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:

[cessna152towser]

I see where you are coming from on this Anne, there is certainly a culture here which says get to work at all costs. During the 2001 winter blizzards while I was Magistrates' Clerk at Duns one day I was unable to travel the 38 miles to court due to the weather. I contacted the police and advised them of the importance of the journey and was told by them that the journey was impossible. The prosecutor was also snowed in and I agreed with him by telephone to defer all the cases till the next court. The Bar Officer lived close to the courthouse and at my telephoned request he fought his way through deep snow to stand outside the court to tell anyone who turned up that the court was postponed till the next date. No public or lawyers turned up, not even the keyholder to open the courthouse. Yet someone who was due to appear in court that day took exception. I was in due course hauled before three judges in the High Court in Edinburgh and reprimanded for not being personally present in Duns that day and for continuing the cases by telephone as this had not been a public proceedings. The minimum legal requirement would have been for me to have met personally with the prosecutor at the doorway of the court building in Duns. Convictions were quashed because of the flawed procedure. With hindsight I should have anticipated the worsening weather and stayed overnight in Duns from the previous day. Fortunately two private solicitors lived locally in Duns and after the event and to avoid repetition one was commissioned to act as Magistrates Clerk in an emergency and the other to act as a Procurator Fiscal in an emergency.
Having said that, sadly there are some people who exploit the weather and stay away from work in wintry weather even when it would be relatively easy for them to get there.

[piperdbh]

I enjoy a good snow, but not a paralyzing one such as you're having. I hope it warms up a bit to thaw you folks out.