are still trapped in there cars its now -10 ºC = 14 ºF the
motorways are all clogged up the army is even been called out to help deal with it i know friends who are trapped at work and are having to spend the night whereever they can 15 min journeys have became 4-6 hr trips

in my 32 years on this earth this is the worst weather to hit this part of scotland i know of and as alex says its this part of scotland which isn't used to this weather at all the micro-eco system of the central belt usually ensures a good winter(hence why nearly all the scots live here these days) the m8 is about a mile from here and from what i can see on the road cams its still bumper to bumper

biggest issue is when snow ploughs and gritters are being trapped in the traffic unable to move and so many folk these parts are unprepared for this kinda weather some school pupils are having to spend the night in the schools due the to the roads being so bad


plus not actually listening to the weather report is another issues ,it was meant to snow at 3 am last night and it didn't till about 8-9 am so by then most folks started talking the kids to school when the snow hit this area alot of works and schools started to close causing the gridlock we see now

[Oddern]

My thoughts are with you. The weather you're experiencing are quite common here in Norway. But we vikings are used to it and we have the equipment to deal with weather like this. Without the equipment and warm clothing we would have the same problems you have now.
Hang in there, skål!

[Pleater]

A lot of the problems have been that managers are insisting that their staff try to get to work no matter what.Even though it would be illegal there is evidence - phone calls to radio stations and suchlike, that people are being threatened with dismissal if they do not go in to work - even when the police and AA and everyone are giving the advice to stay at home as it is not safe to travel.My own nephew was told that he had to travel through 4 ft high snowdrifts or face disciplinary action. The manager did get the shop open, and they had four customers all day.I suspect that people are going to die out in the cold due to this attitude that the weather doesn't matter, you have to go to work.Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[skauwt]

My thoughts are with you. The weather you're experiencing are quite common here in Norway. But we vikings are used to it and we have the equipment to deal with weather like this. Without the equipment and warm clothing we would have the same problems you have now.
Hang in there, skål!

your right about equipment ,
the ploughs and gritters are not any good at any weather below -5 `c here and with the condition's being so cold the ploughs are just smoothing the road making the ice worse

i personally think the government should be looking to the nordic countries for advice as to what to do with the roads and use that as a example ..but at the moment its more a trial and error phase with local councils doing different things

thankfully folk are slowly adjusting here to the conditions but its not going away anytime in the next week or so from what the reports say

[wildrover]

Well, all I can say about an "at all costs" attitude is that you guys better have the wallet to back it up, so to speak. I feel for you guys...I grew up in worse winters than that, and I drive a very well-built vehicle with snow-appropriate tires, so it's always expected that I'll be at work regardless the weather--I'd be the one guy in all of Scotland at the office.

Snow isn't a big deal, unless it's in an area unused to it. A simple lack of snow tires means modern society comes to a standstill...38 miles is nothing in a car, but may as well be on the moon if you're going by foot in the snow, and even in cultures where snow is common, some (like Denver) can't ever seem to get it right, and 38 miles in falling snow on a work day may as well be a thousand due to the inexplicable lack of proper equipment on personal vehicles in wintertime in an area that expects snow.

Ice, now that's a mess. An ice storm will shut down a city until it melts off.

Good luck, everyone, and stay safe...indoors is the best place to be, if you're not prepared for it.

You have got to do something about that "at all costs" attitude before somebody gets handed the bill!